Henry Ford Hospital

Mount Carmel Research and Education Corporation

Luis H Toledo-Pereyra

An organ hypothermic storage unit includes a first container with a removable cover and a plurality of organ receptacles mounted within the first container, each receptacle having a removable cover. A plurality of groups of spacers upon the container bottom wall receive and locate the receptacles spacing them from each other and from the container walls to define a chilling zone within the first container and around each receptacle. Each receptacle mounts upon its interior a thermometer. An outer container having a removable cover receives, supports and encloses the first container defining an insulating air space therebetween. The inner container is adapted to receive and store a quantity of ice within the chilling zone for continuously maintaining an organ in any receptacle at a temperature between 0.degree. and 7.degree. C., for maximal metabolic suppression and preservation thereof until transplant to a recipient. The containers, receptacles and covers thereof are of a clear transparent material.

Organ hypothermic storage unit

In the method of freezing and transplanting a kidney including the successive steps of excising, flushing, hypothermically infusing, freezing, thawing, infusing and implantation, the improvement including the steps of metering and infusing pressurized chilled helium into the renal artery while progressively and rapidly cooling the kidney located on a support of a container that is not immersed but surrounded by a body of liquid nitrogen, while continuously metering nitrogen into the body of liquid nitrogen and simultaneously and continuously recording temperatures and rate for cooling. The kidney is held above the liquid nitrogen by the support and is subjected to the pressurized nitrogen atmosphere within the cooling chamber or tank. A further step in which the thawing includes the application of infrared radiation to the kidney within a confined area while continuously rotating the kidney for uniform thawing. A cryogenic apparatus for controlled freezing of a kidney includes an insulated tank holding a body of liquid nitrogen, with a fitting through the tank adapted for connection to a source of pressurized nitrogen. A coil is immersed within the liquid nitrogen has an inlet fitting which projects outwardly of the tank adapted for connection to a source of pressurized helium and has an outlet adapted for connection to renal artery of the kidney in a container immersed in the liquid nitrogen. A thermocouple within the tank interconnects the kidney with an exterior temperature recorder.

Method of freezing and transplant of kidneys and apparatus

A method and apparatus for perfusing livers comprising a portable container and a liver receptacle removably positioned in such container. Portions of the receptacle are spaced from the walls of the container when the receptacle is in position so that ice may be positioned around the receptacle. A perfusate holder is mounted on the container. A second container surrounds a portion of the holder and is adapted to receive ice. An intermittently operated flow regulator controls gravity flow of perfusate at predetermined rate from the holder to the receptacle and a timer controls operation of controller at predetermined time intervals.

Liver preservation

A portable perfusion system for organ preservation comprising a cart on which a refrigeration unit, a pump unit and a cassette are mounted with the pump and cassette being removable for separate transport. The cassette includes an organ receptacle, a heat exchanger, a membrane oxygenator, a bubble trap and an ice deposit area. The heat exchanger is connected to the refrigeration unit and the perfusate is pumped by a non-pulsatile pump through the heat exchanger to the bubble trap and, in turn, to the organ. An oxygen supply on the cart supplies oxygen to the membrane oxygenator which functions to oxygenate the perfusate.

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Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, United States of America

Luis H Toledo-Pereyra