Normothermic Heart Perfusion Circuit for Sealed Viability Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current normothermic perfusion and viability testing methods for organs are expensive, resource-intensive, and provide limited evaluation, leading to a shortage of available donor organs for transplantation.
Innovation Solution
A normothermic perfusion circuit that connects with an organ storage container, utilizing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) systems, efficiently resuscitates hearts, and provides effective evaluation of organ viability through sensors and reservoirs at different heights, allowing for perfusion without opening the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current normothermic perfusion and evaluation methods are used, then organ viability can be assessed, but the process is expensive and resource intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the perfusion evaluation process into distinct functional modules: a canister for organ containment, a separate reservoir for fluid storage, and integrated sensors for monitoring. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture, reducing complexity while maintaining reliable viability assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The perfusion system is designed to evaluate multiple organ types (heart, lung, kidney, liver) using a single unified platform. The canister-reservoir configuration with integrated sensors provides universal functionality across different organ transplantation scenarios, eliminating the need for separate complex evaluation systems for each organ type
2Productivity
If organs are preserved during transportation, then donor organ availability increases, but organ viability may deteriorate due to hypothermic storage limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions the organ from hypothermic storage conditions to normothermic perfusion conditions by connecting the canister to the reservoir containing warm perfusion fluid. This parameter change in temperature and fluid dynamics revitalizes the organ, maintaining viability while enabling increased donor organ availability through extended preservation and transport capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The organ undergoes preliminary hypothermic preservation during transportation in the sealed canister, followed by immediate normothermic perfusion upon arrival. This preliminary action sequence allows the organ to be preserved and transported effectively while ensuring viability is restored and maintained through subsequent warm perfusion
3Ease of operation
If the organ container is opened for perfusion, then fluid can be exchanged, but sterility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a perfusion port as an intermediary interface between the sealed canister and the external reservoir. This intermediary allows fluid exchange to occur without opening the canister, maintaining sterility while enabling complete fluid exchange for perfusion therapy
Solution Approach 2:
The perfusion system employs a nested configuration where the canister containing the organ is integrated with the reservoir system through fluid communication pathways. The smaller canister is effectively nested within the larger perfusion system architecture, allowing fluid exchange while maintaining the sealed, sterile environment of the canister
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system improves the feasibility and health of donor organs upon arrival, prolongs viability, and increases the pool of available organs for transplantation by ensuring uniform temperature and effective evaluation.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring uniform temperature
Implementation Method 2
pump, a canister having a perfusion port
Implementation Method 3
a drain configured to drain preservation fluid from the canister
Implementation Method 4
an oxygenator configured to gradually perfuse a heart with warm, oxygenated fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A normothermic perfusion circuit can be used to perfuse a donor heart after transportation and before transplantation. The circuit can drain the organ storage container of cold preservation solution, perfuse the aorta of the heart with warm fluid to initiate heart activity, and then perfuse the left atrium of the heart with warm fluid to bolster heart activity and evaluate heart viability. Heart viability can be determined using parameters measured by sensors in the circuit.