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Meanwhile, Friedman, who now has two portable kidney machines, is assembling four more for testing at other hospitals. If his high hopes are borne out, he expects commercial production within two years (estimated cost: about $3,000 per unit v. $5,500 for today's home dialysis machine). Suitcase kidneys, he feels, will be a boon not only to dialysis patients who want to travel but also to small rural hospitals, which could use them in emergencies. The little machines could also be used for happier occasions. Last week another of Friedman's patients took a suitcase kidney on his honeymoon.