Method and apparatus for transferring heat to or from an organ or tissue container

• US 20100151559A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifeline Scientific, Inc. (Shanghai Genext Medical Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lifeline Scientific, Inc. (Shanghai Genext Medical Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Garland, Jeffrey C., Schein, Douglas, Wright, David Walter
• Granted Patent: US 8,097,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/284.100
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• 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 1/0273 Transport containers A01N1/0268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers

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 apparatus and methods include the cassette and transporter with heat transfer surfaces arranged to transfer heat between a cooling source in said transporter and the heat transfer surfaces of the cassette.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding an organ or tissue for at least one of perfusion, storage, diagnosis and transport of the organ or tissue, comprising:

an organ or tissue transporter configured to perfuse an organ or tissue;

a portable housing, the portable housing including an organ or tissue supporting surface configured to support the organ or tissue; and

a compartment within the transporter structured to receive the portable housing, the compartment having one or more heat transfer surfaces to transfer heat between a cooling source contained within the transporter and the portable housing, the compartment being liquid-tight and preventing contact between a cooling source contained within the transporter and the portable housing;

wherein at least a portion of at least one of the one or more heat transfer surfaces of the compartment is in contact with the cooling source to allow effective heat transfer to or from the portable housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling source is a cooling fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cooling fluid is a cryogenic fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cryogenic fluid is at least one of ice, water, and a combination of water and ice.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting surface is configured to support the organ or tissue while allowing effluent medical fluid to pass through the organ or tissue.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compartment and the portable housing have complementary configurations.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the portable housing is configured to mate with the compartment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable housing includes openings configured to allow tubing to pass through the openings and be connected to the organ.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tubing can pass through the openings when the portable housing is mated with the compartment.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tubing is configured to be mated with the portable housing, when the portable housing is removed from the compartment.

11. An apparatus for holding an organ or tissue for at least one of perfusion, storage, diagnosis and transport of the organ or tissue, comprising:

an organ or tissue transporter configured to perfuse an organ or tissue;

a portable housing having one or more heat transfer surfaces;

a compartment within the transporter having one or more heat transfer surfaces arranged on an outer surface of the compartment to transfer heat between a cooling source contained within the compartment and at least a part of one of the one or more heat transfer surfaces of the portable housing; and

an organ or tissue supporting surface configured to support the organ or tissue within said portable housing,

wherein the portable housing is configured to be received by the transporter and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the one or more heat transfer surfaces of the compartment is in contact with at least a portion of at least one of the one or more heat transfer surfaces of the portable housing to allow effective heat transfer to or from the contents of the portable housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cooling source is a cooling fluid.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cooling fluid is a cryogenic fluid.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cryogenic fluid is at least one of ice, water, and a combination of water and ice.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compartment and the portable housing have complementary configurations.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the portable housing is configured to mate with the compartment.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the portable housing includes openings configured to allow tubing to pass through the openings and be connected to the organ.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tubing can pass through the openings when the portable housing is mated with the compartment.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tubing is configured to be mated with the portable housing, when the portable housing is removed from the compartment.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, the portable housing including a connection device for connecting the tubing to the transporter.