Patent ID: 8585635

Claim:
An artificial liver system for use with a patient having a peritoneal cavity and a bladder, the system comprising: a reservoir containing a peritoneal dialysis fluid comprising albumin and configured to provide the peritoneal dialysis fluid to the patient's peritoneum; a peritoneal catheter configured for implantation in the patient's peritoneum; a bladder catheter configured for implantation in the patient's bladder; an implantable device comprising a housing containing a positive displacement gear pump coupled to an electric motor and a first controller coupled to a first battery, a first transceiver, and a first inductive charging circuit, the implantable device being configured to pump the peritoneal dialysis fluid in the peritoneum to the patient's bladder via the peritoneal catheter and the bladder catheter; a charging and communication system comprising a second controller coupled to a second transceiver and a second inductive charging circuit, the charging and communication system configured to wirelessly communicate with the implantable device via the first and second transceivers, and to wirelessly transfer energy from the second inductive circuit to the first inductive circuit to charge the first battery; monitoring and control software configured to run on a computer, the monitoring and control software configured to communicate operational parameters to the implantable device via the charging and communication system to control operation of the motor and gear pump.