Fundamental principles behind dialysis treatment that allows technicians to effectively filter excess water and waste from the bloodstream.

1. Dialysis Treatment
Principles of Osmosis and Diffusion

2. What is Dialysis?
 Complex Medical Procedure
 Used to Remove Excess Water and Waste From the Blood
 Prolongs Life in Individuals Who Suffer From Kidney Failure
 Utilizes the Principles of Osmosis and Diffusion
 Has Experienced an Increase in Demand

3. Bloodstream Components
 Solutes
 Solvents
 Electrolytes, Sugar, Salt
 Water
 Dialysis Uses What is Known as Dialysate

4. Dialysis Machine
 Contains a Permeable Membrane
 Impermeable to Blood and Proteins
 Allows the Body to Retain Important Particles
 Small Particles Like Waste and Water are Filtered
 A Damaged Membrane May Allow Important Particles to Pass

5. How Dialysis Works
 Blood is Transported From the Body to the Machine
 Blood Travels Past the Permeable Membrane
 Small Particles are Filtered
 Dialysate Carries Filtrate to Disposal Container
 Cleaned Blood is Transported Back to the Body

6. Osmosis
 Describes How Solvents Move Across Membranes
 From Area of Low Particle Concentration to High Concentration
 Water Leaves the Bloodstream to Follow Solutes
 Can Be Reabsorbed by the Body

7. Diffusion
 Describes How Solutes Move Across Membranes
 From Areas of High Concentration to Low Concentration
 Particles Travel Out of the Blood and Into Collection Area
 Shunting of Filtrate Maintains the Concentration Gradient

8. Treatment Duration
 Typically Lasts Between 3 and 5 Hours
 Blood is Circulated Through the Machine Many Times
 Without Treatment Waste Would Accumulate
 Treatments Must Occur 3 to 5 Times Each Week
 Generally Administered by a Dialysis Technician

9. Reference
 http://www.dialysistechniciansalary.org/