An artificial kidney that would be implanted inside the body and work as well as a living organ is just around the corner, scientists have revealed.

U.S researchers have just unveiled the first prototype model of the device, that could eliminate the need for dialysis.

It would include thousands of microscopic filters to remove toxins from the blood and a bioreactor to mimic the metabolic and water-balancing roles of a real kidney.

The kidney is being developed in a collaborative effort by engineers, biologists and physicians led by Dr Shuvo Roy at the University of California San Francisco.