This invention is a transportable organ preservation system that
substantially increases the time during which the organ can be maintained
viable for successful implantation into a human recipient. A chilled
oxygenated nutrient solution is pumped through the vascular bed of the
organ after excision of the organ from the donor and during transport.
The device of the present invention uses flexible permeable tubing to
oxygenate the perfusion fluid while the CO.sub.2 produced by the organ
diffuses out of the perfusion fluid. One pressurized two liter "C"
cylinder that contains 255 liters of oxygen at standard temperature and
pressure can supply oxygen for up to 34 hours of perfusion time. The
device uses a simple electric pump driven by a storage battery to
circulate the perfusion fluid through the organ being transported. The
vessel containing the organ to be transported is held at 4.degree. C. by
coolant blocks.