Organ Preservation System with Segmented Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organ preservation systems face challenges in quickly and reliably connecting tubes and catheters to organs during transplant operations while maintaining hermetical sealing of the preservation space to prevent mistaken release of preservation solutions.
Innovation Solution
An organ preservation system with a container that forms a closed space, an organ holder, a liquid supply tube, a drainage tube, and a pressure regulator with connectors that allow easy connection and communication between the organ preservation space and the exterior, ensuring hermetical sealing and preventing solution leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the organ is placed in an enclosed organ chamber with small orifices for conduit connection, then hermetical sealing and sterilization are ensured, but connection operations become extremely difficult to carry out within the limited time during organ transplant operations
Solution Approach 1:
The organ chamber is divided into multiple separate chambers (first organ chamber, second organ chamber, third organ chamber) with distinct connectors for different functions (liquid supply, drainage, pressure regulation). This segmentation allows each connector to be independently accessed and operated, eliminating the difficulty of connecting through small orifices while maintaining hermetical sealing of each chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
Detachable connectors serve as intermediary components between the external tubes/catheters and the internal organ chambers. These connectors provide standardized, easily accessible connection points that facilitate quick and reliable attachment/detachment operations without compromising the hermetical sealing of the enclosed chambers.
2Reliability
If tubes and catheters are connected through small orifices in the organ chamber, then hermetical sealing is maintained, but the connection time exceeds the limited period available during organ transplant operations
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the organ chamber system into multiple chambers with dedicated connectors positioned at different locations, the system enables parallel connection operations. Multiple tubes can be connected simultaneously to different chambers without interfering with each other, significantly reducing total connection time while maintaining hermetical sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The connectors are pre-positioned and pre-configured on the organ chambers before the transplant operation begins. This preliminary arrangement of connection points eliminates the need for time-consuming alignment and adjustment during the actual connection process, allowing rapid attachment of tubes and catheters within the limited operational time.
3Reliability
If the organ preservation space is sealed to prevent release of preservation solution, then sterilization is ensured, but connection and disconnection of tubes becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed preservation system is segmented into multiple independent chambers, each with its own dedicated connectors. This segmentation simplifies the overall connection system by localizing connection points to specific chambers rather than requiring access through a single complex sealed structure, reducing errors and improving operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Detachable connectors act as intermediary components that simplify the interaction between the sealed preservation chambers and external tubing. These standardized connectors provide intuitive, tool-free attachment and detachment mechanisms that reduce operational complexity while maintaining the hermetical seal integrity of the preservation spaces.
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
Facilitates easy connection of tubes and catheters to organs, maintains hermetical sealing, and ensures reliable sterilization during organ preservation and transplant operations, reducing the risk of solution leakage and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure-reducing pump that sucks gas from the sealed organ preservation space through the suction tube
Data Source
AI summary
An organ preservation system includes an organ container, an organ holder, a liquid supply tube, a drainage tube, and a pressure regulator. The organ container has a closed organ preservation space. The organ holder holds an organ in the organ preservation space. The liquid supply tube supplies a liquid to the organ. The drainage tube drains the liquid from the organ. The pressure regulator regulates air pressure in the organ preservation space. The organ container includes first to third connectors providing communication between the organ preservation space and an exterior space. The first, second, and third connectors are detachably connected to a liquid supply tube, a drainage tube, and a suction tube, respectively. When the organ is preserved ex vivo while being perfused with the liquid, the organ can be connected with ease to the tubes, and this ensures hermetical sealing of the space where the organ is preserved.