Method and system for a bioartificial organ

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a stem cell organ device including an array of alternating stem cell channels and fluid channels. In one example, a method may include loading a stem cell channel with stem cells and flowing blood through a fluid channel in order to allow an exchange of molecules between the stem cells and the blood.

1 . A method for a stem cell organ device fluidly coupled to a user comprising:
 entering a blood bypass mode in response to stem cells being less than fully loaded into the stem cell organ device, the blood bypass mode comprising flowing blood through a multi-fluid manifold and back to the user without filtering the blood.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blood bypass mode further comprises flowing blood through a first port of the multi-fluid manifold via a variable pump, wherein flowing blood through the first port comprises flowing blood through a bypass passage fluidly coupling the stem cell organ device to the user, the bypass passage being fluidly separated from a plurality of fluid channels in which the stem cells are arranged. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising entering a blood mode in response to stem cells being fully loaded into the stem cell organ device, wherein blood flows through a second port of the multi-media manifold, through the plurality of fluid channels, and back to the user without entering the bypass passage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising filtering blood in the blood mode, wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels comprises a membrane, and where the membrane separates the stem cells in a fluid channel from blood so that stems cells and blood do not directly contact one another, and where the membrane is shaped to allow nutrients to pass from the stem cells to the blood and for salt, water, and toxins to pass from the blood to the stem cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising exiting the blood mode in response to one or more of stem cells being degraded and a threshold color change. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stem cells are degraded in response to a salt concentration being greater than a threshold salt concentration, a water concentration being greater than a threshold water concentration, and a toxin concentration being greater than a threshold toxin concentration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold color change is determined via one or more of an optical sensor arranged in the stem cell device and the user visualizing a color of the stem cells through a transparent glass cover layer of the stem cell organ device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising entering a flush mode in response to the stem cells being fully loaded, the flush mode comprising flowing a flush solution to and through the plurality of fluid channels, wherein flowing the flush solution further comprises the variable pump directing the flush solution through a third port of the multi-fluid manifold, and where the flush solution and blood do not mix during the flush and blood bypass modes. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 loading stem cells into a plurality of fluid channels during a media mode;   flushing the plurality of fluid channels with a flushing solution during a flush mode; and   filtering blood flowing on a side of a membrane in a fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels opposite the stem cells during a blood mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flush mode further comprises removing media from the plurality of fluid channels, and where the flushing solution is saline. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising passing one or more compounds including water, toxins, salt, and nutrients through the membrane during the blood mode without allowing stem cells or blood to flow through the membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising entering a bypass mode which comprises bypassing blood through a bypass passage during the media mode and the flush mode, wherein blood does not enter the plurality of fluid channels during the bypass mode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bypass mode is terminated in response to the plurality of fluid channels being fully loaded with stem cells and flushed with the flushing solution. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a stem cell organ device comprising a plurality of fluid channels, wherein a fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels comprises a membrane dividing the fluid channel into a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel;   a multi-fluid manifold comprising a plurality of ports for directing fluids to the first fluid channel, the second fluid channel, and to a bypass passage;   a variable pump configured to flow a plurality of fluids to the plurality of ports; and   a controller comprising instructions stored in non-transitory memory that when executed enable the controller to:
 enter a bypass mode in response to one of a media mode or a flush mode being executed; 
 enter a blood mode in response to each of the media mode and the flush mode being complete. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the variable pump directs blood through a first port of the multi-fluid manifold during the bypass mode, the first port being fluidly coupled to a bypass passage fluidly separated from the plurality of fluid channels, and where the variable pump directs blood through a second port of the multi-fluid manifold during the blood mode, wherein the second port is fluidly coupled to the second fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the variable pump directs media through a third port of the multi-fluid manifold to the first fluid channel during the media mode, and where the variable pump directs a flushing solution through a fourth port of the multi-fluid manifold to the first and second fluid channels during the flush mode, and where the flush mode is executed following the media mode. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the flush mode is entered following completion of the blood mode, wherein the blood mode is complete in response to a biomarker indicating blood purity is greater than a threshold purity, wherein the biomarker is one or more of a blood toxin, salt, and water. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein following completion of the flush mode following completion of the blood mode, the media mode is entered, wherein media flows to the first fluid channel to maintain a viability of stem cells arranged therein for a future treatment session. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the stem cell organ device is a portable device, and where a patient receiving treatment from the device may walk or perform other activities while receiving a treatment from the stem cell organ device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the bypass mode comprises blood returning to a patient without being filtered, and where the first fluid channel is a stem cell channel and the second fluid channel is a blood channel.