| abstract |
The present invention is directed to a device useful for measuring functional characteristics of an organ being perfused at near normal metabolism using an ex vivo warm preservation process/system. The device comprises means for diverting from the flow lines of the warm preservation system a small sample of perfusate which has already circulated through the organ, and means for collecting the perfusate that measurements can be performed. The functional characteristics include parameters reflecting organ metabolism measured from perfusate which has circulated through the organ, from organ product produced and collected from the organ, or from both the circulated perfusate and the collected organ product during the warm preservation process/system. The measured parameters may then be compared to reference intervals as a method of prospectively assessing functional capabilities of the organ posttransplantation. |