Apparatus for tissue transport and preservation

Abstract

Systems and methods of the invention generally relate to prolonging viability of bodily tissue, especially lung tissue, through the use of an expandable accumulator to maintain a constant pressure within the lumen of the organ even during external pressure fluctuations due to, for example, flight. Systems and methods may include prolonging donor organ viability in storage through the use of an organ container that mimics the geometry and orientation of the organ in vivo.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 17 / 378,233, filed Jul. 16, 2021, which is a divisional application of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16 / 002,795, filed Jun. 7, 2018, which application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62 / 516,581, filed Jun. 7, 2017, 62 / 584,330, filed Nov. 10, 2017, and 62 / 650,610, filed Mar. 30, 2018, all of the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The disclosure relates to systems and methods for the storage and transportation of bodily tissue.BACKGROUND[0003]The current invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for extracorporeal preservation of bodily tissue. Extracorporeal preservation of bodily tissue is essential in transplant procedures so that donor tissue can be transported to a recipient in a remote location. In order to provide the best graft...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device called an expandable accumulator that is placed in the airways of a donor lung to help stabilize the pressure in the system and prevent damage to the lung tissue during a lung transplant. The accumulator is designed to expand if there is a relative increase in gas volume, absorbing the excess gas and maintaining pressure within the system. This can improve the function and longevity of the transplant.

Problems solved by technology

While changes in pressure may affect any tissue being transported, they can be particularly harmful to lung tissue.

Unfortunately, this inflation occurs on the ground and, once subjected to decreases in air pressure from flights at high altitude, the pressure differential between the sealed lung airways and surrounding preservation fluid and air can result in over inflation of the lung and damage to the tissue including rupturing of the alveoli or other air passages.

Another drawback of current lung transport techniques is that lungs are typically transported horizontally on a flat surface or on a bed of crushed ice.

By resting the lung horizontally, gravity can crush or damage the bottom-most airways.

A rough bed of crushed ice only complicates the issue.

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