03/05/2026
TYPES OF DIALYSIS MACHINE
While most people associate dialysis with the large consoles seen in clinics, the technology is categorized by the specific filtering method and the environment where it’s used.
​1. Hemodialysis (HD) Machines
​These machines pump blood out of the body, through an external filter (dialyzer), and back into the bloodstream.
​Standard In-Center Machines: These are the large, stationary units found in dialysis clinics. They are designed for high-efficiency cleaning, usually over a 3- to 5-hour session, three times a week.
​Home Hemodialysis (HHD) Machines: These are smaller, more user-friendly versions designed for portability. They often use pre-packaged cartridges to simplify the setup process, allowing patients to perform treatment more frequently (e.g., 5–6 days a week) or while sleeping (nocturnal dialysis).
​Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) Machines: Found exclusively in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). These are used for critically ill patients whose bodies cannot handle the rapid fluid shifts of standard dialysis. They run 24 hours a day to filter waste very slowly.
​2. Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Cyclers
​Peritoneal dialysis doesn't filter the blood directly; instead, it uses the lining of the patient's abdomen (the peritoneum) as the filter.
​Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) Cyclers: A small machine, about the size of a suitcase, used at home (usually at night). It automatically fills and drains the abdomen with cleansing fluid (dialysate) in multiple cycles while the patient sleeps.
​Note on Manual Dialysis: While not a "machine," CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) uses gravity instead of a device to exchange fluids manually throughout the day.
