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Kidney dialysis machines use osmosis to take over the filtering function of
the kidneys. Dialysis machines use a semi-permeable membrane, which is
a membrane through which some small molecules can pass (such as
water, salts, and metabolites) but through which larger objects (such as
proteins and blood cells) cannot. Dialysis machines take the blood and
place a semi-permeable membrane between the blood and a large volume
of a liquid called the dialysis solution. Osmosis causes the metabolites to
flow out of the blood, through the membrane, and into the dialysis solution,
which is continuously replaced. The membrane also allows electrolytes to
pass through so that the blood can get rid of extra electrolytes.
Consequently, dialysis machines use the power of osmosis to get toxins
out of the blood and replace the filtering function of the kidneys.