Perfusion Apparatus Sample Compartment Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing and transporting biological samples with organs or tissues are inefficient, leading to increased risks of misplacement, misassociation, and damage, as well as invalidation of results due to separate handling and potential loss of documents, and lack of simultaneous cooling to maintain sterility and temperature requirements.
Innovation Solution
A perfusion apparatus that integrates a coolant container for cooling both organs and tissues, along with separate sample compartments for biological samples, ensuring simultaneous cooling and secure, compact storage and transport while maintaining sterility and viability, with documents kept accessible within the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If biological samples and documents are stored and transported separately from the organ or tissue, then the organ or tissue can be handled independently, but the likelihood of misplacement, misassociation, and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the organ container, biological sample containers, and document storage into a single integrated transport apparatus. The organ is placed in a primary container while sample containers are positioned in adjacent compartments, and documents are stored in a dedicated section, all within one sealed apparatus that maintains associations between components.
2Reliability
If biological samples are stored with the organ or tissue, then association is maintained, but separate temperature control and sterility management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transport apparatus uses a single coolant container that serves multiple functions: it cools the organ in the primary container, cools the biological samples in adjacent compartments, and maintains overall sterility of the entire system. This multi-functional cooling approach eliminates the need for separate temperature control systems for different components.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate devices are used for organ and sample transport, then each can be optimized independently, but space efficiency and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where sample containers are positioned in compartments that fit within the overall apparatus geometry, and the coolant container is shaped to accommodate both the organ container and sample compartments efficiently. This nesting arrangement maximizes space utilization while maintaining independent accessibility of each component.
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
This solution reduces the risk of misplacement and damage, ensures accurate association of samples and documents, and maintains optimal temperature and sterility conditions for both organs and biological samples, enhancing their viability and usability for transplantation or testing.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant container configured to cool and optionally support the organ or tissue... wherein the coolant container is configured to cool and optionally support the sample compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
A first internal compartment (300) under a first cover of an organ perfusion apparatus (10) includes a cavity, in which a coolant container configured to cool the organ, and a sample compartment (170A) for holding a biological sample (170D), are located. The sample compartment (170A) is disposed near the coolant container and thus cooled by the coolant container. In addition, a plurality of biological samples that require less strict temperature control and/or warmer temperatures, may be carried in further sample compartments (170B, 170C) that are located in a second internal compartment (310) including at least part of the perfusion circuit. Most of the heat generated during operation of the apparatus is produced by components, e.g. the pump (80), in the second internal compartment.