We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Normothermic Perfusion System Preserves Donated Livers

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 Jan 2022
Print article
Image: The metra normothermic machine perfusion system (Photo courtesy of OrganOx)
Image: The metra normothermic machine perfusion system (Photo courtesy of OrganOx)
A fully automated mechanical perfusion system sustains donor livers destined for transplantation in a functioning state for up to 12 hours.

The OrganOx (Oxford, United Kingdom) metra is a normothermic (37°C) machine perfusion system that mimics the environment of the human body, supplying warm, oxygenated blood and nutrients to the donor liver. By continuously perfusing the liver at near physiological pressures and flows, metra allows it to remain functional, producing bile, metabolizing glucose, and maintaining pH. The metra system also measures and controls blood gases in the perfusate without user intervention, thus allowing objective assessment of organ performance prior to transplant.

The system includes a simple three-button panel that controls flows, pressures, temperature, and blood gases, providing optimal perfusion conditions; an oxygenator that concentrates Oxygen (O2) from ambient air; an on-board heater to warm the blood; a centrifugal pump to draw blood from the liver; a soft-shell reservoir of warm, oxygenated blood, supplied to the liver under near-physiological pressure; and an automatic perfusion system that deliver medications and nutrients, minimizing operator hands-on time.

“Through developing the metra, OrganOx has enabled transplant teams to objectively assess the function of a donor liver before a transplant, something which is impossible with ice box storage,” said Craig Marshall, CEO of OrganOx. “This is particularly important when a donor liver is identified as 'marginal', when there is uncertainty as to whether it will function following transplant. With our device we aim to make more livers available for transplantation to ensure that more patients can benefit from this life saving procedure.”

The cornerstone of organ preservation has long been cold ischemic storage. Although this method is intended to reduce the extent of organ damage during transport, significant deterioration of the donated organ still occurs; the longer the organ is kept on ice, the greater the damage. Moreover, the cold storage technique does not enable any resuscitative or assessment while the organ is being transported from donor to recipient. It is estimated that 60-65% of organs cannot ultimately be used for transplantation due to the limitations of cold storage.

Related Links:
OrganOx

Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Gold Member
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Breast Imaging Workstation
SecurView

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: NTT and Olympus have begun the world\'s first joint demonstration experiment of a cloud endoscopy system (Photo courtesy of Olympus)

Cloud Endoscopy System Enables Real-Time Image Processing on the Cloud

Endoscopes, which are flexible tubes inserted into the body's natural openings for internal examination and biopsy collection, are becoming increasingly vital in medical diagnostics. Their minimal invasiveness... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.