A breakthrough in kidney care could soon transform the lives of people with advanced kidney disease, allowing them to live and travel with far greater independence. A compact dialysis system under development in the Netherlands is designed to free patients from the rigid schedules and hospital dependence that currently define their treatment.
At present, around 5,000 people in the Netherlands rely on hospital-based hemodialysis, spending several hours per session connected to large, immobile machines multiple times a week. This routine makes extended travel difficult, as patients must arrange dialysis appointments at medical centers wherever they go.
That situation may change with the arrival of the Neokidney, a portable dialysis device small enough to be transported in a wheeled suitcase. Researchers at UMC Utrecht have launched clinical trials to evaluate whether the system is safe and effective for regular use. According to the Dutch Kidney Foundation (Nierstichting), the goal is to introduce the world’s first wearable artificial kidney within the next few years.
“And that will mean a real improvement in quality of life,” said Tom Oostrom, director of the Nierstichting. “It was our patients’ organization that actually initiated this innovation. We noticed that the large dialysis manufacturers had little motivation to develop smaller, portable artificial kidneys. Therefore, more than a decade ago, we made the decision to take control of the situation.”
The project draws inspiration from the work of Willem Kolff, the Dutch physician who created the first dialysis machine in 1945 and later contributed to the invention of the heart-lung machine in the United States. Although Kolff once tried to design a portable artificial kidney, technological barriers stood in the way at the time. “About twenty years ago, when he was already very old, Kolff encouraged us to develop such a device ourselves,” Oostrom said. “According to him, the technology was now advanced enough.”
To move the idea forward, the Nierstichting partnered with Dutch research organization TNO to identify suitable collaborators. This effort eventually led to the formation of Nextkidney, a consortium involving companies from Singapore and Switzerland. Early versions of the device were tested in France alongside UMC Utrecht, producing encouraging outcomes. Financial backing has also been secured from three major Dutch health insurers—CZ, Menzis, and Zilveren Kruis—to support commercialization.
This year’s clinical trials include approximately 50 patients in Utrecht, Brussels, and Caen. The current phase goes beyond short hospital-based testing and focuses on longer-term use, including dialysis performed at home. “Where initial tests evaluated the model in the hospital for a short period, we are now testing it for longer and assessing how it performs when patients use it at home,” said Karin Gerritsen, internist-nephrologist at UMC Utrecht and lead investigator of the European study. “We are examining everything: Does the device clean blood effectively and remove excess fluid? Do patients experience side effects? What impact does this dialysis have on blood pressure, heart rate, and blood values? Ultimately, we will conduct and assess at least 1,000 treatments.”
If the findings continue to be positive, Nextkidney plans to apply for regulatory approval in both Europe and the United States. Dutch health insurers anticipate that the device could be reimbursed by 2027 or 2028, potentially lowering healthcare costs by reducing the need for constant medical supervision during dialysis.
(The above image is for illustrative purposes only)