Apparatus and method for maintaining and/or restoring viability of organs

US8268612B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LIFELINE SCIENTIFIC, INC. · US

Inventors

• Donald R. Owen · New Orleans, US
• David Kravitz · Chicago, US
• John Brassil · Northbrook, US
• Kelvin G. M. Brockbank · Charleston, US
• Andrew Burroughs · Kenosha, US
• Douglas Schein · Des Plaines, US
• Dickon Isaacs · Chicago, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 10, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 18, 2012
• Expiry date: Aug 10, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L67/02
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. 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 i…