Dialysis machines were devised in the 1940’s. These machines treated people whose kidneys had failed. They work by clearing out the impurities normally removed by the kidneys. In the early 1960’s
`The Milton Roy MK II` machine was introduced for home use. Paitients normally spent three, eight hour periods per week connected to the machine.
By the 1980’s the number of patients receiving successful kidney transplants were increasing. A newer treatment allowed patients to be up and about while it is taking place. It is called continuous ambulant peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).