Organ preservation apparatus and methods

Abstract

This invention is a transportable organ preservation system that substantially increases the time during which the organ can be maintained viable for successful implantation into a human recipient. A chilled oxygenated nutrient solution is pumped through the vascular bed of the organ after excision of the organ from the donor and during transport. The device of the present invention uses flexible permeable tubing to oxygenate the perfusion fluid while the CO.sub.2 produced by the organ diffuses out of the perfusion fluid. One pressurized two liter “C” cylinder that contains 255 liters of oxygen at standard temperature and pressure can supply oxygen for up to 34 hours of perfusion time. The device uses a simple electric pump driven by a storage battery to circulate the perfusion fluid through the organ being transported. The vessel containing the organ to be transported is held at 4.degree. C. by coolant blocks.

1 . Apparatus comprising a perfusion fluid loop for maintaining an ex vivo organ in viable condition for transplantation, said perfusion fluid loop comprising: an organ container for receiving an organ to be transported, a bubble remover for removing gas bubbles from perfusion fluid disposed in said perfusion fluid loop, and an oxygenator for supplying oxygen to and removing carbon dioxide from perfusion fluid disposed in said perfusion fluid loop.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , which is a compact assembly for transportation of an organ.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump for circulating a perfusion fluid in said perfusion fluid loop.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , in which said perfusion loop further comprises a flexible tube and said pump comprises a peristaltic impeller for driving fluid flow in said flexible tube.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer container for carrying said perfusion fluid loop.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising tubing for connecting said organ container, bubble remover, and oxygenator to define said perfusion loop.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising quick connect-disconnect couplings for connecting said tubing to said organ container, bubble remover, and oxygenator.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which said quick connect-disconnect couplings are color-coded.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a perfusion fluid disposed in said perfusion fluid loop.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said bubble remover is a separate chamber from said oxygenator and said organ container.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said oxygenator is a separate chamber from said organ container and said bubble remover.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said organ container is a separate chamber from said oxygenator and said bubble remover.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said perfusion fluid loop comprises a headspace positioned for collecting a gas from perfusion fluid and a venting valve communicating with said headspace, through which a gas may be vented to the atmosphere.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , in which said venting valve is a check valve to permit flow of fluid out of said perfusion fluid loop.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which said organ container has an inlet and an outlet for perfusion fluid.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter having a first portion defining a perfusion fluid inlet and a second portion adapted for connection to a vessel of an organ in said organ container, for directing perfusion fluid into the vessel.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said adapter fluid inlet comprises a quick connect-disconnect hose connection.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , in which said organ container comprises a cover having an inside portion and an outside portion.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , in which said adapter is connected to the inside portion of said cover.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , in which said organ container has an opening sized to pass an organ into said organ chamber, normally closed by a cover in use, said cover having an inside portion and an outside portion.