Method for maintaining and/or restoring viability of organs
US6977140B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/02
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and/or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In perfusion, organ perfusion pressure is preferably controlled in response to a sensor disposed in an end of tubing placed in the organ, by a pneumatically pressurized medical fluid reservoir, providing perfusion pressure fine tuning, overpressurization prevention and emergency flow cut-off. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. The medical fluid may be fed into the organ from an intermediary tank ha…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.