Vascular bioartificial organ

• US 5,534,025 A
• Filed: 06/08/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta (University of Alberta)
• Original Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta (University of Alberta)
• Inventors: Moussy, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/257,120
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 623/11, 623/12, 604/4, 604/5, 604/6, 604/892.1, 435/240.22, 424/424, 424/425
• US Class Current: 623/23.64
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/022 Artificial gland structures using bioreactors hemodialysis A61M1/16; hemofiltration A61M1/34; other extracorporeal blood treatment A61M1/36

Abstract

A bioartificial organ is provided which is inserted as an anastomosis between an artery and a vein. Blood flowing through the fluid conduits of the device is separated by a semi-permeable membrane from a chamber containing living cells or tissue.

Claims

1. A bioartificial device for replacing or supplementing the function of a mammalian organ, comprising a first fluid conduit having inlet means and outlet means for connection into a first blood stream and having a wall portion comprising a first semi-permeable membrane;

a second fluid conduit having inlet means and outlet means for connection into a second blood stream and having a wall portion comprising a second semi-permeable membrane;

first and second support members for sealingly securing said first and second fluid conduits together with said semi-permeable membranes opposed and spaced apart to form a chamber therebetween for receiving cells or tissue of the organ to be replaced or supplemented; and

a gasket arranged between said first and second support members and surrounding the chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first blood stream is an arterial blood stream and the second blood stream is a venous blood stream.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each fluid conduit comprises a tube and the wall portion of the conduit comprising a semi-permeable membrane comprises an aperture in the tube covered by a semi-permeable membrane, and wherein said supporting members each have a groove in which the fluid conduits are supported, said members being spaced apart by said gasket and secured together by a clamp.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the semi-permeable membranes have a porosity which permits the passage of molecules of molecular weight less than about 100,000 Daltons while retaining molecules of larger molecular weight.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein each of the first and second fluid conduits has a diameter substantially matching the diameter of the blood vessels of the blood stream into which each is connected.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the organ whose function is to be replaced or supplemented is the endocrine pancreas.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprising an inlet port communicating with said chamber for introduction or removal of cells or tissue.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the chamber contains pancreatic cells or islets.

9. A bioartificial pancreas device, comprising an arterial blood channel having inlet means and outlet means for connection into an arterial blood stream and having a wall portion comprising a first semi-permeable membrane;

a venous blood channel having inlet means and outlet means for connection into a venous blood stream and having a wall portion comprising a second semi-permeable membrane;

first and second support members for sealingly securing said arterial blood channel and said venous blood channel together with said semi-permeable membranes opposed and spaced apart to form a chamber therebetween for receiving cells or tissue of a pancreas to be replaced or supplemented; and

a gasket arranged between said first and second support members and surrounding the chamber.