Renal preservation system

Claim 2

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chamber, and a generally vertical wall that in part defines portions of the ogran chamber means, the venous reservoir means and the oxygenator chamber means.

Claim 3

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, and means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chambEr, the venous reservoir means and organ chamber means including a plate that forms a top wall of the venous reservoir and a bottom wall of the organ chamber.

Claim 4

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, and means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chambEr, the venous reservoir means and organ chamber means including a plate that forms a top wall of the venous reservoir and a bottom wall of the organ chamber.

Claim 5

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, and means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chamber, the first means including flowmeter tank means for receiving liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir, said tank means having vertically spaced indicia defining volumetric graduations, and means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the tank means to the oxygenator inlet.

Claim 6

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, and means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chamber, the first means including flowmeter tank means for receiving liquid under gravity flow from the venous reservoir, said tank means having vertically spaced indicia defining volumetric graduations, and means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the tank means to the oxygenator inlet.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said cassette has a vertical wall that forms part of each of the organ chamber means, the venous reservoir means, and the oxygenator chamber means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that said oxygenator chamber means has a wall having an outlet port permitting the exhaust of gas from the oxygenator chamber, said oxygenator inlet being substantially more closely adjacent the last mentioned wall than the oxygenator outlet.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in combination with a unit having a source of gas under pressure, a pulsatile pump and a source of cooling fluid, to preserve and maintain organs in a viable state, comprising a cassette having a vertical side wall, a vertical end wall joined to said side wall, first wall means acting in cooperation with said side and end walls to define an openable and closeable organ receiving chamber including a bottom wall having a first drain opening, second wall means acting in cooperation with the above mentioned walls to define a venous chamber extending beneath the first drain opening to receive liquid from the organ receiving chamber under gravity flow, said second wall means including an inclined venous chamber bottom wall over which fluid will flow under gravity in the direction of downward inclination, third wall means acting in cooperation with said inclined wall and at least one of the side and end walls to define an oxygenator chamber extending at least in part beneath said venous reservoir, a static membrane oxygenator mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the oxygenator inlet, said liquid inlet being connected in fluid communication with the venous reservoir to receive liquid under gravity from the lower part of the inclined plate, elongated pulsatile pump tube means having an inlet and an outlet adapted for being acted on by the unit pump to force liquid under pressure from the tube means inlet to the tube means outlet, fifth means for defining an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than the oxygenator outlet, sixth means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the oxygenator to the arterial reservoir, and seventh means for conducting liquid under pressure from the tube means outlet to the interIor of the organ chamber.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in combination with a unit having a source of gas under pressure, a pulsatile pump and a source of cooling fluid, to preserve and maintain organs in a viable state, comprising a cassette having a vertical side wall, a vertical end wall joined to said side wall, first wall means acting in cooperation with said side and end walls to define an openable and closeable organ receiving chamber including a bottom wall having a first drain opening, second wall means acting in cooperation with the above mentioned walls to define a venous chamber extending beneath the first drain opening to receive liquid from the organ receiving chamber under gravity flow, said second wall means including an inclined venous chamber bottom wall over which fluid will flow under gravity in the direction of downward inclination, third wall means acting in cooperation with said inclined wall and at least one of the side and end walls to define an oxygenator chamber extending at least in part beneath said venous reservoir, a static membrane oxygenator mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the oxygenator inlet, said liquid inlet being connected in fluid communication with the venous reservoir to receive liquid under gravity from the lower part of the inclined plate, elongated pulsatile pump tube means having an inlet and an outlet adapted for being acted on by the unit pump to force liquid under pressure from the tube means inlet to the tube means outlet, fifth means for defining an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than the oxygenator outlet, sixth means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the oxygenator to the arterial reservoir, and seventh means for conducting liquid under pressure from the tube means outlet to the interIor of the organ chamber.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that there is provided a second end wall that defines portions of the oxygenator chamber means and the arterial reservoir means, at least part of said second end wall forming a portion of the oxygenator chamber means constituting a removable closure for the oxygenator chamber, that said oxygenator chamber means includes a bottom wall, and that there is provided means attached to said second wall closure portion for movement therewith for mounting said oxygenator.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the seventh means includes a heat exchanger adapted for receiving cooling fluid from the unit source of cooling fluid.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the seventh means includes a bubble trap connected in series with the heat exchanger.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the bubble trap is mounted on one of said walls exteriorily of said organ chamber, and that the seventh means includes conduit means connected to the lower part of the bubble trap and extending through the last mentioned wall into the organ chamber.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the connection of the liquid inlet to the venous reservoir includes a flowmeter tank, said tank having a wall that is a portion of said inclined wall.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that there is provided a second end wall that forms part of the oxygenator chamber means and the arterial reservoir means, and that said liquid inlet is located more closely adjacent the first end wall than the second end wall and that the liquid outlet is located more closely adjacent second end wall than the first end wall.

