Apparatus and method for multiple organ procurement

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention includes a method and device for the removal of visceral organs from an animal for purposes of transplantation, such organs having branch connection with the aortic artery.
As used herein and in connection with organ removal, "Animal" is to be understood as being inclusive of humans and other species such as canine, primates etc.
The procedure for preservation of the organs includes reducing the extent to which such organs are exposed to warm ischemia incident to removal thereof from the animal.
The procedure provides the steps of introducing a cannula into a vascular conduit distal to the visceral organs and in fluid communication with the aortic artery, constricting the vascular conduit about the cannula to establish a lower blockage of the conduit, and making a further passage blocking of the aortic artery proximal to the visceral organs to be removed to establish an upper blockage of the aortic artery.
A flow of flushing solution is introduced through the cannula into the aortic artery for communication therefrom to the organ being removed.
This flow is introduced at a flush pressure (measured at the cannula) required for a given organ, in the case of the kidney, at a pressure at least greater than 30 mm Hg and preferably about 70 mm Hg, and at a flow rate sufficient to provide a renal flush of from about 60 to 70 cc/lOO g/min.
, such flow being maintained until the core temperature of the organ being removed has been lowered to at least about 22.
degree.
C.
and preferably to about 15.
degree.
C.
The device provided by the present invention for use in the aforementioned procedure includes in one embodiment thereof, a tapered, beveled tip end cannula received on one of the nipples of a nipple fitting comprised of plural communicatively arranged nipples, with the cannula being insertable in a vascular conduit through an incision therein which is distal the visceral organs, the conduit being in communication with the aortic artery.
The tapered shape of the cannula permits insertion of the cannula thru either a femoral or an aortic route thus allowing flush of internal organs without abdominal incision