Contact us

ELAD Design and Operation

ELAD Design and Operation

During ELAD therapy, blood is drawn from the patient via a central venous line and then passes through the bedside unit tubing where plasma ultrafiltrate is generated from whole blood using the ultrafiltrate generator. The patient’s plasma ultrafiltrate then passes into the four ELAD cartridges where it contacts our C3A cells after passing through fibers which allow appropriate two-way transfer of toxins, metabolites and nutrients, mimicking liver function. The fibers, made of a semi-permeable membrane, permit passage of macromolecules from our C3A cells to the patient’s plasma ultrafiltrate. At the same time, these fibers permit the passage of toxins such as ammonia and bilirubin and nutrients such as glucose and oxygen from the plasma ultrafiltrate to our C3A cells. Heparin, a widely-available anti-coagulant drug, is administered during ELAD therapy in some patients to prevent blood-clotting in the ultrafiltrate cartridge. Treated plasma ultrafiltrate is then filtered, reconstituted with blood cells and returned to the patient via the central venous catheter. Meanwhile, the bedside unit monitors temperature, pH, and oxygen concentrations in the plasma ultrafiltrate in order to maintain the cells’ viability. Therapy is expected to consist of a single session of continuous treatment lasting between three and ten days, as determined by the treating physician.