In medicine, and more specifically, in cardiac surgery and perfusiology. In order to improve heart transplantation results by optimizing the conditioning of a heart, the method of conditioning a donor heart comprises a set of measures including an administration of a blood cardioplegic solution, an ultrafiltration and Levosimendan. For cardioplegia in the body of the donor, a normothermic solution consisting of donor blood and a crystalloid solution at the ratio of 5:1 (potassium chloride 4%, magnesium sulfate 25%, lidocaine 2%, sodium hydrocarbonate, and mannitol 15%) is used. To protect the myocardium and enhance its blood circulation, a single dose of Levosimendan (45 g/kg) is injected into the perfusate. To remove inflammatory mediators, an excessive amount of fluid, and to correct the electrolyte composition and the hematocrit, the perfusate is ultrafiltered. Prior to transplantation to a recipient, the blood cardioplegic solution is administrated to wean the donor heart off the OCS device.

A control system controlling the line pressure in a blood supply system (1) in which a pump (14) pumps blood from a reservoir (10) via a primary passage (18) toward a plurality of outlets (16, 26, 26a), wherein one or more outlets are openable to permit flow and closable to block flow, said control system comprises a monitoring arrangement to determine a line pressure in the primary passage, and a controller responsive to the monitoring arrangement and controlling the pump (14) to maintain the line pressure in the primary passage (18) above a pre-set level. The control system practically eliminates the risk of a momentary reduction in blood supply line pressure when an outlet is opened.

A control system controlling the blood flow rate in a blood supply system (1) in which a pump (18) transports blood from a reservoir (10) toward multiple outlets (30, 26, 26a) of which one or more outlets are openable to permit flow and closable to block flow, wherein the control system comprises a monitoring arrangement (22, 32, 32a) to determine the flow rate through a first outlet (30), and a controller responsive to the monitoring arrangement and controlling the pump (18) to maintain the flow rate through the first outlet (30) at a pre-determined level. This allows a flow rate through the first outlet to be maintained independently of any active blood diversions.

A cardioplegic agent delivery system comprises a supply reservoir (40) for a cardioplegic agent carrier fluid, a delivery channel from the supply reservoir (40) to an outlet (48), and a pump (50) to flow the carrier liquid in the delivery channel above a minimum driving pressure. The supply reservoir (40) is configured to hold carrier fluid below the minimum driving pressure. The pump (50) is a centrifugal pump configured to receive carrier fluid from the supply reservoir (40) and to flow the carrier fluid to the outlet (48) at a flow rate and above the minimum driving pressure for the delivery of cardioplegic agent. This allows cardioplegia delivery to be managed better.

A life support system such as a heart-lung machine may include a plurality of medical devices a control panel and an excellent control position. The control panel may have separate control elements for operating the medical devices. The control panel may be constructed protruding essentially flat over a floor area of the majority of the medical devices. The control panel may be constructed to protrude in such a manner, that a control element, aligned only with a particular device and with the control position, is assigned to each device.

A modular cooling-heating system for use in the controlled delivery of temperature-controlled fluids to a heat exchanger associated with the blood of a patient undergoing a medical procedure is described, wherein the cooling-heating system uses adaptive temperature control protocols.

A system and methods are described for improving the management of ischemic cardiac tissue during acute coronary syndromes. The system combines a catheter-based sub-system which allows for simultaneous balloon dilation of a coronary artery and infusion of a carefully controlled perfusate during percutaneous coronary intervention. The system allows for modulation of levels of oxygen at the time of percutaneous intervention. In addition, catheters and systems are provided for administration of fluids with modified oxygen content during an intervention that incorporate upstream flow control members to compartmentalize the perfusion of the target coronary artery and the remainder of the heart.

A system and methods are described for improving the management of ischemic cardiac tissue during acute coronary syndromes. The system combines a catheter-based sub-system which allows for simultaneous balloon dilation of a coronary artery and infusion of a carefully controlled perfusate during percutaneous coronary intervention. The system allows for modulation of levels of oxygen at the time of percutaneous intervention. In addition, catheters and systems are provided for administration of fluids with modified oxygen content during an intervention that incorporate upstream flow control members to compartmentalize the perfusion of the target coronary artery and the remainder of the heart.

A heater-cooler apparatus of an extracorporeal perfusion system comprises at least one fluid circuit 102, 104 providing a supply of a heat transfer fluid to the perfusion system, a cold storage unit 266, and a refrigeration unit 250 for charging the cold storage unit 266. The cold storage unit 266 comprises a chamber 312 containing a liquid that freezes at a temperature above that to which the heat transfer fluid is cooled by the refrigeration unit 250, and a passage through which the heat transfer fluid is conveyed, the passage extending through the chamber 312. This allows a more effective cold storage unit to be provided.

An embodiment includes a cardioplegia delivery system having a console, controller, and disposables. The console, in conjunction with the disposables, combines blood from the heart-lung machine and crystalloid from the IV-bag in a specified ratio and then adds in a drug (arrest agent and/or additive). The electro-mechanical console incorporates a blood/crystalloid pump, temperature controllable water circulation system, pressure and temperature monitors, a sensor interface with the disposables, an arrest agent pump, an additive pump and ultra-sonic air detection sensors. The system monitors and controls the blood-crystalloid ratio, drug concentration, flow rate, pressure, temperature, and delivery route of the cardioplegia solution delivered to the patient. The system is a software-controlled system with a graphical user interface controller. The controller is utilized to initiate/stop cardioplegia delivery, monitor delivery parameters and view/save relevant case information and data.