Numerical Modeling and Analytical Study of the Electrophoresis of Saline Solution within Prototype of an Implantable Kidney

Abstract

The human kidney is one of the most important organs in the human body. It performs many functions and has a great impact on the work of the rest of the organs. Artificial and implantable kidneys become a promising and potential technology to compensate damaged kidneys. In this paper, we are presenting a prototype model of an implantable kidney that is designed using Solidworks. The proposed prototype device enables us to conduct a particle separation using electrophoresis with an external electrical field.

The final prototype is fabricated using 3d printing and an In Vitro experiment of particle separation is conducted using a saline solution, in addition to numerical simulation of solution flow under influence of an electrical field using COMSOL Multiphysics.

In vitro results illustrate that electric potential can be used to separate the charged ions under the influence of the electric bias forces to the opposite poles to charge them. The numerical simulation of the proposed design and separation method using COMSOL Multiphysics was able to show a difference in particle trajectories with and without applied electrical field.