Apparatus for tissue transport and preservation
Inventors
Judson, Jared Alden • Anderson, Lisa Maria • Edelman, William
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12564187-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods of the invention generally relate to prolonging viability of bodily tissue, especially lung tissue, through the use of an expandable accumulator to maintain a constant pressure within the lumen of the organ even during external pressure fluctuations due to, for example, flight. Systems and methods may include prolonging donor organ viability in storage through the use of an organ container that mimics the geometry and orientation of the organ in vivo.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a lung-preservation and transport system featuring an expandable accumulator that couples to lung airways. The accumulator absorbs gas-volume changes and maintains a substantially constant pressure differential during altitude-related pressure changes. This configuration reduces lung overinflation and tissue damage during transport, with spring- and weight-based accumulators reducing transit-related lung pressure and volume variation.
The system further includes an organ transport container comprising a basket configured to support the organ and a suspended shelf with openings for holding cooling material. The shelf maintains the cooling material proximate to, but not in direct contact with, the organ to promote heat transfer. A temperature probe and datalogger monitor temperature, while a lid seals with the container to form an insulated environment.
Claims Coverage
The relevant claims identify one independent claim comprising five inventive features covering an organ-storage system with a transport container, organ support, a shelf for cooling material, temperature monitoring, and a sealing lid.
Organ-supporting transport container
A transport container is configured to receive an organ, and a basket positioned in the container comprises a first support surface configured to support the organ.
Suspended shelf for cooling material
A shelf with a second support surface is configured to be suspended above the organ and receive cooling material, maintaining it proximate to, but not in direct contact with, the organ.
Openings promoting heat transfer
The shelf's second support surface comprises openings extending from its upper surface to its lower surface, configured to promote heat transfer between the cooling material and the organ.
Temperature probe and datalogger
A temperature probe is configured to be positioned in the transport container and connected to a temperature datalogger.
Sealing lid forming an insulated environment
A lid is configured to seal with the transport container to form an insulated environment, with the cooling material positioned between the shelf's second support surface and the lid when the shelf is suspended in the container.
The independent claim combines organ support, a suspended perforated shelf that positions cooling material near the organ, temperature monitoring, and a sealing lid that forms an insulated environment.
Stated Advantages
The expandable accumulator reduces overinflation and tissue damage by absorbing gas-volume changes and maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential during altitude-related pressure changes.
Modeling indicates that spring- and weight-based accumulators reduce transit-related lung pressure and volume variation compared with no accumulator.
The openings in the shelf support surface are configured to promote heat transfer between the cooling material and the organ.
Documented Applications
Preservation and transport of donor lungs, including management of pressure changes during transit.
Storage and transport of an organ in an insulated transport container with cooling material and temperature monitoring.
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