An apparatus for treating fixed biological tissue to inhibit calcification
of the biological tissue following implantation thereof in a mammalian
body. The apparatus includes a container for placing the biological
tissue in contact with a treatment solution, structure to induce relative
tissue/solution movement, and structure to heat the solution. The
relative movement may be induced by shaking a container in which the
tissue is immersed in the treatment solution, or by stirring the solution
within the container. The movement may also be induced by flowing a
treatment solution past the tissue to be treated. The tissue may be free
to move in the treatment container, or may be restrained from gross
movements. The flow may be part of a circulation system having a
reservoir, with a heater being provided to heat the treatment solution in
the reservoir. Alternatively, a treatment apparatus, including a fluid
circulation system if desired, may be enclosed in an incubator. The
tissue may be mounted in a planar configuration generally parallel to the
direction of fluid flow. A flow column having a plurality of sections
divided by perforated baffles may be used to treat multiple tissues at
once.