JPH01311001A - Device for preserving organ - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a device consisting of a cold reserving unit and driving unit, the cold reserving unit consisting of a cold reserving container having an organ housing chamber and a control housing part with a heat exchanger and artificial lung without flowing of a perfusate to the artificial lung in moving the cold reserving unit. CONSTITUTION:A device 1 for preserving organs, consisting of a cold reserving unit 3 and a driving unit 2, the cold reserving unit 3 provided with a cold reserving container 7 having an organ housing chamber 10 and a control housing part 9 having a divided heat exchanger 14 and an artificial lung 13 to form a perfusion circuit so that a perfusate may be prevented from flowing into the heat exchanger and artificial lung in moving the cold reserving unit 3. The perfusion circuit containing the artificial lung and the heat exchanger is constituted so as to provide a closed circuit and a means for controlling the inflow of a perfusate into the artificial lung, etc., is simultaneously provided to enable housing and transporting of a perfusion circuit other than the artificial lung and heat exchanger. Thereby, miniaturization of the cold reserving container and improvement in cooling efficiency are attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a method for transplanting organs such as hearts and livers extracted from humans or animals to other patients or animals, by temporarily preserving the organs by perfusion. The present invention relates to an organ preservation device.

[Conventional technology]

There is a simple cryopreservation method to preserve removed organs. This method simply preserves the organ in a container in a frozen or cold state, but this method has a limit to the preservation time.

For this reason, a method called low-temperature perfusion cold storage method is used.

This is to preserve organs by forming a perfusion fluid circulation circuit, and is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,632,473, U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,990, No. 4,186,565, etc.

Organ preservation devices having these perfusion devices have the advantage that there is no need to disconnect or connect the perfusion circuit during preservation, and there is little risk of bacterial infection to the organ that occurs during disconnection or connection.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when using the conventional low-temperature perfusion cooling method, the size of the equipment is unavoidable and the weight burden is large, so
Attempts to transport them by plane, helicopter, etc. in time for emergency situations were impossible, and we had no choice but to rely on simple methods of cooling and preserving the small size of the equipment. For this reason, as mentioned above, there was a problem that the storage time was limited and the transportation distance was limited, making it impossible to perform necessary medical procedures.

For this reason, it has been proposed that a cold storage unit having an irrigation circuit etc. is removably attached to a drive unit having a drive section etc. so that only the cold storage unit is transported.
This also has the problem that since all of the >at circuits are housed in the cold container of the cold storage unit, the size of the cold container is unavoidable and the cooling efficiency is also poor.

The present invention was proposed to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a perfusion-type organ preservation device that is small in size, has high cooling efficiency, and is suitable for transportation.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for driving a cold storage unit that has at least an organ storage chamber, a heat exchanger, and an oxygenator and connects these to form a perfusion circuit. In an organ storage device that is detachably connected to the unit, the cold storage unit is provided with a separate cold storage container that stores at least the organ storage chamber, and a control storage section that stores at least the heat exchanger and oxygenator, so that when the cold storage unit is moved, heat is removed. This is designed to form a perfusion circuit in which perfusion fluid does not flow into the exchanger or oxygenator.

In this way, the perfusion circuit including the oxygenator and heat exchanger is configured to be a closed circuit, and means for controlling the flow of perfusion fluid into the oxygenator, etc. is provided, and the oxygenator and heat exchanger are placed in a cold container. Since perfusion circuits other than the above can be stored and transported, it is possible to downsize the cold storage container and improve cooling efficiency.

〔Example〕

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention,
The organ preservation device 1 consists of a drive unit 2 and a cold storage unit 3, and the cold storage unit 3 is detachable from the drive unit 2. The cold storage unit 3 performs measurements via a cold storage container 7 covered with a heat insulating material 6, a measurement control unit 8 that measures and controls the perfusion state, a part of the perfusion circuit 5, and an auxiliary power cord 34 that receives power from a battery of a car or the like. It consists of a control and storage section 9 that houses an auxiliary power supply unit (not shown) that supplies electricity to the control section 8 . The perfusion circuit 5 includes an organ storage chamber 10 that stores the organ 4. perfusion liquid storage tank 11 for storing perfusion liquid;
a filter 12 having a mesh filter membrane of approximately 100 μm for collecting blood clots and relatively large tissue debris in the perfusate; an oxygenator 13 for adjusting the state of dissolved gas in the perfusate;
A heat exchanger 14 for adjusting the temperature of the perfusate to a constant level, a perfusion pump 15 using a bimorph for circulating the perfusate, and a bubble remover 16 for preventing air bubbles in the perfusate from flowing into the organ. Irrigation tube A17, Irrigation tube B
It is connected to a closed circuit via 18. A connector 19a, 1 that can switch the flow path is provided at the tip of the perfusion tube B provided on the perfusion liquid inlet side of the oxygenator 13 and the perfusion liquid outlet side of the heat exchanger 14.
9b (for example, a three-way stopcock), and the two connectors are connected by an irrigation tube C20. Foam remover 5
16 is provided with a temperature sensor 21 , a PH sensor 22 , and a pressure sensor 23 , and their output sides are connected to the measurement control section 8 . The oxygenator 13 is supplied with perfusion fluid P from the gas control device 24 of the drive unit 2 via the gas connector 31.
CO□ gas is supplied in accordance with H, and a constant temperature coolant is supplied to the heat exchanger 14 from a coolant circulation device 25 via a coolant connector 32.

