DEVICE AND MACHINE FOR REGENERATING A HUMAN LIVER

• US 20110166493A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellco SRL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Bellco SRL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cianciavicchia, Domenico, Franco Nardo, Bruno Pasquale, Cavallari, Antonino
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/6.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3621 Extra-corporeal blood circuits single-needle circuits A61M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation

Abstract

Device (10) and machine (1000) for regeneration of a human liver (L). The device (10) comprises at least two catheters (11, 12) and a three-way connection (13) between the two catheters (11, 12).

Claims

1. A method of assisting in regenerating a patient'"'"'s liver, the method comprising:

fluidly coupling a first end of a conduit with a first blood vessel of the patient that carries oxygenated blood;

fluidly coupling a second end of the conduit with a second blood vessel of the patient that carries blood to the patient'"'"'s liver; and

allowing the oxygenated blood to flow through the conduit to the liver via the second blood vessel of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring at least one of a hematocrit and a partial pressure of molecular oxygen of the blood flowing through the conduit.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising adding oxygen to the oxygenated blood flowing through the conduit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using feedback control to regulate how much oxygen is added to the blood flowing through the conduit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises:

a first catheter including the first end of the conduit configured to couple with the first blood vessel of the patient; and

a second catheter including the second end of the conduit configured to couple with the second blood vessel of the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises an oxygenator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises a heater.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises a hemofilter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises a drip chamber.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises a pump.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises a blood oxygen sensor.

12. A method of assisting in regenerating a patient'"'"'s liver, the method comprising steps of:

fluidly coupling a first catheter with an artery of the patient;

fluidly coupling a second catheter with the patient'"'"'s portal vein;

fluidly coupling an extracorporal circuit between the first catheter and the second catheter such that blood exiting the artery of the patient passes through the first catheter, through the extracorporeal circuit and returns to the patient'"'"'s portal vein and into the patient'"'"'s liver through the second catheter;

monitoring at least one of a hematocrit and a partial pressure of molecular oxygen in the blood flowing through the extracorporeal circuit; and

using feedback control to regulate how much oxygen is provided to an oxygenator configured to provide oxygen to the blood flowing through the extracorporeal circuit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein fluidly coupling the second catheter with the patient'"'"'s portal vein comprises steps of:

advancing a wire guide through the patient'"'"'s right jugular vein, inferior vena cava and right suprahepatic vein;

advancing the second catheter over the wire guide; and

removing the wire guide.

14. A method for regenerating a patient'"'"'s liver, the method comprising steps of:

obtaining oxygenated blood from the patient; and

providing the oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s liver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s liver comprises sending the oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s portal vein.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein obtaining oxygenated blood from the patient comprises obtaining femoral arterial blood from the patient via a first catheter that is fluidly coupled to the femoral artery.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s liver comprises sending the oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s portal vein via a second catheter that is fluidly coupled to the patient'"'"'s portal vein.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising fluidly coupling the first catheter to the second catheter.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s liver comprises pumping the oxygenated blood to the patient'"'"'s portal vein of the patient via the patient'"'"'s heart or via an external pump.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one of a pump, an oxygenator, a blood oxygen sensor, a hemofilter, a heater or a drip chamber in fluid communication with the oxygenated blood before the oxygenated blood is provided to the patient'"'"'s liver.