HOPE Organ Transport Device

The HOPE (Hypothermic Oxygenated PErfusion) Organ Transport Device offers an alternative to traditional organ transport by preserving donor organs in a physiologically active state. Conventional Static Cold Storage (SCS), which uses ice-filled coolers, limits organ viability to just 4-6 hours (for the heart), limiting donor-recipient matching and increasing transplant risk.

The HOPE device uses a closed-loop system where the organ is housed in a capsule, continuously perfused with oxygenated liquid and nutrients under hypothermic conditions. A real-time algorithm controls perfusion parameters to maintain optimal organ preservation. This dynamic preservation method extends transport time and enhances transplant outcomes. The device is now undergoing pre-clinical testing with porcine hearts, comparing its performance against SCS.

This project highlights how engineering, algorithmic control, and clinical needs meet to address real-world healthcare limitations. It integrates MDC through the development of real-time control algorithms, TR in hardware prototyping and system integration, CA in creating a compact and user-centred form factor, US in addressing clinical workflows and user safety and BE by exploring how the device could make a real-world difference in transplant logistics.