A test bench assembly (10) for the simulation of cardiac surgery and/or interventional cardiology operations and/or procedures, comprising a passive heart (12), wherein said passive heart (12) is an explanted or artificial or hybrid heart, said passive heart (12) having at least one pair of cardiac chambers (14, 16; 114, 116) comprising an atrial chamber (14; 114) and a ventricular chamber (16; 116); a reservoir (20), adapted to house the working fluid; a pressure generator (22), adapted to provide said passive heart (12) pumping said working fluid with the pumping function, said pressure generator (22) being fluidically connected both to said ventricular chamber (16) of said passive heart (12) and to said reservoir (20) by means of first fluid connection means; a pressure regulation device (24) which provides the working fluid in input to the atrial chamber (14) with the preload pressure, and the working fluid in output from the ventricular chamber (16) with the afterload pressure, said pressure regulation device (24) being fluidically connected both to said atrial chamber (14) of said passive heart (12) and to said ventricular chamber (16) of said passive heart (12) by means of second fluid connection means; wherein said pressure regulation device (24) comprises a single compliant element (26) for each pair of cardiac chambers (14, 16) which provides the working fluid with both the preload and the afterload pressures.

A system for the hypothermic transport of biological samples, such as tissues, organs, or body fluids. The system includes a self-purging preservation apparatus to suspend a sample in preservation fluid and perfuse a tissue with preservation fluid. The self-purging preservation apparatus is placed in an insulated transport container having a cooling medium. When assembled, the system allows for transport of biological samples for extended periods of time at a stable temperature.

An apparatus, a system, and methods for receiving, perfusing and maintaining and assessing excised donor heart physiological functionality, The system generally comprises an apparatus for receiving and holding an excised heart that is interconnected with: (i) a perfusate-processing system, (ii) a bidirectional perfusate pumping system, (in) flow sensors for monitoring the flow of perfusate to and from an installed heart's aorta, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, and vena cava, (iv) an ECG apparatus interconnectable with the installed heart, and (v) probes interconnecting the installed heart with instruments for monitoring the heart's physiogical functionality using load independent indices and load dependent indices.

An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures. The methods further include perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures with a second perfusate containing a substance for reacting with the organ. Condition of the organ may be automatically monitored, and the perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.

A system and method for perfusing an organ with a normothermic extracorporeal perfusion system is disclosed. The perfusion system is an active flow system using a centrifugal pump to aid in circulation. The system includes a dialyzer that removes excess fluid and impurities, while maintaining the pH, which allows the perfusion system to be used for an extended period that may exceed 24 hours. The system includes a parallel circuit, which includes at least one centrifugal pump, a membrane oxygenator comprising a heat exchanger; a dialyzer; a measurement cell for real-time monitoring of oxygen saturation and hematocrit in the liver; more than one flow probe; and an organ chamber.

A surgical instrument includes a handle portion, first and second jaw members operably coupled to the handle portion, and first and second sensors associated with the first or second jaw members. The first sensor is configured to measure local perfusion in tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members, and the second sensor is configured to measure a pressure applied to the tissue by the first and second jaw members.

A medical carbon monoxide generator provides for a solid carbon material that may be heated at substantially normal atmospheric pressure to provide a source of medical quality carbon monoxide. The heating source may be an electrical filament or laser controllable by a microcontroller to provide accurate delivery rates and amounts. In one embodiment, a replaceable cartridge holding the carbon material may be used.

In one representative embodiment, a method of perfusing organs in a patient's body is provided. The method comprises isolating the visceral arteries and the visceral veins from blood circulating through the patient's heart and perfusing the visceral arteries, the visceral veins, and the abdominal organs with a perfusion fluid that is fluidly separated from the blood circulating through the patient's heart. While the visceral arteries and the visceral veins are isolated, and the visceral arteries, the visceral veins, and the abdominal organs are being perfused, the patient's blood is allowed to continue to circulate through the heart.

Compositions, methods, systems/devices and media are provided for maintaining a harvested organ in a functioning and viable state prior to implantation. The organ perfusion apparatus includes a preservation chamber for storing the organ during the preservation period. A perfusion circuit is provided having a first line for providing an oxygenated fluid to the organ, and a second line for carrying depleted fluid away from the organ. The perfusion apparatus also includes a device operably associated with the perfusion circuit for maintaining the organ at a substantially normothermic temperature.

Compositions, methods, systems/devices and media are provided for maintaining a harvested organ in a functioning and viable state prior to implantation. The organ perfusion apparatus includes a preservation chamber for storing the organ during the preservation period. A perfusion circuit is provided having a first line for providing an oxygenated fluid to the organ, and a second line for carrying depleted fluid away from the organ. The perfusion apparatus also includes a device operably associated with the perfusion circuit for maintaining the organ at a substantially normothermic temperature.