Claim 17

The apparaus of claim 12 further characterized in that the oxygenator is generally flat and of a maximum vertical thickness many times smaller than the dimension between its inlet and its oulet, and that the oxygenator is at a higher elevation than the pump tube means.

Claim 18

In apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state, a cassette having vertical side and end walls joined together in a generally rectangular box formation, a vertical partition plate mounted by the upper portions of said side walls to form in cooperation with the side and end walls portions of a first and a second organ receiving chamber, openable closure means mounted by the side and end walls to form the tops of the organ receiving chambers, a first and a second organ support plate mounted to at least one of the above mentioned walls for forming the bottom of the respective organ chamber, said organ support plates having drain openings therethrough, a vertical partition wall, an inclined first wall portion vertically beneath the first organ support plate and joined to one end wall, the partition wall and the side walls to form in cooperation therewith and with the first support plate a first venous reservoir, an inclined second wall portion vertically beneath the second support plate and joined to the other end wall, the partition wall and the side walls to form in cooperation therewith and with the second support plate a second venous reservoir, an elongated static membrane oxygenator having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, first means opening to the venous reservoirs for conducting liquid under gravity flow to the oxygenator liquid inlet, first wall means including a bottom wall portion vertically below the venous reservoirs for acting in cooperation with the inclined wall portions, the side walls and at least one of the end walls to form an oxygenator chamber having a gas inlet and a gas discharge outlet remote from the gas inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in the oxygenator chamber with the liquid inlet at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid to flow therethrough by gravity flow, the liquid inlet being substantially more closely adjacent the gas outlet than the gas inlet and the liquid outlet being substantially more closely adjacent the gas inlet than the gas outlet, second wall means acting in cooperation with at least one of the above mentioned walls to form an arterial reservoir at a lower elevation than the liquid outlet and means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir.

Claim 19

In apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state, a cassette having vertical side and end walls joined together in a generally rectangular box formation, a vertical partition plate mounted by the upper portions of said side walls to form in cooperation with the side and end walls portions of a first and a second organ receiving chamber, openable closure means mounted by the side and end walls to form the tops of the organ receiving chambers, a first and a second organ support plate mounted to at least one of the above mentioned walls for forming the bottom of the respective organ chamber, said organ support plates having drain openings therethrough, a vertical partition wall, an inclined first wall portion vertically beneath the first organ support plate and joined to one end wall, the partition wall and the side walls to form in cooperation therewith and with the first support plate a first venous reservoir, an inclined second wall portion vertically beneath the second support plate and joined to the other end wall, the partition wall and the side walls to form in cooperation therewith and with the second support plate a second venous reservoir, an elongated static membrane oxygenator having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, first means opening to the venous reservoirs for conducting liquid under gravity flow to the oxygenator liquid inlet, first wall means including a bottom wall portion vertically below the venous reservoirs for acting in cooperation with the inclined wall portions, the side walls and at least one of the end walls to form an oxygenator chamber having a gas inlet and a gas discharge outlet remote from the gas inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in the oxygenator chamber with the liquid inlet at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid to flow therethrough by gravity flow, the liquid inlet being substantially more closely adjacent the gas outlet than the gas inlet and the liquid outlet being substantially more closely adjacent the gas inlet than the gas outlet, second wall means acting in cooperation with at least one of the above mentioned walls to form an arterial reservoir at a lower elevation than the liquid outlet and means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that cassette includes an elongated pump pulsatile tube having one end connected to the arterial reservoir and an opposite end and means for conducting liquid from the tube opposite end to the organ receiving chambers.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that the last mentioned means includes a heat exchanger, said tube and heat exchanger being at least partially located beneath the oxygenator chamber.

