Methods of organ vitality assessment

Abstract

A method of organ vitality assessment using bioelectric impedance analysis in a biological model for body composition analysis, and using the results to provide an objective assessment of volume and distribution of tissues, as well as electrical health of cells and membranes of an organ.

1 . A method of organ vitality assessment, comprising the steps of: 
 utilizing bioelectric impedance analysis in a biological model for body composition analysis; and    using the results of said utilizing step to provide an objective assessment of volume and distribution of fluid and tissues, as well as electrical health of cells and membranes of said organ.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , including the step of: 
 utilizing a modified bioelectric impedance analysis for body composition analysis to assess the health of cells of said organ by the measured reactance thereof.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the steps of: 
 placing signal introduction electrodes on opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , including the steps of: 
 placing signal introduction electrodes on opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , including the following additional steps: 
 again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes at said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    measuring and recording third values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ;    then again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording fourth values of said resistance and said reactance of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to said third and fourth values to determine if the values are within a predetermined acceptable range of agreement denoting no further loss of said organ vitality.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , including the following additional steps: 
 again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes at said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    measuring and recording third values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ;    then again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording fourth values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to said third and fourth values to determine if the values are within a predetermined acceptable range of agreement denoting no further loss of said organ vitality.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the steps of: 
 upon harvesting said organ from a donor, placing signal introduction electrodes on opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 2 , including the steps of: 
 upon harvesting said organ from a donor, placing signal introduction electrodes on opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , including the steps of: 
 upon arrival of said organ at the location of a recipient, placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , including the steps of: 
 upon arrival of said organ at the location of a recipient, placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , including the steps of: 
 prior to the implantation of said organ into said recipient, again placing said signal detection electrodes at said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    measuring and recording third values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ;    then again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording fourth values of said resistance and said reactance of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to said third and fourth values to determine if the values are within a predetermined acceptable range of agreement denoting no further loss of said organ vitality.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , including the steps of: 
 prior to the implantation of said organ into said recipient, again placing said signal detection electrodes at said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    measuring and recording third values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ;    then again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording fourth values of said resistance and said reactance of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to said third and fourth values to determine if the values are within a predetermined acceptable range of agreement denoting no further loss of said organ vitality.    
     
     
         13 . A method of organ vitality assessment, comprising the steps of: 
 placing signal introduction electrodes on opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to assess vitality of said organ.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , including the following additional steps: 
 again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes at said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    measuring and recording third values of resistance and reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ;    then again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording fourth values of said resistance and said reactance, and calculating the phase angle of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to said third and fourth values to determine if the values are within a predetermined acceptable range of agreement denoting no further loss of said organ vitality.    
     
     
         15 . A method of organ vitality assessment for transplantation of an organ being assessed, comprising the steps of: 
 placing signal introduction electrodes on opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ upon harvesting of said organ;    placing signal detection electrodes at superior and inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial measurement upon said harvesting of said organ;    measuring and recording first values of resistance and reactance of said organ in said initial measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording second values of said resistance and said reactance of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to normal values to determine if said organ is acceptable or not for said transplantation.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 if said organ is acceptable, then prior to implanting said organ, performing the following steps;    again placing said signal introduction electrodes on said opposite lateral peripheral borders of said organ;    again placing said signal detection electrodes at said superior and said inferior borders of said organ for a first part of an initial post-harvest/pre-implant measurement;    measuring and recording third values of resistance and reactance of said organ in said initial post-harvest/pre-implant measurement;    then placing said signal introduction electrodes on said superior and said inferior borders of said organ;    placing said signal detection electrodes on said opposite lateral borders of said organ;    measuring and recording fourth values of said resistance and said reactance of said organ; and    comparing said first and second values to said third and fourth values to determine if the values are within a predetermined acceptable range of agreement denoting no further loss of said organ vitality.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 once said organ is transplanted into a recipient, follow-up measurements of whole-body and regional resistance and reactance and the calculation of phase angle specific to a site of transplant of said organs, will be made with electrodes placed for a whole-body measurement (wrist and ankle) and with the detection electrodes superior and inferior, as well as medial lateral to the organ site.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 once said organ is transplanted into a recipient, follow-up measurements of whole-body and regional resistance and reactance and the calculation of phase angle specific to a site of transplant of said organs, will be made with electrodes placed for a whole-body measurement (wrist and ankle) and with the detection electrodes superior and inferior, as well as medial lateral to the organ site.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , including: 
 harvesting said organ from a first species of biological entity; and    implanting said organ in a different species of biological entity.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , including: 
 harvesting said organ from a first species of biological entity; and    implanting said organ in a different species of biological entity.