Cardiovascular bioreactor apparatus and method
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Inc.
InventorsDavid R. Elizondo, Todd D. Campbell, Robert P. Totten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention involves a method and apparatus for processing biological material, such as heart valves and vascular grafts.
Claims20
A system for maintaining biological material comprising:
- a chamber with a first check valve within the chamber controlling flow through the chamber, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the first check valve resisting back flow through the chamber from the outlet to the inlet;
- biological material within the chamber;
- a second check valve;
- a conduit connecting the outlet of the chamber and the inlet of the chamber wherein the second check valve is located within the conduit such that the second check valve resists flow from the inlet of the chamber through the conduit;
- a pump that provides pressure pulses connected to the chamber wherein a pressure pulse from the pump opens the first check valve, propels liquid through the outlet of the chamber and closes the second check valve, and wherein release of a pressure pulse closes the first check valve and opens the second check valve such that liquid flows through the second check valve into the chamber inlet, and
- a nutrient source comprising a source of nutrient solution and a second pump, the nutrient source being in fluid communication with the chamber.
The system of claim 14 wherein the biological material comprises the first check valve.
A method of maintaining biological material within a chamber having an inlet, an outlet and a first check valve that resists back flow from the outlet to the inlet, the method comprising circulating liquid through the chamber using a pulsed pump, wherein liquid flows through the chamber through the outlet when the pump applies pressure, and wherein a second check valve is located in a conduit from the inlet to the outlet such that the second check valve closes when the pump applies pressure and the second check valve opens when the pump releases pressure to provide for flow through the second check valve into the inlet and wherein a nutrient source is in fluid communication with the chamber, the nutrient source comprising a source of nutrient solution and a second pump.
A system for maintaining biological material comprising:
- a chamber with a first check valve within the chamber controlling flow through the chamber, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the first check valve resisting back flow through the chamber from the outlet to the inlet;
- biological material within the chamber;
- a second check valve;
- a conduit connecting the outlet of the chamber and the inlet of the chamber wherein the second check valve is located within the conduit such that the second check valve resists flow from the inlet of the chamber through the conduit and wherein the first check valve and second check valve are not in a linear configuration;
- a pump that provides pressure pulses connected to the chamber wherein a pressure pulse from the pump opens the first check valve, propels liquid through the outlet of the chamber and closes the second check valve, and wherein release of a pressure pulse closes the first check valve and opens the second check valve such that liquid flows through the second check valve into the chamber inlet;
- and
- viable cells not native to the biological material within the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.