| abstract |
The present invention, in various aspects, provides systems, devices, and methods relating to ex vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to maintaining an organ in a state close to a physiological state ex vivo. This application is for organ care system cardiac perfusion device to assess 1) total perfusion status of isolated heart, 2) metabolic status of isolated heart, and 3) total vessel patency of isolated donor heart. A method for using lactate measurement in arterial blood lines and venous blood lines is described. An aspect of the present invention is the unique ability of cardiomyocytes to produce / generate lactate when oxygen is depleted and to metabolize / utilize lactate for energy production when fully perfused with oxygen. Use certain characteristics. |