About the Research Group
This project is part of ESCH-R and KitNewCare, two leading initiatives driving sustainable healthcare in Europe. At UMC Utrecht, the Department of Nephrology serves as one of the clinical sites, focusing on accelerating circular practices by reducing single-use medical consumables and promoting systemic change to transform kidney care into a model for environmental sustainability. Our interdisciplinary research group, composed of engineers, designers, and healthcare professionals, plays a central role in developing sustainable medical technologies, circular workflows, and stakeholder-driven solutions. By designing reusable medical devices and optimizing hospital processes, we contribute to a more sustainable and circular healthcare system.
Project Description
Patients with kidney failure typically undergo hemodialysis treatment three times a week. A crucial component in this process is the dialyzer, also known as an artificial kidney, which filters waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform this function. To reduce treatment costs, the practice of reprocessing dialyzers—cleaning and preparing them for safe reuse—was widely adopted. At its peak, approximately 80 percent of dialysis clinics in the United States practiced dialyzer reuse. However, as single-use dialyzers became more affordable and widely available, combined with rising labor costs associated with reprocessing, the use of reusable dialyzers sharply declined. By the late 2000s, many high-income countries had shifted almost entirely to single-use practices. While single-use devices offer convenience, they also present significant disadvantages. The widespread reliance on disposable medical devices contributes to substantial medical waste, placing an increasing burden on environmental sustainability efforts and healthcare resource management. We aim to explore how dialyzer reprocessing could be reintroduced within a high-income healthcare setting in Europe. UMC Utrecht has been a pioneer in implementing innovative technologies to promote sustainability in healthcare. In 2021, a state-of-the-art, highly automated centralized sterilization unit was established to streamline the reprocessing of medical instruments, offering an ideal foundation for this exploration. This project will begin with an investigation of current practices, focusing on how dialyzers are used in hemodialysis treatments, how dialyzers are currently reprocessed, and how medical instruments are reprocessed within the centralized sterilization unit. Based on these insights, we will redesign the future workflow for dialyzer reprocessing in a modern hospital setting. The objective is to develop a system that effectively addresses labor challenges and safety concerns traditionally associated with dialyzer reuse, while contributing to a more sustainable healthcare.
Student Requirements
– Industrial Design, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
– Interested in the design and development of medical devices
– Passionate about sustainability in healthcare
– Ability to translate user needs and technical requirements into practical design solutions
– Experience or interest in automation technologies or industrial systems
– Proactive attitude with the ability to conduct interviews, observations, and gather user input
Project Length
Master’s Graduation Project (6 to 9 months)
Location
UMC Utrecht
Contact Information
Jan Tsai- PhD Student
c.tsai@umcutrecht.nl
