Home Dialysis Machine Gives Patients More Freedom

Ivan Rivera of Orlando, Florida is a young man learning to live with kidney failure. He started out by getting hemodialysis at a nearby clinic three days a week for four hours at a time. Now his days are free to pursue what he wants out of life thanks to the Liberty^® Cycler, a new machine that allows him to self-administer his peritoneal dialysis at home while he sleeps.

"Since I began my treatment on the Liberty Cycler, it's been easy to use and amazing for my health and way of life," Rivera said. "Now that I dialyze at home during the night, I have more energy during the day. I feel better overall and I’m even able to exercise again." (See video included).

Unlike home hemodialysis that requires a care partner to help ensure patient safety, the Liberty Cycler is designed to be operated independently. The Liberty Cycler is easy and safe enough for patients to administer their own treatments and dialyze while they sleep. People like Ivan with active, independent lifestyles can not only dialyze at home, but wherever life’s travels may take them.

"Fresenius Medical Care recognizes that many dialysis patients have active lifestyles, and want more choices for treatment,” said Michael Lazarus, MD, chief medical officer and senior executive VP, at Fresenius Medical Care North America. "Many patients have discovered that dialyzing while they sleep provides them with the freedom to continue to pursue their careers, care for their families, or enjoy their years of retirement. We’re excited to hear from patients like Ivan, who are finding the Liberty Cycler’s innovative technology a source of empowerment in their lives.”

The Liberty Cycler was created for use in automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) therapy, which is a treatment used by the majority of home dialysis patients in the United States. People who choose APD dialyze at home every day and eliminate regular trips to the clinic. Patients often report increased energy levels and improved treatment results, which can contribute to a better quality of life.

The Liberty Cycler is small enough to fit on a nightstand, requires no special plumbing or electrical hook-ups and, unlike hemodialysis, does not require needles. At less than 30 pounds, it is easily taken along on trips using the custom travel stroller.

The Liberty Cycler is available only through the facilities of Fresenius Medical Care, operator of the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities. The company’s UltraCare^® mission is to deliver excellent care to patients through innovative programs, the latest technology, continuous quality improvement and a focus on superior customer service. UltraCare at home™ now represents the company’s broader commitment to deliver that same excellence of care and service to the growing population of home dialysis patients. Through UltraCare at home Fresenius Medical Care offers a variety of treatment options that physicians can prescribe to their patients that are well-suited for dialysis at home.

Dialysis is a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood, removes extra fluids, and controls the body’s chemistry when a person’s kidneys fail. Dialysis patients typically require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.

For more information about an UltraCare at home program near you call 1-866-647-9396 or visit www.UltraCareAtHome.com (in English and Spanish).

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Fresenius Medical Care North America is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,600,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,388 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to approximately 184,080 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS-p).

For more information about Fresenius Medical Care's U.S. network of more than 1,700 dialysis facilities, visit the Company's website at www.UltraCare-Dialysis.com (in English and Spanish). For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the Company’s websites: www.fmcna.com or www.fmc-ag.com.

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