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RedditLifePort Kidney Transporter for Organ Recovery Systems
CloseWith approximately 55,000 Americans waiting to receive kidneys and a list that could double in the next 10 years, there is an acute and urgent need for new technology to increase the quality and number of organs available for transplant.
The LifePort Kidney Transporter provides a new high-tech alternative to the conventional method of organ storage and transportation -- a cooler filled with ice. The LifePort gently perfuses, or pumps, the kidney with a cold liquid solution to improve its condition before transplantation, which can nearly double storage time and may increase the number of usable kidneys and improve patient outcomes. The device also provides critical data to monitor and evaluate kidneys during transport.
Several iterations of component designs and careful thermal studies informed the highly compact mechanical layout. The ergonomics of system setup and the user interface were carefully considered to minimize the possibility of errors and communicate only essential information. The overall design was conceived to clearly convey the importance of the cargo and serve as a platform for a family of organ-specific transporters.
Organ Recovery Systems believes that perfusion has the potential to remove tens of thousands of patients from the waitlist and dialysis and save the healthcare system more than $1 billion annually. In 2006, the LifePort Kidney Transporter was used to transport 350 kidneys per month in 12 countries, and was included in the permanent architecture and design collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
A new standard in organ transport systems
More than 50,000 Americans are in wait to receive kidneys. Despite the value of this limited supply, kidneys have conventionally been stored and transported in simple ice-filled coolers. IDEO worked with Organ Recovery Systems to develop the LifePort, a high-tech transport device that gently perfuses the kidney with a cold liquid solution, nearly doubling storage time. IDEO conducted user research and drew from its industrial, thermal, and mechanical design expertise to deliver two prototypes that cater to both technical requirements and stakeholders.
[+]Before the LifePort, doctors and nurses needed to accompany organs during transport - from cross-town too cross-country trips - to ensure proper handling. (IDEO research)
Awards
2004 MDEA Gold
2004 IDEA Silver
In the Press
"Organ Recovery's Miracle on Ice"
The Life Port carrier provides a new solution for transporting donor kidneys, and its design conveys the fragility and importance of what's inside.
[Read more at BusinessWeek.com]
Inspiration & Influence
The team likened the LifePort to an egg, with its protective shell and delicate interior that requires careful handling.
