Nephron 1 offers the first wearable and mobile hemodialysis system, using a patented regenerative resin‑gel dialysate to provide near‑continuous blood purification with minimal water and hardware. The compact device combines microscale agarose resin beads and AI‑driven management to enable patients with end‑stage kidney disease to receive dialysis anywhere, improving mobility and reducing reliance on traditional stationary machines.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Patients with end‑stage kidney disease rely on intermittent hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis that require large volumes of water, bulky equipment, and fixed treatment locations. This limits mobility, creates vulnerability to water‑supply disruptions, and results in gaps in toxin clearance that contribute to poor long‑term outcomes.
Solution
Nephron 1 is a wearable hemodialysis system that provides near‑continuous blood purification without the water‑intensive infrastructure of conventional machines. The device uses a patented regenerative resin‑gel dialysate composed of microscale agarose beads, which adsorb uremic toxins through diffusion, osmosis, and convection, achieving efficient clearance of both small and protein‑bound solutes. Integrated AI algorithms monitor treatment parameters and adjust flow rates to maintain physiologic‑like clearance kinetics throughout the day. The compact hardware, weighing under 20 lb, enables patients to remain mobile and autonomous, allowing dialysis to be performed anytime, anywhere. By eliminating bulk water use and reducing disposable components, the system also lowers the environmental and operational costs of renal replacement therapy.
Target Audience
Primary customers are patients with end‑stage kidney disease who require hemodialysis and seek greater mobility and quality of life, as well as dialysis providers and home‑care programs looking to reduce water usage and operational costs.
Features
- Regenerative resin‑gel dialysate that operates without bulk water, enabling repeated use and reduced disposables
- Low‑flow, all‑day operation delivering smoother, near‑continuous toxin clearance comparable to native kidney kinetics
- AI‑driven management system that continuously optimizes flow and clearance parameters in real time
- Compact, lightweight (<20 lb) wearable design for comfortable, portable use throughout daily activities
- Enhanced removal of protein‑bound uremic toxins, surpassing traditional water‑based dialysate performance
- Minimal external attachments and infrastructure, supporting use in home, community, or travel settings