Patent ID: 7176015

Claim:
Self-contained, portable organ transport apparatus that will maintain the viability of an organ for transplantation for at least 24 hours, the apparatus comprising: A. a perfusion fluid loop for maintaining an ex vivo organ in viable condition for transplantation, said perfusion fluid loop comprising: i. an organ container for receiving an organ to be transported, ii. a bubble remover for removing gas bubbles from perfusion fluid disposed in said perfusion fluid loop, and iii. an oxygenator for supplying oxygen to and removing carbon dioxide from perfusion fluid disposed in said perfusion fluid loop; B. an electric pump for circulating a perfusion fluid in said perfusion fluid loop; C. a self-contained cooling capacity sufficient to maintain the temperature of an organ in said organ container at a temperature not exceeding 6° C. for at least 24 hours; D. a self-contained source of oxygen adapted to deliver at least a 24-hour supply of oxygen to an organ via said oxygenator; and E. a self-contained source of energy adapted to deliver sufficient electrical energy to power said pump, maintaining perfusion of said organ for at least 24 hours while said apparatus is in use; F. the weight of said apparatus not exceeding 50 pounds when said apparatus is carrying an organ, charged with perfusion fluid, and able to supply enough oxygen, electric energy, and cooling capacity from said self-contained apparatus to continuously cool, perfuse, and oxygenate the organ, maintaining its viability for at least 24 hours.