Systems, devices, and methods for preserving an organ for transplantation

1 . A method of storing a donor organ that has been removed from an organ donor prior to implantation into an organ recipient comprising:

transporting a portable storage container storing an organ preservation solution and at least one cooling pack within to a donor site, wherein the organ preservation solution and the at least one cooling pack are precooled;

removing the precooled organ preservation solution from the portable storage container at the donor site, the precooled organ preservation solution being at a temperature that is suitable for flushing of the donor organ and subsequent storage of the donor organ within the portable storage container;

flushing the organ with the organ preservation solution;

bagging the donor organ by placing the donor organ into at least one bag and sealing the at least one bag;

placing the bagged donor organ into the portable storage container, the portable storage container having the at least one precooled cooling pack therein; and

storing the donor organ in the portable storage container prior to transplanting the donor organ into the organ recipient, wherein the portable storage container does not contain any ice at any time during storage of the donor organ and wherein the portable storage container and the at least one precooled cooling pack are configured to maintain the donor organ at a temperature of 8 to 12 degrees C. during storage.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein bagging the donor organ comprises placing an organ preservation solution in the at least one bag.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising flushing the donor organ with the organ preservation solution prior to removing the donor organ from the organ donor.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, prior to transporting the portable storage container, removing the organ preservation solution from a refrigerator and placing the organ preservation solution into the portable storage container.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, after storing the donor organ in the portable storage container, removing the donor organ from the portable storage container, and transplanting the donor organ into the organ recipient.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the donor organ in the portable storage container comprises transporting the portable storage container from a site where the donor organ was removed to a site where the donor organ is to be transplanted.

7 . A method of transporting an organ from a donor site to a transplant site comprising:

transporting a portable storage container storing an organ preservation solution and at least one cooling pack within to the donor site, wherein the organ preservation solution and the at least one cooling pack are precooled;

removing the precooled organ preservation solution from the portable storage container at the donor site, the precooled organ preservation solution being at a temperature that is suitable for flushing of the donor organ and subsequent storage of the donor organ within the portable storage container;

flushing the organ with the organ preservation solution;

bagging the donor organ by placing the donor organ and at least a portion of the precooled organ preservation solution into at least one bag and sealing the at least one bag;

placing the bagged donor organ into the portable storage container, the portable storage container having the at least one precooled cooling pack therein; and

transporting the organ from the donor site to the transplant site inside a portable storage container,

wherein the portable storage container and the at least one precooled cooling pack are configured to maintain the donor organ at a temperature of 8 to 12 degrees C. throughout transportation without the use of any ice.

8 . The method of claim 7 , comprising placing the precooled organ preservation solution into at least one organ preservation solution bag prior to the portable storage container being transported to the donor site.

9 . The method of claim 7 , comprising communicating with a temperature monitor of the portable storage container using an application running on a mobile device.

10 . The method of claim 9 , comprising transmitting, by the application running on the mobile device, temperatures of the portable storage container and location information to a server.

11 . The method of claim 9 , comprising determining, by the application running on the mobile device, that a temperature inside the portable storage container exceeds a predetermined threshold and providing a notification on the mobile device in response.

12 . The method of claim 9 , comprising at least one of: (a) starting and/or stopping temperature logging, (b) retrieving temperature logs, and (c) storing temperature logs on a server for long-term storage by the application running on the mobile device.

13 . The method of claim 7 , comprising:

placing the bagged organ into a cradle of the portable storage container, the cradle being configured to limit movement of the at least one bag within the portable storage container.

14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising:

placing a bottom insert into the portable storage container; and

positioning the cradle within the bottom insert.

15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising placing at least one precooled cooling pack into a bottom compartment of the bottom insert.

16 . The method of claim 14 , comprising placing at least one precooled cooling pack into a side compartment of the bottom insert.

17 . The method of claim 7 , comprising, prior to placing at least one precooled cooling pack in the portable storage container, determining that a phase change material in the at least one cooling pack indicates that the at least one cooling pack has a temperature of at least 8 degrees C.

18 . The method of claim 7 , comprising:

removing the donor organ from the portable storage container; and

performing ex vivo organ perfusion on the donor organ.

19 . The method of claim 7 , comprising:

removing the donor organ from the portable storage container; and

transplanting the donor organ into a recipient.

20 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the temperature that is suitable for flushing of the donor organ and subsequent storage of the donor organ within the portable storage container is between about 4 to 12 degrees C.

21 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the temperature that is suitable for flushing of the donor organ and subsequent storage of the donor organ within the portable storage container is at least 8 degrees C.