Organ perfusion systems

Abstract

A disposable set of components for an organ perfusion system comprising a fluid supply duct for supplying fluid to the organ, a fluid removal duct for removing fluid from the organ, and a surrogate organ removably connected between the fluid supply duct and the fluid removal duct so as to form a fluid circuit, so that fluid can be circulated in the circuit in preparation for connection of the organ.

1 . A method of preparing an organ perfusion system for use in perfusing a bodily organ, the method comprising:
 providing a disposable set of components for the organ perfusion system, the set comprising a fluid supply duct for supplying fluid to the bodily organ, a fluid removal duct for removing fluid from the bodily organ, a surrogate organ removably connected between the fluid supply duct and the fluid removal duct so as to form a fluid circuit, a priming reservoir containing perfusion fluid, a priming duct, and a connector, wherein the connector connects the fluid circuit to the priming reservoir via the priming duct;   arranging the disposable set such that the connector is positioned at a lowest point of the fluid circuit; and   filling the fluid circuit with the perfusion fluid from the priming reservoir via the connector thereby causing the perfusion fluid to flow upwards through the whole fluid circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising circulating the perfusion fluid in the fluid circuit in preparation for connection of the bodily organ. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the organ perfusion system further comprises a fluid reservoir having a top, the priming reservoir is moveably attached to the fluid circuit, and filling the circuit with perfusion fluid comprises raising the priming reservoir a level that is higher than the top of the fluid reservoir thereby to cause the perfusion fluid to flow from the priming reservoir into the fluid circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the organ perfusion system comprises an air vent located above the fluid reservoir, and air is vented from the system through the vent as the fluid circuit is filled with the perfusion fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the organ perfusion system further comprises an oxygenator connected to the fluid supply duct and the fluid removal duct, and the method comprises adding oxygen into the perfusion fluid as the perfusion fluid is circulated in the fluid circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the organ perfusion system further comprises a measuring duct connected between the fluid supply duct and the fluid removal duct, and the method comprises measuring the content of at least one component of the perfusion fluid in the measuring duct as the perfusion fluid is circulated in the fluid circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the organ perfusion system further comprises a pump arranged to pump fluid round the fluid circuit, the pump comprising a pump head which is independently movable, and the method comprises tapping the pump head to remove gas trapped therein. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising disconnecting the surrogate organ from the fluid circuit and connecting the bodily organ into the fluid circuit for perfusion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the surrogate organ comprises an inlet duct and an outlet duct, and connecting the surrogate organ into the fluid circuit comprises connecting the inlet duct to the fluid supply duct and connecting the outlet duct to the fluid removal duct.