Cardiac Preservation Device Development

We have a long-term objective of bringing to clinical practice a system that can preserve donor heahours prior to transplantation. This length of preservation time compares to a 4-5 hour limit associtechnology. Such a significant extension of time would be beneficial because better hostorgan matchithe number of donor organs available should increase, and the cost of retrieving and transporting hedecrease. Through pioneering work by UCD investigators, a unique approach to biochemical nurturing adonor hearts has been developed, and the validity of 24 hour cardiac preservation scientifically estbasic research methodology will be applied by Nimbus to create a practical device. This Phase I effoaims: complete design and fabrication of a system that provides environmental and perfusion conditioorgan preservation methodology established by UCD research; and demonstrate system function throughexcised sheep hearts for 24 hours, verifying heart viability by determining specified indices and meactivity.