US 5,362,622 AGranted

Combined perfusion and oxygenation apparatus

AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System

InventorsBobby J. O'Dell, Leonid Bunegin

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Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for long-term extracorporeal preservation of living tissue. A living tissue preservation device including a gas permeable membrane and perfusate allows oxygenation of the living tissue. The gas permeable membrane allows gas from a cyclically pumped source to permeate and expand the membrane, simultaneously oxygenating the perfusate and pumping the oxygen-enriched perfusate through the living tissue. Simply constructed of a few basic components into a single integrated container, the living tissue preservation device is capable of operating in many physical orientations, and requires no electrical power for operation. Also provided is a portable cold storage unit that is capable of receiving a living tissue preservation device and maintaining the tissue in the device at a substantially constant temperature of 4.degree. C..+-.1.degree. C. for at least 24 hours. Finally, a method of preserving extracorporeal living tissue incorporating the living tissue preservation device and cold storage unit is provided.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in perfusing and oxygenating living tissue, comprising:

a chamber comprising a perfusion compartment and a tissue compartment each capable of containing a perfusate, said tissue compartment at least one flexible wall, wherein said tissue compartment is disposed beneath said perfusion compartment;
a pumping compartment contained within said chamber having a gas opening;
a first one-way passage means coupling said perfusion compartment and said tissue compartment and connectable to a living tissue for transmitting a perfusate from said perfusion compartment to said living tissue in said tissue compartment;
a second one-way passage means coupling said perfusion compartment and said tissue compartment for transmitting a perfusate from said tissue compartment to said perfusion compartment;
and
a flexible, gas-permeable membrane sealingly interposed between said pumping compartment and said perfusion compartment for enabling gas to permeate between said pumping compartment and said perfusion compartment, said membrane operable upon pressure differentials across the membrane to flex in a first direction so as to displace a perfusate from said perfusion compartment through said first passage means into said tissue compartment and in an opposite direction so as to displace perfusate from the tissue compartment through said second passage means into said perfusion compartment.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.