THEORETICAL DESCRIPTION OF MASS-TRANSPORT IN MEDICAL MEMBRANE DEVICES

The application of the one-dimensional theory of mass transport to the derivation of mathematical formulas for clearances of a variety of me mbrane mass exchangers, namely hemodialyzers, hemofilters, plasma sepa rators, and the cascade filtration procedure, has been reviewed. The a pplied theory predicts that clearances depend approximately on fluid i nlet flow rates but not on concentrations, and with constant fluid flo w rates, clearances are constant. Also, the application of device clea rance in kinetic modeling has been discussed.