The drive unit 2 includes a coolant circulation device 25, a gas control device 24, and a condition setting section 2 for inputting storage conditions for the organ 4.
6. A control unit 27 that controls the cooling circulation device 25 and the gas control device 24 so that the storage conditions of the condition setting unit 26 are maintained, a display unit 28 that displays the storage conditions, and a power supply unit 29 that drives these devices. has been established. The control section 27 and the measurement control section 8 on the side of the cold storage unit 3 are connected through an electrical connector 33. Gas control unit ``A CO□ tank 30 is connected to the device 24, and an air or 02 tank can also be connected if necessary.

With this structure, when transporting organs to a hospital owned by the recipient, the organ 4 extracted from the donor
The blood is completely washed away with a low-temperature washing solution (eg, heparinized saline) and the blood is kept at a low temperature. This is connected to the perfusion tube A17 as shown in the figure and stored in the organ storage chamber 10. In this case, each device in the control storage section 9 is not in a state of being driven by the drive unit, so the connector 19a.

A flow path is set in 19b so that the perfusate does not flow to the oxygenator 13 and the heat exchanger L4. The perfusion circuit 5 is housed in a cold storage container 7, and cooling ice (not shown) is placed in the gap between the perfusion circuit 5 and the cold storage container 7. The cold storage unit 3 as shown in FIG. 2 is then transported by car or the like. During transport, the perfusion pump 15 is driven by electricity supplied from an external power source installed in the car or the like. It is brought into a perfusion state and transported to the hospital where the recipe end is located, and the electrical connector 33, coolant connector 32, and gas connector 31 are connected to the drive unit 2 installed in the hospital, and the connectors 19a and 19b of the perfusion circuit 5 are connected. The flow path is switched so that the perfusion fluid circulates to the oxygenator 13 and the heat exchanger 14. Then, the condition setting section 26 of the drive unit 2 inputs storage conditions for the organ 4 to appropriately preserve the organ until transplantation.

By doing this, when transporting the cold storage unit 3 or at the destination hospital, the cold storage unit 3 can be attached to the drive unit 2.
When connected and used, there is no need to disconnect or connect the perfusion circuit, so there is no need for a connector and there is almost no possibility of bacteria invading. This has made it possible to safely and reliably preserve organs.

In addition, we made sure that the perfusate did not flow into the oxygenator and heat exchanger, which do not function effectively during transportation, and at the same time, we did not store these devices in the cold container, so the number of components in the cold container was kept to a minimum. This makes it possible to make the cold storage container smaller and lighter, and because there are no extra components, efficient cooling can be achieved.

Furthermore, since all connections between the cold storage unit and the drive unit are made using connectors, not only can this be done extremely quickly and easily, but also the heat exchanger 14 and oxygenator 1 can be connected while the cold storage unit 3 is being transported.
Although the perfusion fluid is not passed through the tube 3, the perfusion is maintained in the cold container 7, so that the organs can be preserved in an appropriate state as much as possible during the operation.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an auxiliary power supply unit and an auxiliary power cord 34 are not provided in the cold storage unit 3. Therefore, the weight of the cold storage unit 3 can be reduced. However, during transportation, the perfusion pump 15 is stopped and no perfusion fluid flows; instead, the perfusion pump 15 is transported in a state of simple cooling and storage.

Further, in this embodiment, a portion corresponding to the perfusion circuit C is not provided, and the flow path of the perfusion liquid is switched through a cock 35 that disconnects and connects perfusion instead of a connector. This makes it extremely easy to transition from a simple cooling storage state during transportation to a low-temperature perfusion storage state by connecting to a drive unit installed at a destination hospital, etc.

Although the heat exchanger 14 and the coolant circulation device 25 are provided in the first and second embodiments described above, a structure may be adopted in which cooling air is supplied into the cold storage container 7 instead of these.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which air is injected through an approximately 0.2 μm mesh air filter 36 instead of an oxygenator, and an oxygen-selective permeable membrane is incorporated. By injecting air containing a large amount of 0□ into the perfusate storage tank 11 through the filter 37, the dissolved gas concentration of the perfusate is adjusted. 38 is an air filter 36. , O□ filter 37 to suck air therein.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment related to the organ preservation device, in which a tank similar to the perfusion fluid storage tank of the cold storage unit for transportation is also provided in the drive unit installed in the means of transportation such as a car. This is an attempt to reduce the weight of the cold storage unit.゛If the irrigant was provided only in the cold storage unit, the irrigant would also have to be transported at the same time, causing problems in terms of weight.

