The invention relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The device (10) for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample comprises a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6). The device also comprises at least one chamber (11) having an interior that is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with an indicator substance (7) with a melting temperature in a region of −20° C. to −140° C. The chamber (11) has a barrier (13) that causes the indicator substance (7) to move into a second sub-region (12b) of the chamber (11) when the indicator substance (7) in a first sub-region (12a) of the chamber is in the fluid aggregate state.

The present disclosure relates to a cryogenic apparatus (300, 400, 500), comprising: at least one first temperature change mechanism (310, 410) connected to a sample stage (20) and configured to change a temperature at the sample stage (20); at least one second temperature change mechanism (320, 420, 520, 522) different from the at least one first temperature change mechanism (310, 410), wherein the at least one second temperature change mechanism (320, 420, 520, 522) is connected to the sample stage (20) and configured to change the temperature at the sample stage (20); and a controller. The controller is configured to: operate the at least one first temperature change mechanism (310, 410) in a first temperature range (A); operate the at least one second temperature change mechanism (320, 420, 520, 522) in a second temperature range (B) different from the first temperature range (A); and operate both the at least one first temperature change mechanism (310, 410) and the at least one second temperature change mechanism (320, 420, 520, 522) in a third temperature range (C) between the first temperature range (A) and the second temperature range (B).

The disclosure provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to maintaining an organ ex-vivo at near-physiologic conditions. The present application describes, for example, a method for using lactate measurement in the arterial and the venous blood lines of the Organ Care System Heart perfusion device to evaluate, for example, the: 1) overall perfusion status of an isolated heart; 2) metabolic status of an isolated heart; and 3) overall vascular patency of an isolated donor heart. This aspect of the present disclosure may use, for example, the property of myocardial cell’s unique ability to produce/generate lactate when they are starved for oxygen and metabolize/utilize lactate for energy production when they are well perfused with oxygen.

The disclosure provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to maintaining an organ ex-vivo at near-physiologic conditions. The present application describes, for example, a method for using lactate measurement in the arterial and the venous blood lines of the Organ Care System Heart perfusion device to evaluate, for example, the: 1) overall perfusion status of an isolated heart; 2) metabolic status of an isolated heart; and 3) overall vascular patency of an isolated donor heart. This aspect of the present disclosure may use, for example, the property of myocardial cell’s unique ability to produce/generate lactate when they are starved for oxygen and metabolize/utilize lactate for energy production when they are well perfused with oxygen.

Members of the PrC-210 family of aminothiols, including PrC-211 and PrC-252, are shown to be highly effective in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in two preclinical models, including kidney transplant and myocardial infarct. Compositions and methods employing members of the PrC-210 family of aminothiols are disclosed for suppressing ischemia-reperfusion-induced cell and organ toxicities in a number of settings, significantly including organ transplant and myocardial infarct.

An organ perfusion system comprises: a perfusion fluid circuit (16) arranged to circulate perfusion fluid through the organ; a surrogate organ (126) arranged to be connected into the circuit in place of the organ so that the circuit can circulate fluid through the surrogate organ; and organ sensing means arranged to distinguish between the presence of the organ in the circuit and the presence of the surrogate organ in the circuit. The sensing means may comprise one or more pressure sensors (136, 137, 138), or a flow meter (125). Further aspects relate to adjusting the content of at least one component, such as oxygen or a nutrient, in the perfusion fluid. Bubble detection means (113), and means (74) to measure the amount of fluid secreted by or leaked from the organ, may also be provided.

In a method of ventilating excised lungs, a ventilation gas is supplied to an airway of a lung and a vacuum is formed around the lung. A quality of the vacuum is varied between a lower level and a higher level to cause the lung to breathe, while the pressure of the ventilation gas supplied to the airway is regulated to maintain a positive airway pressure in the airway of the lung. The vacuum may be cyclically varied between the two vacuum levels. The levels may be maintained substantially constant over a period of time, or one or both of the lower and higher levels may be adjusted during ventilation. The lung may be placed in a sealed chamber, and a vacuum is formed in the chamber around the lung.

In a method of ventilating excised lungs, a ventilation gas is supplied to an airway of a lung and a vacuum is formed around the lung. A quality of the vacuum is varied between a lower level and a higher level to cause the lung to breathe, while the pressure of the ventilation gas supplied to the airway is regulated to maintain a positive airway pressure in the airway of the lung. The vacuum may be cyclically varied between the two vacuum levels. The levels may be maintained substantially constant over a period of time, or one or both of the lower and higher levels may be adjusted during ventilation. The lung may be placed in a sealed chamber, and a vacuum is formed in the chamber around the lung.

The present invention provides a solution for cryopreservation of animal cells or animal tissues which substantially includes a cryoprotectant that contains 0.5 w/v % to 6.0 w/v % of dextran or derivatives thereof or salts thereof and contains dimethyl sulfoxide, and includes a physiological aqueous solution; a cryopreserved product of animal cells or animal tissues which includes animal cells or animal tissues, and includes the above-described solution for cryopreservation of animal cells or animal tissues; and a cryopreservation method of animal cells or animal tissues, which is a method using the above-described solution for cryopreservation of animal cells or animal tissues.

A storage rack for storing and retrieving products to be maintained at a desired cryogenic temperature is provided. The storage rack includes an elongate mounting bar carrying a plurality of shelves, and an elongate stop bar that extends generally parallel to the mounting bar. The shelves are independently rotatable relative to the mounting bar towards and away from the stop bar, thereby enabling alignment of all of the shelves when the storage rack is to be stored, and also enabling easy access to each of the individual shelves. A handle projects upwardly and horizontally in a curved configuration from the stop bar and the mounting bar to provide a gripping surface for moving the storage rack. The shelves receive cylindrical vial containers with threadably removable lids to make retrieval and replacement of sample vials quick to perform, thereby avoiding temperature-induced damage to other samples in the storage rack.