In 2007, the number of patients with end-stage renal disease was approximately 1.5 million. 4% are added annually in Europe. At the same time, 90% of patients are dependent on dialysis. However, dialysis treatment requires regular hospital stays. In addition, there are long interruptions between the actual therapy sessions, which are stressful for the patient.

Innovative technologies will be used to develop a new type of system that addresses the shortcomings of classic dialysis therapy.

The EU project "NEPHRON+" aims to develop a novel system for renal replacement therapy. The nephron, the smallest functional subunit of the kidney, was chosen as the eponym.

The artificial kidney is to be so compact that it can be worn by the patient in everyday life. With integrated sensors, the system automatically monitors the patient's key parameters and adjusts therapy based on the readings. The data is also stored and used by the attending physician to monitor progress.

Technical and medical specialists from various countries are involved in the EU-wide project. At OFFIS, the embedded software for the system is being developed. This ranges from efficient algorithms for the storage and interpretation of blood values and sensor data to the control of the hardware by an adapted operating system. A robust, safe and effective function of the entire system is enabled while meeting the high demands of medical technology.

The project will be carried out between 04/2010 to 03/2014 at the OFFIS Health Department. It is funded by the EU.

Lämmermann, S.; Ruf, J.; Kropf, T.; Rosenstiel, W.; Burger, A.; Pielawa, L.; Schlemminger, J.; Hein, A. (2012): Heterogeneous Assertion based Verification application in Medical Devices Development. Workshop on Synthesis And System Integration of Mixed Information Technologies, March 8. – 9, 2012, Beppu, Oita, Japan, accepted

Pielawa, L.; Helmer, A.; Brell, M.; Hein, A. (2011): Intelligent Enviroments Supporting the Care of Multi-Morbid Patients - A Concept for Patient-Centered Information Management and Therapy. 4th International Symposium on Applied Sciences in Biomedical and Communication Technologies (ISABEL 2011), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, October 26-29, 2011, in print.

Pielawa, L.; Poppen, F.; Hein, A. (2011): Virtual Prototype of a Personal Medical Device – Simulation of a Multi Nature System. 8th Workshop on Cyber-Physical Systems – Enabling Multi-Nature Systems CPMNS 2011. Bremen, Germany, 23.-24. February 2011.