Dialysate Filter

A filter cartridge for filtering dialysate used in blood dialysis, said filter cartridge comprising:

• a pressure-resistant housing comprising a semi-permeable filter membrane;
• said semi-permeable filter membrane having a dialysate side and a sink/source material side;
• said dialysate side having an inlet through which dialysate passes into said pressure-resistant housing in an unfiltered state;
• said dialysate side having an outlet through which said dialysate passes out from said pressure-resistant housing in a filtered state;
• said sink/source material side having sink/source material contained within said pressure-resistant housing, said pressure-resistant housing physically restraining said sink/source material during said blood dialysis;
• said pressure-resistant housing being capable of said filtering dialysate at pressures of at least 5 psi and variations of pressure of plus or minus at least 5%;
• said sink/source material:
• configured to remove a first set of components from said dialysate;
• being non-toxic to humans;
• comprising at least 60% hydrogel that is at least partially cross linked and having a molecular weight greater than 50,000;
• having at least 150 ml in volume;
• said semi-permeable filter membrane:
• comprising a plurality of hollow fibers;
• having at least 1 square meter of surface area.

A dialysate processing system comprising:

• a recirculating pump to recirculate dialysate during a dialysis treatment;
• an output connection adapted to transfer dialysate to a dialysis filter, said dialysis filter having a blood/dialysate membrane with a blood side and a dialysate side;
• an input connection adapted to transfer dialysate from said dialysis filter;
• a dialysate filter cartridge having a dialysate/absorbent membrane with a dialysate side and a sink/source material side;
• said dialysate filter cartridge comprising:
• a dialysate filter membrane having a dialysate side and a sink/source material side;
• a pressurize-resisting container;
• said pressure-resistant housing being capable of filtering said dialysate at pressures of at least 5 psi and variations of pressure of plus or minus 10%;
• a controller configured at least in part to control said recirculating pump to perform said dialysis treatment.