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Montreal teenager Anya Pogharian has received international attention for a portable dialysis machine she created for a local science fair.

What started off as a science project may have a revolutionary impact for dialysis patients.

Montreal teenager Anya Pogharian has received international attention for a portable dialysis machine she created for a local science fair.

“I wanted to mimic the exact same circuit as a dialysis machine because I’m trying to see if the cost can be reduced while maintaining the functionality,” explained the teen inventor, who has spent well over 300 hours on the project, even though the science fair only required 10.

Inspired after a summer of volunteering at the Montreal General Hospital, the teen said she realized that a portable system could make a major difference.

Typically used by kidney disease patients, dialysis removes waste and excess water from the blood. It can be a time-consuming process.

“Dialysis normally takes hours in a hospital setting, several times a week,” she said, adding that a portable machine could help bring the treatment to those who need it abroad. “Like for example, 90 per cent of patients living in India and Pakistan who need the treatment to survive don’t have access to it. So, a lot of preventable deaths.”

She started researching the problem online and read owner’s manuals of dialysis machines to provide inspiration and insight into how to invent her own.

While dialysis machines currently cost about $30,000, her second prototype cost about $550 to build and is receiving international interest.

Hema-Quebec approached her with an idea to test it in their Quebec City lab. The results were impressive.

“We were expecting to run the system for 2.5 hours and after 25 minutes (the patient) was already in the zone where we wanted the level of potassium to be, so the system was quite efficient,” said Yves Blais, vice-president of research and development for Hema-Quebec.

They’ve invited Pogharian back to test her third prototype when it’s ready.

As she prepares to start her last year of CEGEP, Pogharian has a few projects on the side, including giving a Ted X talk and collaborating with a Harvard professor.

Developing her project is always top-of-mind, though.

“I just found it interesting, just really interesting and I saw there was a need and I figured, ‘Why don’t I try something?’” she said.

MONTREAL—Seventeen-year-old Anya Pogharian’s high school science project could end up changing the way dialysis care is delivered, reports CBC News from Montreal.

After poring over online dialysis machine owner’s manuals, she developed a new prototype using simple technology.

While machines currently cost about $30,000, hers would cost just $500 — making it more affordable for people to buy and have at home.

Pogharian was inspired by volunteering at a hospital dialysis unit. When she was assigned a high school science project, she chose to work on a new kind of dialysis unit. She spent 300 hours on her invention — well above and beyond the mandatory 10 hours.

Dialysis is the process of cleaning waste from the blood. It’s typically used for people who have kidney disease. The treatment takes about four hours a couple times per week.

Anya Pogharian told CBC that she was inspired to find a better solution for patients who need dialysis after volunteering at a hospital.

Pogharian said she wanted to find a way to improve the procedure, which can be hard on patients.

“It takes a lot of energy out of them,” said Pogharian. “They’re very tired after a dialysis treatment.”

“You wouldn’t have to make your way to the hospital, which is a problem for a lot of patients. It’s not necessarily easy to make your way to the hospital three times a week, especially if you have limited mobility,” she said.

Her project has earned her a slew of scholarships and awards. Now, Héma-Québec has offered her a summer internship, to try out her invention with real blood.

“All the population will benefit from that kind of instrument that will reduce medical care cost, hospitalization stays. Basically, it’s a great idea,” said Louis Thibault, director of applied research at Héma-Québec.

Pogharian said she hopes one day her invention will be used overseas.

“Ten percent of patients living in India and Pakistan who need the treatment can’t afford it or can’t have it in any way. It’s not accessible. So that motivated me.”

But Pogharian says right now she’s focusing on doing well on her midterm exams.