Organ transporter with oxygen generation
Inventors
Steinman, Christopher P. • Kravitz, David • FERBER, Aaron R. • Lockwood, Ross • Monson, Rodney H. • SHAPIRO, Evan D.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11766038-B2
Publication Date
2023-09-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for perfusing an organ or tissue includes a perfusion circuit for perfusing the organ or tissue; an oxygenator for oxygenating perfusate that circulates through the perfusion circuit; and an oxygen supply device such as an oxygen concentrator or an oxygen generator configured to supply oxygen to the oxygenator. A method of perfusing an organ or tissue includes producing oxygen from a device such as an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen generator; supplying the produced oxygen, preferably as the oxygen is produced, to a perfusate to oxygenate the perfusate; and perfusing the organ or tissue with the oxygenated perfusate. The produced oxygen preferably has a concentration greater than the oxygen concentration in air.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an organ transporter/perfusion apparatus and a perfusion circuit for perfusing an organ or tissue with a liquid perfusate. The perfusion circuit has a plurality of flow paths and perfusate flow in the plurality of flow paths is self-regulated by the organ or tissue. Oxygenation is applied to the perfusate using an oxygenator or a plurality of oxygenators connected to the perfusion circuit.
A key feature is an oxygen supply device that is external to and separable from the remainder of the apparatus. Produced oxygen is supplied to the oxygenator or the plurality of oxygenators so that oxygenates the perfusate as the oxygen is produced, thereby supplying oxygen to the perfusate flow paths while avoiding oxygen storage hazards associated with stored pressurized or liquefied oxygen. The oxygen supply is produced in real time and may be implemented using an oxygen concentrator or oxygen generator.
The apparatus further includes an accumulator configured to reduce pulsatility of perfusate flow in the plurality of flow paths. Oxygen supplied to each of the perfusate flow paths is separately controllable so that a first flow path has a different level of oxygenation than a second flow path. Sterility measures such as microbial filter filtration are included, and the disclosed layout includes sensors including oxygen, pH, temperature, pressure, and bubble sensors.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes two independent claims. The independent claims center on produced oxygen being supplied as it is produced to multiple perfusate flow paths with separately controllable oxygenation, while perfusate flow is self-regulated by the organ or tissue and pulsatility is reduced using an accumulator.
Produced oxygen supplied as produced to a multi-flow-path perfusion circuit
An oxygen supply device external to and separable from the remainder of the apparatus supplies produced oxygen to an oxygenator or to a plurality of oxygenators, wherein the oxygenator or plurality of oxygenators oxygenates the perfusate as the oxygen is produced, with supplying produced oxygen to a plurality of perfusate flow paths.
Separate controllability of oxygenation across different perfusate flow paths
Oxygen supplied to each of the perfusate flow paths is separately controllable such that the liquid perfusate in a first flow path has a different level of oxygenation than the liquid perfusate in a second flow path.
Self-regulated perfusate flow with pulsatility reduction by an accumulator
Perfusate flow in the plurality of flow paths is self-regulated by the organ or tissue, and pulsatility of the perfusate flow in the plurality of flow paths is reduced by an accumulator.
Portable perfusion method with produced oxygen supplied to multiple perfusate flow paths
A method of perfusing an organ or tissue with a portable perfusion apparatus that produces oxygen from an oxygen supply device external to and separable from the remainder of the perfusion apparatus, supplies the oxygen as the oxygen is produced to a plurality of perfusate flow paths, reduces pulsatility via an accumulator, and perfuses the organ or tissue so that perfusate flow in the plurality of flow paths is self-regulated by the organ or tissue.
Overall claim coverage ties together external and separable real-time oxygen production supplying oxygen as produced, separate control to provide different levels of oxygenation across multiple flow paths, and maintaining self-regulated perfusate flow while reducing pulsatility via an accumulator.
Stated Advantages
Avoids oxygen storage associated with stored pressurized or liquefied oxygen.
Oxygen is oxygenated in real time as it is produced.
Supports supplying different levels of oxygenation to different perfusate flow paths.
Reduces pulsatility of perfusate flow.
Includes sterility measures such as microbial filtration.
Uses portability constraints for a transportable apparatus.
Documented Applications
Perfusing an organ or tissue using a portable organ transporter/perfusion apparatus with recirculated perfusate.
Interested in licensing this patent?