Claim 22

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a general box like shaped cassette having an organ receiving chamber, an oxygenator chamber and a liquid circuit that includes a venous reservoir, an oxygenator in said chamber, an arterial reservoir and a pump member in liquid communication with one another for receiving perfusate from the organ receiving chamber, oxygenating the received perfusate and returning the oxygenated perfusate under pressure to the organ receiving chamber means, a transport module having means for receiving and removably supporting the cassette, gas cylinder means removably connectable to the oxygenator chamber for conducting oxygen to the oxygenator chamber and pump means for cooperating with the pump member to draw perfusate into the pump member and force perfusate therethrough in one liquid flow direction, said member being removably disengagable from the pump means when the cassette is removed from the transport module, and means for removably clamping the cassette to the transport module.

Claim 23

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a general box like shaped cassette having an organ receiving chamber, an oxygenator chamber and a liquid circuit that includes a venous reservoir, an oxygenator in said chamber, an arterial reservoir and a pump member in liquid communication with one another for receiving perfusate from the organ receiving chamber, oxygenating the received perfusate and returning the oxygenated perfusate under pressure to the organ receiving chamber means, a transport module having means for receiving and removably supporting the cassette, gas cylinder means removably connectable to the oxygenator chamber for conducting oxygen to the oxygenator chamber and pump means for cooperating with the pump member to draw perfusate into the pump member and force perfusate therethrough in one liquid flow direction, said member being removably disengagable from the pump means when the cassette is removed from the transport module, and means for removably clamping the cassette to the transport module.

Claim 24

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means including a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including a static membrane oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, a gas inlet port remote from the liquid inlet and a gas outlet port remote from the liquid outlet, the third means including fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber having said gas inlet and gas outlet and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber to have gas flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on either side thereof and in contact therewtih, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber, and a first vertical end wall having a first and second portion that form parts of the oxygenator chamber means and fifth means respectively.

Claim 25

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means including a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including a static membrane oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, a gas inlet port remote from the liquid inlet and a gas outlet port remote from the liquid outlet, the third means including fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber having said gas inlet and gas outlet and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber to have gas flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on either side thereof and in contact therewtih, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber, and a first vertical end wall having a first and second portion that form parts of the oxygenator chamber means and fifth means respectively.

Claim 26

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means that includes a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperAting therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including a static membrane oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, a gas inlet port remote from the liquid inlet and a gas outlet port remote from the liquid outlet, the third means including fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber having said gas inlet and gas outlet and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber to have gas flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on either side thereof and in contact therewith, the second means including an inclined wall beneath the organ receiving chamber that forms at least part of the bottom of the venous reservoir and at least part of the top of the oxygenator chamber, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber.

Claim 27

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means that includes a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperAting therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including a static membrane oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, a gas inlet port remote from the liquid inlet and a gas outlet port remote from the liquid outlet, the third means including fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber having said gas inlet and gas outlet and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber to have gas flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on either side thereof and in contact therewith, the second means including an inclined wall beneath the organ receiving chamber that forms at least part of the bottom of the venous reservoir and at least part of the top of the oxygenator chamber, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber.

