Configurable Organ Perfusion Chamber for Circuit Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organ perfusion machines are designed for specific circuit types, limiting user flexibility between open and closed system circuits, which have distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Innovation Solution

An organ perfusion machine with a chamber that can be configured for either an open or closed system circuit, allowing selective connection of outflow channels to a connecting port or outflow blood vessels, enabling the user to choose the appropriate circuit based on organ condition or purpose.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an organ perfusion machine is designed specifically for one circuit type (open or closed), then the device can be optimized for that specific circuit, but the user cannot flexibly select between different circuit types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit selection flexibilityVSAvoiddevice configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The organ perfusion machine is designed with universal functionality to support both open system circuits and closed system circuits. The chamber can be configured with different connection arrangements: the outflow channel can connect to the atmosphere (open system) or to the inflow channel (closed system), allowing the same device to perform multiple circuit types without requiring separate specialized machines for each configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates dynamic configurability through movable or reconfigurable connections. The outflow channel connection can be changed between different states (open to atmosphere or closed to inflow), enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on the required circuit type, thus providing flexibility without permanent fixed structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the outflow channel is connected to the atmosphere (open system), then the circuit is simpler to configure, but the risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit configurationVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The chamber acts as an intermediary component that can mediate between the open atmosphere and the perfusion circuit. When configured as an open system, the chamber provides a controlled interface with the atmosphere; when configured as a closed system, it prevents atmospheric contact, thus using the chamber's configurable nature to manage contamination risk while maintaining ease of configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the outflow channel is connected to the inflow channel (closed system), then contamination risk is reduced, but the pressure management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidpressure management
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The perfusion system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the chamber housing the organ, the inflow channel system, and the outflow channel system. This segmentation allows the closed circuit to be managed as separate controllable segments, where pressure can be regulated at different points (inflow side and outflow side) independently, simplifying pressure management in the closed system configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4635296A1Organ perfusion device
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SHIMADZU CORP
  • EP4635296A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4635296A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4635296A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An organ perfusion machine (1) includes a chamber (100) that is open to an atmosphere and houses an organ, an inflow channel (220) that receives a perfusate to be sent to the organ, and an outflow channel (210) connectable, at one end, to an inlet blood vessel of the organ for sending the perfusate received by the inflow channel toward the inlet blood vessel. The chamber (100) includes a connecting port (120) configured to be openable and closable and configured to be connectable to the inflow channel (220). In the organ perfusion machine (1), a connector (401) of the inflow channel (220) which receives the perfusate is connected to the connecting port (120) to configure an open system circuit, and the connecting port is closed and a connector (402) of the inflow channel which receives the perfusate is connected to an outflow blood vessel of the organ to configure a closed system circuit.