Hemodialyzer membranes and configurations: a historical perspective.

The principle of hemodialysis (HD) was first described over a century ago while the first human HD treatment was performed in 1923 with collodion tubes. Since that time, a variety of different hemodialyzer configurations and membranes have been used. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical review of these various configurations and membranes. The rotating drum, coil, parallel flow, and hollow fiber artificial kidneys are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the factors that have influenced the shaping of the contemporary HD market.