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

US8609400B2 · 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
• Dickon Isaacs · Chicago, US
• Douglas Schein · Des Plaines, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 12, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 17, 2013
• Expiry date: May 12, 2030

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. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.