Claim 28

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means that includes a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including a static membrane oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, a gas inlet port remote from the liquid inlet and a gas outlet port remote from the liquid outlet, the third means including fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber having said gas inlet and gas outlet and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber to have gas flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on either side thereof and in contact therewith, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber, the sixth means including a bubble trap having a temperature sensor member, said bubble trap being fluidly connected to the organ receiving chamber, a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the bubble trap and a pump member fluidly connected to the heat exchanger and the arterial reservoir, and a manually movable transport module for receiving the cassette and enclosing the cassette, said module having pump means for removably receiving the pump member and cooperating therewith for pressurizing liquid in the pump member and means for circulating cooling fluid through the heat exchanger.

Claim 29

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means that includes a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including a static membrane oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, a gas inlet port remote from the liquid inlet and a gas outlet port remote from the liquid outlet, the third means including fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber having said gas inlet and gas outlet and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber to have gas flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on either side thereof and in contact therewith, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber, the sixth means including a bubble trap having a temperature sensor member, said bubble trap being fluidly connected to the organ receiving chamber, a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the bubble trap and a pump member fluidly connected to the heat exchanger and the arterial reservoir, and a manually movable transport module for receiving the cassette and enclosing the cassette, said module having pump means for removably receiving the pump member and cooperating therewith for pressurizing liquid in the pump member and means for circulating cooling fluid through the heat exchanger.

Claim 30

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having an organ receiving chamber, an oxygenator chamber and a liquid circuit that includes a venous reservoir, an oxygenator in said chamber, an arterial reservoir and a pump member in liquid communication with one another for receiving perfusate from the organ receiving chamber, oxygenating the received perfusate and returning the oxygenated perfusate under pressure to the organ receiving chamber means and a transport module having a main body for removably mounting the cassette, gas cylinder means removably connectable to the oxygenator chamber for conducting oxygen to the oxygenator chamber, pump means for cooperating with the pump member to draw perfusate into the pump member and force perfusate therethrough in one liquid flow direction, and cover means cooperating with the main body for enclosing the cassette when it is mounted on the main body.

Claim 31

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having an organ receiving chamber, an oxygenator chamber and a liquid circuit that includes a venous reservoir, an oxygenator in said chamber, an arterial reservoir and a pump member in liquid communication with one another for receiving perfusate from the organ receiving chamber, oxygenating the received perfusate and returning the oxygenated perfusate under pressure to the organ receiving chamber means and a transport module having a main body for removably mounting the cassette, gas cylinder means removably connectable to the oxygenator chamber for conducting oxygen to the oxygenator chamber, pump means for cooperating with the pump member to draw perfusate into the pump member and force perfusate therethrough in one liquid flow direction, and cover means cooperating with the main body for enclosing the cassette when it is mounted on the main body.

Claim 32

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a manually portable cassette having an organ receiving chamber, an oxygenator chamber and a liquid circuit that includes a venous reservoir, an oxygenator in said chamber, an arterial reservoir and a pump member in liquid communication with one another for receiving perfusate from the organ receiving chamber, oxygenating the received perfusate and returning the oxygenated perfusate under pressure to the organ receiving chamber means, a support unit having a wall for removably receiving and supporting the cassette, gas cylinder means removably connectable to the oxygenator chamber for conducting oxygen to the oxygenator chamber and pump means for cooperating with the pump member to draw perfusate into the pump member and force perfusate therethrough in one liquid flow direction, said pump member being removably disengagable from the pump means, and means for removably clamping the cassette on said wall.

Claim 33

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a manually portable cassette having an organ receiving chamber, an oxygenator chamber and a liquid circuit that includes a venous reservoir, an oxygenator in said chamber, an arterial reservoir and a pump member in liquid communication with one another for receiving perfusate from the organ receiving chamber, oxygenating the received perfusate and returning the oxygenated perfusate under pressure to the organ receiving chamber means, a support unit having a wall for removably receiving and supporting the cassette, gas cylinder means removably connectable to the oxygenator chamber for conducting oxygen to the oxygenator chamber and pump means for cooperating with the pump member to draw perfusate into the pump member and force perfusate therethrough in one liquid flow direction, said pump member being removably disengagable from the pump means, and means for removably clamping the cassette on said wall.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 22 further characterized in that said pump member comprises an elongated pulsatile pump tube, and that said pump means comprises a pair of pump plates extending above said wall to have the pump tube extend between said plates.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 22 further characterized in that said cassette is of a generally box like shape.

