Question

Parallel flow dialyzer has a low internal resistance. Because of this blood pump is required.

(a) True

(b) False

I had been asked this question in a job interview.

This intriguing question comes from Digital Recorders in chapter Recording System of Biomedical Instrumentation

Answer 1

Correct choice is (b) False

Explanation: Parallel flow dialyzer has a low internal resistance which allows adequate blood flow through the dialyzer with the patient’s arterial blood pressure, eliminating the need for a blood pump.  The dialyzing surface area of a parallel flow dialyzer is about 1 sq m. At a blood flow rate of 200 ml/min and a dialysate flow of 500 ml/min, the urea and creatinine clearance is about 80 and 64 ml/min.