A dialysis machine mimics some of the functions of a human kidney. A primary job of kidneys is to remove urea and certain salts from blood so they can exit the body in urine.
A dialysis machine removes blood from the patient and runs it through tubes made of a semi-porous membrane. On the outside of the tubes is a sterile solution made of water, sugars and other components. Certain substances including red blood cells, white blood cells and other important blood components cannot fit through the pores in the membranes because those components are too large. The urea and salt, however, flow through membranes easily and are removed through the sterile solution.
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