The present invention discloses a method for modulating freezing of a liquid substance, said liquid substance being in the presence of a gas phase, the method comprising modulating the temperature of the liquid substance, of the gas phase or of both, and controlling the concentration of vapor of the substance present in the gas phase. The invention further comprises a method for preservation, for example, food or other biological material, and an apparatus for putting said method into practice.

A system and method for concurrently and uniformly removing thermal energy from clustered specimen samples.

A system and method for pumping fluid through an organ donors organs while monitoring the fluid and organs. A pump is configured to pump fluid from a fluid reservoir through an oxygenator that oxygenates the fluid, a heat exchanger that regulates the temperature of the fluid, and into an organ donors circulatory system or a severed organ. At least one sensor array is coupled to the system to monitor the fluid and organ/s. The fluid pumped through the system is blood or flushing fluid, and the two can be used one at a time. The information gathered by the at least one sensor array is used to inform the system to make changes to increase the organ's likelihood of successful transplant.

The tissue cooling device includes: a first cooler having a function of generating first cold air; and a second cooler to which gas is supplied from the first cooler, the second cooler adjusting the gas to form second cold air, wherein the second cooler includes: a heat exchanger having a surface to be in contact with the gas supplied from the first cooler; and an adjustment substance supply unit configured to supply an adjustment substance for adjusting a temperature of the heat exchanger to the surface of the heat exchanger, wherein the adjustment substance supplied from the adjustment substance supply unit has a freezing point higher than a temperature of the first cold air.

The tissue cooling device includes: a first cooler having a function of generating first cold air; and a second cooler to which gas is supplied from the first cooler, the second cooler adjusting the gas to form second cold air, wherein the second cooler includes: a heat exchanger having a surface to be in contact with the gas supplied from the first cooler; and an adjustment substance supply unit configured to supply an adjustment substance for adjusting a temperature of the heat exchanger to the surface of the heat exchanger, wherein the adjustment substance supplied from the adjustment substance supply unit has a freezing point higher than a temperature of the first cold air.

Systems and methods are provided herein for monitoring electrical activity in ex vivo, resting donor organs. Systems and methods provided herein also include providing electrical stimulation to the donor tissue to maintain or increase viability during storage or transport. Donor organs can include ex vivo, resting hearts. Electrical activity can be used to determine donor organ viability, especially in instances where visual evaluation of a beating heart is not possible. The same electrodes or other sensing devices used to measure electrical activity can be used to apply a voltage/current to the tissue as well in order to maintain viability of the organ. In some embodiments, stimulation or depression may be provided in response to the measured electrical activity.

Systems and methods are provided herein for monitoring electrical activity in ex vivo, resting donor organs. Systems and methods provided herein also include providing electrical stimulation to the donor tissue to maintain or increase viability during storage or transport. Donor organs can include ex vivo, resting hearts. Electrical activity can be used to determine donor organ viability, especially in instances where visual evaluation of a beating heart is not possible. The same electrodes or other sensing devices used to measure electrical activity can be used to apply a voltage/current to the tissue as well in order to maintain viability of the organ. In some embodiments, stimulation or depression may be provided in response to the measured electrical activity.

A normothermic machine perfusion method for a pancreas is provided. First, a perfusate contained in a venous reservoir may be oxygenated such that a ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide in the oxygenated perfusate is approximately 90%/10%. A first portion of the oxygenated perfusate may be pumped from the venous reservoir, through a dialysis filter, and back to the venous reservoir. A dialysate comprising a salt and glucose may be infused into the first portion of the oxygenated perfusate as the first portion is pumped through the dialysis filter. A concentration of glucose in the dialysate may be less than 8 mmol/L. A second portion of the oxygenated perfusate may be pumped through an arterial filter and through a pancreas graft. Venous outflow from the pancreas graft may then be pumped to the venous reservoir.

A normothermic machine perfusion method for a pancreas is provided. First, a perfusate contained in a venous reservoir may be oxygenated such that a ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide in the oxygenated perfusate is approximately 90%/10%. A first portion of the oxygenated perfusate may be pumped from the venous reservoir, through a dialysis filter, and back to the venous reservoir. A dialysate comprising a salt and glucose may be infused into the first portion of the oxygenated perfusate as the first portion is pumped through the dialysis filter. A concentration of glucose in the dialysate may be less than 8 mmol/L. A second portion of the oxygenated perfusate may be pumped through an arterial filter and through a pancreas graft. Venous outflow from the pancreas graft may then be pumped to the venous reservoir.

Systems and methods are provided herein for transporting a biological sample. Systems and methods provided herein also include providing electrical monitoring of the donor tissue to track electrical activity during transportation. A potential QRS-like wave can be detected even in resting heart tissue to determine viability.