Perfusion device for normothermic, ex vivo preservation of a mammalian brain

A perfusion device for the normothermic, ex vivo preservation of a mammalian brain, the device comprising:

• a perfusion loop comprising a filtration loop having at least one hemodiafiltration unit adapted and configured to remove metabolic toxins from and add nutrients to a perfusate;
• and
• a controller programmed to regulate at least a perfusate temperature within the perfusion loop to maintain normothermic conditions;
• and
• a brain enclosure unit adapted and configured to receive and house a mammalian brain;
• and
• a heat exchange unit adapted and configured to regulate the temperature of the brain enclosure unit and the perfusion loop;
• wherein the perfusion loop is adapted and configured to oxygenate/carboxygenate the perfusate and circulate the perfusate through the brain contained within the brain enclosure unit;
• and
• wherein, the perfusate comprises:
• a culture medium comprising glucose, one or more amino acids, one or more water soluble salts and one more vitamins;
• one or more artificial oxygen carrier compounds;
• and
• one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of anti-cytotoxic compounds, antioxidants, anti-necrotic compounds, antiexcitotoxic compounds, anti-inflammatory compounds, antiepileptic compounds, anti-apoptotic compounds, antibiotics, cell death inhibitors, neuroprotectants and oxidative/nitrosative stress inhibitors.