Figure 1: A schematic diagram of a BAL device. An example of a hollow-fiber type BAL device is illustrated. Hepatocytes are embedded into the extracapillary space of the cartridge. Blood (in vivo model) or medium (in vitro model) flows into the lumen of the hollow fibers. Metabolites are supplied from hepatocytes (red arrows), whereas toxic substances are eliminated from the patient’s blood (blue arrows) and detoxified by hepatocytes.