Improved organ preservation system
Thanks to Covestro polycarbonate
Cold ischemic storage has been the traditional method for organ preservation during transplantation. However, this technique has limitations, such as a narrow window for safe transport, the potential for damage even within safe time limits and the inability to test organ function.
To improve the way organs are preserved during transportation, TransMedics, Inc. developed the Organ Care System (OCS™), an innovative, portable system that delivers warm, nutrient-rich blood to the organ, allowing it to function outside of the body and enabling organ optimization and assessment.
Transparent and robust
TransMedics has three OCS™ products – OCS™ Heart, OCS™ Lung and OCS™ Liver, each of which has three primary components: a portable console with a wireless monitor, a disposable perfusion set and nutrient-enriched solutions. The perfusion set’s clear enclosure protects the organ using Makrolon® 2458 and Makrolon® Rx1452 polycarbonates from Covestro, while the attached connectors utilize Makrolon® Rx1805. “Makrolon® polycarbonates offer the combination of transparency and toughness needed for this medical device,” said John Sullivan, vice president of engineering, TransMedics, Inc.
Makrolon® polycarbonates for medical applications offer several beneficial attributes for the OCS™ platform, including:
- Dimensional stability
- Impact and chemical resistance
- Suitable for sterilization
- Biocompatible according to many ISO 10993-1 test requirements
Additionally, Makrolon® 2458 and Makrolon® Rx1452 polycarbonates are ideal materials for medical devices, featuring a low viscosity and easy-release properties.
Additional services
Anthony Leo, business development manager, Healthcare – Northeast region, Covestro LLC, comments, “our team also offered technical support and shared regulatory knowledge to help further the development cycle.” “Safely transporting organs can literally mean the difference between life and death,” said Lauren Zetts, Americas market manager, Healthcare – Polycarbonates, Covestro LLC. “It’s very gratifying that our materials play a role in helping TransMedics fulfill its mission to deliver healthy transplants in a timely manner.”
Attendees at MD&M West Conference and Exposition, Feb. 5-7, in Anaheim, California, can visit the Covestro booth (#2221) to learn more about the company’s medical applications and materials.
About Covestro:
With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.
Find more information at www.covestro.com.
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Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.