The cold storage unit 39 has a perfusion chamber 41 and a measurement chamber 42,
The perfusion chamber 41 is provided with ice 68 and a heat insulating material 43 such as styrofoam or urethane on the outside so as to cover the inner chamber. The perfusion chamber 41 includes an organ storage chamber 4 that stores organs 44.
5. A perfusion liquid storage tank A46 that stores the minimum perfusion liquid required for perfusion during transportation, a filter 47 that captures large particles in the perfusion liquid, a perfusion pump 48, an artificial lung 49, and a bubble remover 50. They are connected with silicone, Teflon, etc. tubes. The bubble remover 50 includes a temperature sensor 51, a pressure sensor 52,
A PH sensor 53 is provided, and these are connected to the measurement section 16 of the measurement chamber 4.
It is connected with. The measurement unit 54 includes a recording unit 55 and a display unit 5.
6 are installed in a row.

The drive unit 40 is connected with a perfusion liquid storage tank B57 for storing an amount of perfusion liquid necessary for long-term preservation of the organ 44, a heat exchanger 58, and a coolant circulation system 59, and is connected to the oxygenator 49. A gas control device 60, a gas tank 61, and a control section 62 are provided. The control unit 62 and the measurement unit 54, the control unit 62 and the perfusion pump 48, the oxygenator 49 and the gas control device 6
0.Irrigation fluid storage tank A46 and irrigation fluid storage tank B57
, the heat exchanger 58 and the filter 47 are connected to connector A, respectively.
63, Connector B64, Connector C65, Connector D6
6. Detachably connected by connector E67. Connector D66 and connector E67 are switching tubes 69
Connected by

With this configuration, when preserving organs in a hospital, the cold storage unit 39 and drive unit 40 are connected,
A perfusion circuit including a perfusion liquid storage tank B57 and a heat exchanger 58 is formed. At this time, the switching tube 69 blocks the flow in this portion. The control unit 62 receives the signal from the measurement unit 54 and controls the coolant circulation device 59 and the gas supply device 6.
0, controlling pump 48. The signal from the measuring section 54 is displayed on the display section 56 and recorded on the recording section 55.

When the organ 44 is transported from hospital to hospital, the cold storage unit 39 is separated from the drive unit 40. A liquid flow is applied to the switching tube 69 to form a perfusion circuit within the cold storage unit 39. The equipment inside the cold storage unit 39 is driven by an auxiliary battery (not shown).

When only the cold storage unit 39 is transported in this way, it is not necessary to transport the amount of irrigation fluid stored in the irrigation fluid storage tank B57, so the cooling unit 39 can be made smaller and lighter. . In addition, when transporting, there are usually 2
For ~3 hours, a small amount of perfusate is sufficient.

FIG. 6 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in which a storage unit 70 equipped with an IC memory is connected to the measurement unit 54 in the cold storage unit 39. A recording section 55 is provided in the drive unit 40 and connected to the measuring section 54 via a connector 71. With this configuration, in the case of organ preservation in a hospital, the cold storage unit 39 and the drive unit 40 are connected,
The signal from the measurement section 54 is displayed on the display section 56, recorded in the recording section 55, and stored in the storage section 7o. On the other hand, when transporting only the cold storage unit 39 between hospitals, the signal from the measurement section 54 is displayed on the display section 56 and stored in the storage section 70. In this embodiment, since the cold storage unit 39 is not provided with a recording section, it can be made smaller and lighter.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since an oxygenator, a heat exchanger, etc. are not provided inside the cold storage container, the size can be reduced and cooling can be performed efficiently. Moreover, during transportation, the perfusion fluid can be prevented from flowing into the oxygenator and heat exchanger provided in the cold storage unit, so that a temporary perfusion circuit can be formed inside the cold storage container for transportation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cold storage unit, Fig. 3 is an overall explanatory diagram of the second embodiment, and Fig. 4 is an illustration of the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is an overall explanatory diagram of another embodiment related to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an overall explanatory diagram of a modification of the above embodiment.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An organ preservation device in which a cold storage unit having at least an organ storage chamber, a heat exchanger, and an oxygenator and connecting these to form a perfusion circuit is removably connected to a drive unit, comprising: The unit is provided with a partitioned cooling container that stores at least an organ storage chamber and a control storage section that stores at least a heat exchanger and an oxygenator, and a perfusion circuit that prevents perfusion fluid from flowing to the heat exchanger and oxygenator when the cold storage unit is moved. An organ preservation device characterized by forming a.