Systems for monitoring and applying electrical currents in an organ perfusion system

• US 20080234768A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TransMedics, Inc. (TransMedics Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TransMedics, Inc. (TransMedics Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Havener, Robert, Hassanein, Waleed, Bringham, Richard, Ochs, Burt, Lambert, Vincent, Elbetanony, Ahmed
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/4
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0247 for perfusion, i.e. for circulating fluid through organs, blood vessels or other living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0294 Electromagnetic, i.e. using electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0488 Details about the lead
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

Electrode systems have been developed for use in perfusion systems to measure the electrical activity of an explanted heart and to provide defibrillation energy as necessary. The perfusion systems maintain the heart in a beating state at, or near, normal physiological conditions; circulating oxygenated, nutrient enriched perfusion fluid to the heart at or near physiological temperature, pressure and flow rate. These systems include a pair of electrodes that are placed epicardially on the right atrium and left ventricle of the explanted heart, as well as an electrode placed in the aortic blood path.

Claims

1. An organ care system comprising:

a first electrode connected to the organ care system for receiving signals from an explanted heart;

a second electrode connected to the organ care system for receiving signals from the explanted heart and sending signals thereto; and

a third electrode connected to the organ care system for sending signals to the explanted heart,

wherein at least one of the second and third electrode is maintained in a sterile environment.

2. The organ care system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is configured to be placed in the bloodstream.

3. The organ care system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second electrode and third electrode is configured to be placed on the explanted heart.

4. The organ care system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second electrode and third electrode is covered with silicone.

5. The organ care system of claim 1, wherein the signals are at least one of ECG signals, defibrillation signals, and pacing signals.

6. The organ care system of claim 1, wherein the sterile environment further comprises a housing.

7. The organ care system of claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises a pad, wherein the pad is configured to receive an explanted heart.

8. The organ care system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the second electrode and the third electrode is held in place against the pad by the weight of the heart.

9. An organ care system comprising:

a first electrode connected to the organ care system for receiving signals from an explanted heart,

wherein the first electrode is configured to be placed in the aortic bloodstream of the explanted heart;

a second electrode connected to the organ care system for receiving signals from the explanted heart and sending signals thereto,

wherein the second electrode is configured to be placed on the explanted heart adjacent the right atria; and

a third electrode connected to the organ care system for sending signal to the explanted heart,

wherein the third electrode is configured to be placed epicardially on the explanted heart adjacent the left ventricle.

10. The organ care system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the second and third electrode is covered with silicone.

11. The organ care system of claim 9, wherein the system further comprises a pad, wherein the pad is configured to receive the explanted heart.

12. The organ care system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the second electrode and the third electrode is held in place against the pad by the weight of the heart.

13. The organ care system of claim 9, wherein an electrical circuit is completed between the first electrode and the second electrode utilizing as a conductor at least one of a perfusion fluid and the heart.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a first electrode for placement in the aortic bloodstream of an explanted heart,

wherein the first electrode is comprised of at least one of stainless steel and polycarbonate;

a second electrode for epicardial placement on the explanted heart;

a third electrode for epicardial placement on the explanted,

wherein at least one of the second electrode and third electrode is comprised of stainless steel, and

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second electrode and third electrode is covered by silicone; and

wherein at least one of the first electrode, second electrode and third electrode is configured to send and receive signals to the explanted heart.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of the second and third electrode is held against in place against a pad by the weight of the explanted organ.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pad is at least partially comprised of silicone, and wherein at least one of the second and third electrode is at least partially held in place by friction.

29. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first electrode further comprises silicone.

17. An organ care system comprising:

a chamber,

the chamber further comprising

a pad;

wherein the pad is comprised of silicone;

an electrode for placement in a conduit containing a perfusion fluid; and

at least one electrode for placement adjacent an explanted organ,

wherein the at least one electrode is at least partially covered by silicone.

18. The organ care system of claim 17, wherein the at least one electrode for epicardial placement is configured to send and receive signals to an explanted heart.

19. The organ care system of claim 18, wherein the at least one electrode for epicardial placement is at least partially held in place against the pad by the weight of the explanted heart.

20. The organ care system of claim 17, wherein the at least one electrode for epicardial placement is at least partially held in place on the pad by friction.

21. An organ care system comprising:

an aortic electrode connected to the organ care system for placement in an aortic bloodpath of an explanted heart,

wherein the aortic electrode is configured to receive ECG signals from the explanted heart;

a right atrial electrode connected to the organ care system for epicardial placement on the explanted heart,

wherein the right atrial electrode is configured to receive ECG signal from the explanted heart, and

wherein the right atrial electrode is configured to send to the explanted heart at least one of defibrillation energy and pacing signals; and

a left ventricle electrode connected to the organ care system for epicardial placement on the explanted heart,

wherein the left ventricle electrode is configured to send to the explanted heart at least one of defibrillation energy and pacing signals.

22. The organ care system of claim 21, wherein the ECG signals received by the aortic electrode and the right atrial electrode are received by a circuit at least partially comprised of the aortic electrode, the right atrial electrode, a perfusion fluid and the explanted heart.

23. An organ care system comprising:

a circuit for receiving ECG signals from an explanted heart,

wherein the circuit comprises a first electrode placed in the aortic bloodpath of the explanted heart, a second electrode placed epicardially, a perfusion fluid and the explanted heart.

24. A method for measuring ECG signals in an organ care system,

the method comprising:

receiving signals from a circuit measuring ECG signals produced by an explanted heart,

wherein the circuit comprises a first electrode placed in the aortic bloodpath of the explanted heart, a second electrode placed epicardially, a perfusion fluid and the explanted heart.

25. A method for sending and receiving signals in an organ care system,

the method comprising:

receiving ECG signals from a first circuit measured from an explanted heart; and

sending at least one of defibrillation signals and pacing signals to a second circuit,

wherein the first circuit comprises a first electrode placed in the aortic bloodpath of the explanted heart, a second electrode placed epicardially, a perfusion fluid and the explanted heart, and

wherein the second circuit comprises the second electrode, a third electrode placed epicardially on the explanted heart and a defibrillation source.

26. An electrode comprising:

a first side; and

a second side,

wherein the electrode is comprised of stainless steel, and

wherein at least one of the first side and the second side is at least partially covered by silicone, and

wherein the electrode is configured to be resistance welded to a wire, and

wherein the electrode is configured to be placed epicardially.

27. An electrode comprising:

an electrically conductive pin for placement within a bloodpath of an organ care system;

a wire for electrically coupling the electrode to the organ care system;

wherein the wire and the pin are physically and electrically connected by a conductive epoxy.

28. An organ care system comprising:

an aortic electrode connected to the organ care system for placement in an aortic bloodpath of an explanted heart,

wherein the aortic electrode is configured to receive ECG signals from the explanted heart;

a right atrial electrode connected to the organ care system for epicardial placement on the explanted heart.

wherein the right atrial electrode is configured to receive ECG signal from the explanted heart.

30. An organ care system comprising:

at least one electrode configured to be placed in the bloodstream;

at least one electrode configured to be placed epicardially,

wherein the at least one electrode configured to be placed in the bloodstream and the at least one electrode configured to be placed epicardially are configured to receive ECG signals from the explanted heart.