Filtration in organ perfusion apparatus

Abstract

A filter for filtering perfusate is integrated with an exterior portion of an organ container. The filter may be used in an apparatus for perfusing an organ. The perfusion apparatus may include an organ container configured to contain an organ, the filter integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container, and another filter. At least the filter integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container may be provided in a sterilized disposable kit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filtering apparatus for filtering perfusate, comprising:
 an organ container having a connection configured to connect with an organ perfusion apparatus; and   a filter element integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container.   
     
     
         2 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is molded into the exterior portion of the organ container. 
     
     
         3 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior portion is located on a bottom of the organ container. 
     
     
         4 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is fitted into an aperture of the exterior portion of the organ container. 
     
     
         5 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is disposed in the exterior portion of the organ container such that an outer circumference or periphery of the filter element is between two surfaces of the exterior portion of the organ container. 
     
     
         6 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is detachable from the organ container. 
     
     
         7 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is a screen filter. 
     
     
         8 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element has an average opening size of 1,000 microns to 3,000 microns. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for perfusing an organ, comprising:
 an organ container configured to contain an organ;   a recirculating perfusate flow path;   a first filter integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container in the perfusate flow path; and   a second filter in the perfusate flow path.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second filter is disposed downstream of the first filter in the perfusate flow path. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first filter is a coarser filter than the second filter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a cradle disposed within the organ container, the cradle having an organ supporting surface configured to support an organ. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the organ container is configured to hold perfusate to form a perfusate bath around an organ placed in the cradle. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second filter is disposed within a fluid conduit downstream of the first filter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with the first filter. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a pump disposed between the first filter and the second filter in a perfusate flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first filter is sized to prevent particles from blocking the first filter. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a pump;   a pressure sensor;   an oxygenator; and   a combo bubble trap.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the perfusate flow path comprises a conduit that begins at the first filter and then passes, in order, the pump, the pressure sensor, the second filter, the oxygenator and the bubble trap before returning to the organ container. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the first filter is between about 4 and 5 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first filter has an area that is at least two times a cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the organ container comprises an extended portion at the bottom of the organ container and forming a secondary chamber between the first filter and a fluid conduit. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first filter is a screen filter. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second filter is a cartridge or capsule filter. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a filter surface area of the second filter is about 0.5 ft 2 . 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first filter has an average mesh opening size of 100 to 1,000 microns. 
     
     
         27 . A sterilized disposable kit, comprising:
 sterilized packaging containing:
 a sterilized organ container configured to contain an organ, the sterilized organ container including a sterilized first filter configured to filter perfusate and integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container. 
   
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27 , further comprising a sterilized second filter disposed inside of the sterilized packaging. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the first filter is coarser than the second filter. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29 , further comprising a fluid conduit, an oxygenator, and a bubble trap, contained in the sterilized packaging. 
     
     
         31 . A method of perfusing an organ, comprising:
 (a) perfusing an organ with a perfusate in an organ container;   (b) filtering the perfusate after it leaves the organ with a first filter integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container;   (c) filtering the perfusate fluid with a second filter downstream of the first filter; and   (d) returning the perfusate to repeat steps (a) through (c).   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first filter is a coarser filter than the second filter. 
     
     
         33 . A method of manufacturing an organ container, comprising:
 providing a filter material;   securing the filter material in an exterior portion of the organ container; and   forming on the organ container a connection configured to connect with an organ perfusion apparatus.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the organ container is formed by injection molding. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the organ container is injection molded around the filter material.