Overcoming Historical Challenges of Warm Blood Perfusion

Long recognized for its potential benefits, there have been a number of efforts made by academic research centers to develop warm blood perfusion approaches to organ preservation. While the work of these groups has given strong evidence of the concept’s value, these attempts often met with limitations that prevented progress to a commercially viable product.

TransMedics has systematically addressed the
historical challenges of warm blood perfusion in
developing the Organ Care System.

Challenge No. 1 - Hemolysis

• Novel pulsatile pump, valves, circuit, and cannulae design to reduce shear stress on the RBCs and minimize hemolysis

Challenge No. 2 - Biocompatibility & Inflammation

• Biocompatible materials used for all blood contacting surfaces
• Leukocyte and platelet depletion
• Heparin coating of surface area of the perfusion circuit
• Use of TMI solution to further attenuate any inflammatory response

Challenge No. 3 - Substrate Depletion

• TransMedics’ solution sets designed to supply and maintain steady state of needed substrate to ensure stable metabolic function

Challenge No. 4 - Contamination

• Dual barrier chamber design
• Access for sampling and antibiotics administration

Challenge No. 5 - Portability

• Robust design using lightweight composite materials and custom power and gas sources