Patent ID: 8277407

Claim:
An artificial kidney, including: a first fluid connection; a second fluid connection; a third fluid connection; a first fluid passage extending between the first and second fluid connection, the first fluid connection defining an upstream end of the first fluid passage and the second fluid connection defining a downstream end of the first fluid passage; a second fluid passage extending from a first location on the first fluid passage, adjacent to the upstream end, to a second location on the first fluid passage, the second location being adjacent to the downstream end; and a third fluid passage extending from a third location along the second fluid passage to the third fluid connection, wherein the second fluid passage at the first location is connected to the first fluid passage by a first separator and wherein at the third location a second separator is interposed between the second fluid passage and the third fluid passage; a fourth fluid passage extending from a fourth location along the second fluid passage to the second location on the first fluid passage, the fourth fluid passage at the fourth location being connected to the second fluid passage by a third separator; and a clearance compartment arranged in the fourth fluid passage, which clearance compartment is adapted to remove specific electrolytes and waste products from a passing fluid by means of adsorption, removal or biochemical conversion, wherein adsorption is accomplished with ion exchangers, antibodies, aptamers, enzymes or molecular imprinting recognition.