US3632473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for preserving human organs extracorporeally
Assignee: University of California Berkeley
•
Filing: 1969-04-21
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1989-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A human organ is stored, between removal from one body and implantation in another, in an apparatus mounted on a wheeled cart. The apparatus has a pulsatile pump for pumping plasma, a heat exchanger connected to the outlet of the pump for cooling the plasma to about 4* to 8* C., and a perfusion chamber to which the cooled plasma is supplied. The perfusion chamber includes a support for the organ and means for connecting the organ to the pulsing flow of cold plasma. Venous effluent from the organ is collected and conducted by gravity to a membrane oxygenator, which returns oxygenated plasma to the pulsatile pump for recirculation through the organ.
Inventors
- 👤 Folkert O Belzer
- 👤 Chester W Truman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:49
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma is kept at a temperature above freezing and below 8* C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma is cryoprecipitated and filtered prior to introduction to the supplying step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the plasma is cryoprecipitated by freezing and quick thawing and is then filtered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the effluent from the organ resulting from the supply of plasma to the organ is oxygenated and recirculated to the organ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the effluent is filtered after oxygenation and before recirculation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of storing a human organ between the operation of removal from one human body and implantation into another human body, comprising pumping in a pulsing manner a flow of plasma, cooling the plasma to approximately 4* C., delivering the cool plasma in a pulsing manner to the intake of the organ, collecting the effluent from the organ, oxygenating the effluent, and recirculating the oxygenated effluent to the pumping step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the plasma is oxygenated, cryoprecipitated and filtered human plasma.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the oxygenating is done without letting the oxygen get into direct contact with the plasma.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the oxygen and plasma are separated by an oxygen-penetratable membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the plasma is supplied to the organ at substantially the pressure at which blood is supplied to that organ in a human body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the pressure of the plasma is regulated by opposing the pulses with a column of air and by regulating the amount of air in said column.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the effluent is filtered to remove foreign particles before recirculation and after oxygenation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the pH of the plasma is controlled at about normal blood pH level by adding controlled amounts of carbon dioxide at the oxygenation step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the effluent is collected and supplied to the oxygenating and recirculating steps by gravity movement thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3406531A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |