Isolated kidney controlled perfusion with true physiological pulsatile waveform

A computer controlled perfusion system has been developed to study the behavior of perfused kidneys in several conditions. The system is designed to perform kidney perfusions at constant pressure and low temperature (about 4 degrees C). We compared 2 types of perfusion pumps, a classical roller pump widely used in hemodialysis circuits and a vacuum powered tubular pump with active valves developed by our group and able to produce a flow pattern very similar to the pulse wave in the human circulatory system. In this preliminary study, we show the hydrodynamics obtained with both pumps in isolated hypothermic kidneys perfused with this system. The different flow patterns with both pumps seem to determine differences in the preservation conditions of the kidney.