Optimization of a device for preservation and evaluation of donor hearts while functioning external to the body, in preparation for transplant

心脏相关疾病是加拿大人死亡的主要原因。进行确定性治疗 对于终末期心力衰竭，心脏移植仍然是金标准疗法。短 然而，捐赠器官的供应限制了这种挽救生命的干预措施的更广泛应用。 使这个问题复杂化的是在多器官移植中观察到的心脏功能不良的频率很高。 供体这导致所提供的心脏的低利用率。我们正在开发 一种能为供体心脏提供持续的温血灌注的装置， 以最佳方式保存器官。此外，心脏功能评估和 潜在的治疗可以在更长的时间内进行，打开窗口， 增加可用心脏的数量和进行移植的时间。 该设备的开发、优化和验证是以下方面的合作： 在一家公司的支持下， 将该装置商业化。

Cardiac related diseases are a leading cause of death for Canadians. For definitive treatment of end-stage heart failure, cardiac transplantation remains the gold standard therapy. A short supply of donor organs however, limits the wider application of this life saving intervention. Compounding this problem is a high frequency of poor heart function observed in the multiorgan donor. This results in a low utilization rate of hearts that are offered. We are developing a device that will provide continuous warm blood-based perfusion of the donor heart, permitting optimal preservation of the organ. As well, functional assessment of the heart and potential treatment can be undertaken over a longer period of time, opening the window for an increase in the number of available hearts and the time available to carry out the transplant. The development, optimization and proving of this device is a collaboration between academics in Medicine and Engineering with the support of a company aimed at commercializing the device.