US 12,389,903 B2
Low fluid level detection device
David Pettinato, Schaumburg, IL (US); Jeffrey Allen Doruff, Elgin, IL (US); and Christopher Paul Steinman, Sandy, UT (US)
Assigned to LIFELINE SCIENTIFIC, INC., Itasca, IL (US)
Filed by LIFELINE SCIENTIFIC, INC., Itasca, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/483,020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0092486 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. A01N 1/148 (2025.01); A01N 1/143 (2025.01); A01N 1/144 (2025.01)
CPC A01N 1/148 (2025.01) [A01N 1/143 (2025.01); A01N 1/144 (2025.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for holding an organ or tissue for at least one of perfusion, storage, diagnosis, and transport of the organ or tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a portable housing comprising:
a main chamber within which the organ or tissue and a liquid perfusate for the organ or tissue may be located; and
a secondary chamber that is within the main chamber and that is for holding the liquid perfusate, a volume of the secondary chamber being less than a volume of the main chamber, and a top of the secondary chamber being below a top of the main chamber;
at least one tube for moving the liquid perfusate to and from the portable housing, an end of a first tube of the at least one tube being located within the secondary chamber, and the liquid perfusate exiting the portable housing by way of the end of the first tube;
a pump for circulating the liquid perfusate from the first tube to perfuse the organ or tissue; and
a bubble detector configured to detect air in the liquid perfusate having exited the portable housing by way of the end of the first tube, wherein
when a level of the liquid perfusate in the secondary chamber falls below the end of the first tube so that the bubble detector detects air in the liquid perfusate, the apparatus is configured to stop the perfusion of the organ or tissue while a preset volume of the liquid perfusate remains in the main chamber so that the organ or tissue stays in contact with the liquid perfusate.