Claim 36

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means including a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including an oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, and fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber, the second means including an inclined wall beneath the organ receiving chamber that forms at least part of the bottom of the venous reservoir and at least part of the top of the oxygenator chamber, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber.

Claim 37

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means including a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including an oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, and fourth means acting in cooperation with the venous reservoir means for forming an oxygenator chamber and conducting liquid from the venous reservoir to the liquid inlet, said oxygenator being mounted in said oxygenator chamber, the second means including an inclined wall beneath the organ receiving chamber that forms at least part of the bottom of the venous reservoir and at least part of the top of the oxygenator chamber, fifth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and sixth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber.

Claim 38

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining orgAns in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means including a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including an oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, fourth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and fifth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber, said third means including a wall that forms at least a part of the bottom of oxygenator chamber and the top of the arterial reservoir.

Claim 39

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining orgAns in a viable state comprising a cassette having first means including a bottom wall organ support plate forming an organ receiving chamber, second means vertically below the organ plate and cooperating therewith for forming a venous reservoir that is in liquid communication with the organ receiving chamber to receive liquid drained onto the bottom plate by gravity flow, third means vertically below the venous chamber and acting in cooperation with the second means for receiving liquid from the venous reservoir and oxygenating the received liquid, said third means including an oxygenator having a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet that is substantially horizontally offset from the liquid outlet and at a higher elevation than the liquid outlet to permit liquid gravity flow therethrough, fourth means acting in cooperation with the third means vertically beneath the third means and horizontally offset from the liquid inlet to form an arterial reservoir, means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the liquid outlet to the arterial reservoir, and fifth means for receiving liquid from the arterial reservoir and conducting liquid under pressure to the organ receiving chamber, said third means including a wall that forms at least a part of the bottom of oxygenator chamber and the top of the arterial reservoir.

Claim 40

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, said inlet being spaced from the venous reservoir, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the first venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chamber, means defining a second organ receiving chamber in side by side relationship with the first organ receiving chamber and that has a bottom plate having a drain opening therethrough, a second venous reservoir extending vertically beneath the second organ chamber to receive liquid draining through the last mentioned drain opening, means defining a fluid passageway having an inlet opening to the second venous reservoir, an intermediate portion extending horizontally below the first organ receiving chamber and an outlet, and means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the passageway outlet to the first means at a location spaced from the venous reservoirs.

Claim 41

Apparatus for preserving and maintaining organs in a viable state comprising a cassette that includes means forming a first organ receiving chamber that has a bottom organ support plate, said support plate having a drain opening therethrough, means forming a first venous reservoir below the organ receiving chamber and in gravity flow liquid communication with the support plate drain opening, means forming an oxygenator chamber extending to a lower elevation than said venous reservoir means, a static membrane oxygenator stationarily mounted in the oxygenator chamber and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the inlet to have liquid flow therethrough by gravity flow, said inlet being spaced from the venous reservoir, first means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the first venous reservoir to the oxygenator inlet, means forming an arterial reservoir extending to a lower elevation than said outlet and fluidly connected to the outlet to receive liquid under gravity flow therefrom, a pump head having one end fluidly connected to the arterial reservoir to receive liquid therefrom and an opposite end, means fluidly connected to the pump head opposite end for conducting liquid under pressure from the pump head to an organ located in the organ chamber, means defining a second organ receiving chamber in side by side relationship with the first organ receiving chamber and that has a bottom plate having a drain opening therethrough, a second venous reservoir extending vertically beneath the second organ chamber to receive liquid draining through the last mentioned drain opening, means defining a fluid passageway having an inlet opening to the second venous reservoir, an intermediate portion extending horizontally below the first organ receiving chamber and an outlet, and means for conducting liquid under gravity flow from the passageway outlet to the first means at a location spaced from the venous reservoirs.