Easier monitoring of peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis (PD dialysis) is a form of treatment that uses the patient's own peritoneum. In this treatment, the peritoneum acts as a semi-permeable membrane, through which the waste substances produced by the kidneys are transferred from the blood to a special dialysis fluid pumped into the abdominal cavity. Waste products exit the body as the dialysis fluid is drained out of the peritoneum.

“Smart PD Solutions is developing a form of treatment which enables the easy analysis of dialysis fluid at home. Traditionally, this analysis has been carried out once a year and requires the patient to visit both the hospital and the laboratory. This is a long analysis interval and is often inconvenient for the patient. Our analysis can be conducted more easily and more often, for example, weekly or monthly. In the future, the analysis will be possible in the patient's own home, where they can use the measuring device we have developed,” says Chief Technology Officer, Markku Känsäkoski, from Smart PD Solutions. Känsäkoski, an electrical engineer, has worked with various measuring devices in many different tasks for thirty years.

Co-founder of the company, Pirgit Silvast-Äikäs, in turn, has worked for many years with dialysis patients. During this time, many practical issues related to dialysis analysis have become concretely familiar to her. Smart PD Solutions was founded in 2019, and in 2022 it received a EUR 50,000 SILMU grant from the Instrumentarium Science Foundation to develop its operations.

From the lab to the field

Peritoneal dialysis can be monitored at the patient's home, as often as is considered necessary. In the past, taking and analysing a sample has been manual work. The measuring device designed by Smart PD Solutions enables the condition of dialysis fluid in the peritoneum to be monitored much more easily.

“As a company, we are still young and only in the research phase. We are constantly improving our measurement methods. Our research also influences the design and manufacture of the final measuring device. At this stage, our research is still mostly conducted in the laboratory, but later we will also start conducting it in the field. The measurement method is somewhat similar to the measurement of a patient's blood sugar. A disposable sensor cartridge is inserted into the measuring device, and a reader shows the result clearly," explains Känsäkoski.

Great quantum leaps are seldom made in medicine. It will take many years for the Smart PD Solutions measuring device to reach customers' homes.

“Initially, the measuring device will support medical research, and will provide researchers with valuable information on the functioning of the peritoneum. The results we gather will serve as the basis for developing an easy-to-use device that works in patients' homes. It may already be in use in 5–10 years, Känsäkoski speculates.

SILMU grant offers both financial and mental support

Medical devices are not developed quickly, and development work typically requires external funding. Such an early-stage company and its interesting innovation often need support from many quarters. In 2022, Smart PD Solutions has received a EUR 50,000 SILMU grant from the Instrumentarium Science Foundation. The company has also received funding from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) and the Foundation for Finnish Inventions, among others.

“The SILMU grant is very important to us. It enables us to take our research forward and brings us another step closer to the final measuring device. Funding is also important because the support of an external financier strengthens not only your financial situation, but also your faith in your own work. The SILMU grant is part of a positive circle, which will hopefully be seen as a door-opener for new funders in our next funding rounds,” Känsäkoski believes.

Text: Kai Tarkka / Viestintäpalvelu Taika Oy
Picture: Markku Känsäkoski