US Patent:
20140030231, Jan 30, 2014
Inventors:
Martin L. Yarmush - Newton MA, US
Mehmet Toner - Wellesley MA, US
Maria-Louisa Izamis - Boston MA, US
Timothy Antonie Berendsen - Melrose MA, US
Robert Marius Bieganski - Cambridge MA, US
Osman Berk Usta - Watertown MA, US
Basak Elif Uygun - Cambridge MA, US
Mustafa Korkut Uygun - Cambridge MA, US
Sinem Perk - Chicago IL, US
Assignee:
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION - Boston MA
International Classification:
A01N 1/02
US Classification:
424 937, 435 29, 435 11, 435 12, 435 13, 435 25, 435 792, 435 612
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions to determine viability of an organ for transplantation and other medical purposes. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for assessing the viability of an organ by measuring the energy parameters to determine the energy level of the organ by determining the stored cellular energy (e.g., ATP levels), and/or energy consumption over a particular time period of viability. The energy parameters can be compared to reference energy parameters as a highly accurate and reliable prediction of viable cell yield, and organ viability. Another aspect of the invention relates methods to preserve or extend the time period of viability of an organ any combination of (i) preservation perfusion of the organ to prevent ischemic damage, (ii) chemical metabolic suppression of the organ e.g., using metabolic suppressants, (iii) metabolic suppression by physical or environmental conditions, e.g., sub-zero non-freezing storage.
