In the United States, the need for donor organs surpasses the supply by fourfold. Donation after cardiac death is a rapidly growing source of organs that also poses its own set of complications. Because it is mandatory that the heart stops for 2-5 minutes prior to incision, inadequate blood flow to organs as the donor is in this final stage of death leads to significant organ injury and discard.
Description
This novel stent design eliminates ischemic injury by isolating the vessels of the abdominal organs and perfusing them with oxygenated blood. The device is placed percutaneously and requires no incisions. The design of the stent effectively creates two zones: a central lumen of this stent maintains uninterrupted flow thus avoiding strain on the dying heart, while the other provides pulsatile and oxygenated perfusion of only the abdominal organs. Consolidation of abdominal organ branch vessels into a single zone greatly simplifies device placement compared to traditional stent approaches. The longitudinal strut design expedites removal, if necessary. By perfusing donor organs without impacting the natural cardiac death of a transplant donor, fewer transplantable organs will be wasted.
Applications
· Preserving organ function after cardiac death
· Preserving organ function during planned withdrawal of life support
· Preserving organ function in the case of donors who pass before a donor surgical team is available
· Endovascular cold perfusion of organs during surgery, such as during cardiac or proximal vessel repairs when prolonged cessation of blood flow may otherwise risk organ damage
Advantages
· Increase the number of high quality organs for transplant
· Reduce cost of medical expenses for patients awaiting transplants by billions of dollars
Invention Readiness
In vitro and in vivo data; animal study data; prototype available
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170164605A1Related Publications
Tillman, B. W., Chun, Y., Cho, S. K., Chen, Y., Liang, N., Maul, T., Demetris, A., Gu, X., Wagner, W. R., & Tevar, A. D. (2016). Dual chamber stent prevents organ malperfusion in a model of donation after cardiac death. Surgery, 160(4), 892–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2016.06.039
