Transporter with a glucose sensor for determining viability of an organ or tissue

An apparatus for perfusing an organ or tissue, the apparatus being configured to perfuse a kidney or kidney tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor that is configured to output a determination and/or information relating to whether kidneys or kidney tissues that otherwise would be discarded could be viable;
• a perfusion circuit for perfusing the kidney or kidney tissue with a perfusate, the perfusion circuit comprising a purge flow path and a recirculating perfusate flow path, wherein the recirculating perfusate flow path is configured to provide perfusate to the kidney or kidney tissue and recirculate the perfusate:
• and
• a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the one or more of the flow paths of the perfusion circuit:
• wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least:
• a first sensor in the recirculating perfusate flow path, and
• a second sensor in the purge flow path:
• where each sensor of the plurality of sensors includes:
• a solid support attached to a recognition molecule, the recognition molecule configured to specifically bind to a viability-indicating target agent in the perfusate, wherein the viability-indicating target agent is Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1);
• a substance that can be enzymatically converted to glucose;
• an enzyme that can catalyze conversion of the substance to glucose in the presence of the viability-indicating target agent;
• and
• a glucose meter configured to detect glucose produced from the substance, wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, maltose, trehalose, starch, and cellulose, where
• if the substance comprises sucrose, the enzyme comprises an invertase that can convert the sucrose to glucose, a sucrase that can convert the sucrose to glucose, or a sucrase-isomaltase that can convert the sucrose to glucose,
• if the substance comprises maltose, the enzyme comprises a maltase that can convert maltose into glucose,
• if the substance comprises trehalose, the enzyme comprises a trehalase that can convert trehalose into glucose,
• if the substance comprises starch, the enzyme comprises an amylase that can convert starch into glucose, and
• if the substance comprises cellulose, the enzyme comprises a cellulase that can convert cellulose into glucose;
• the viability-indicating target agent is an indicator of viability of the kidney or kidney tissue, and
• the processor is configured to make the determination of whether the organs or tissues that otherwise would be discarded could be viable based on an amount of glucose detected.

An apparatus for perfusing an organ or tissue, the apparatus being configured to perfuse a liver or liver tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor that is configured to output a determination and/or information relating to whether liver or liver tissues that otherwise would be discarded could be viable;
• a perfusion circuit for perfusing the liver or liver tissue with a perfusate, the perfusion circuit comprising a purge flow path and a recirculating perfusate flow path, wherein the recirculating perfusate flow path is configured to provide perfusate to the liver or liver tissue and recirculate the perfusate:
• and
• a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the one or more of the flow paths of the perfusion circuit:
• wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least:
• a first sensor in the recirculating perfusate flow path, and
• a second sensor in the purge flow path:
• where each sensor of the plurality of sensors includes:
• a solid support attached to a recognition molecule, the recognition molecule configured to specifically bind to a viability-indicating target agent in the perfusate, wherein the viability-indicating target agent is one or more member select from the group consisting of liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase;
• a substance that can be enzymatically converted to glucose;
• an enzyme that can catalyze conversion of the substance to glucose in the presence of the viability-indicating target agent;
• and
• a glucose meter configured to detect glucose produced from the substance, wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, maltose, trehalose, starch, and cellulose, where
• if the substance comprises sucrose, the enzyme comprises an invertase that can convert the sucrose to glucose, a sucrase that can convert the sucrose to glucose, or a sucrase-isomaltase that can convert the sucrose to glucose,
• if the substance comprises maltose, the enzyme comprises a maltase that can convert maltose into glucose,
• if the substance comprises trehalose, the enzyme comprises a trehalase that can convert trehalose into glucose,
• if the substance comprises starch, the enzyme comprises an amylase that can convert starch into glucose, and
• if the substance comprises cellulose, the enzyme comprises a cellulase that can convert cellulose into glucose:
• the viability-indicating target agent is an indicator of viability of the liver or liver tissue;
• and
• the processor is configured to make the determination of whether the organs or tissues that otherwise would be discarded could be viable based on an amount of glucose detected.