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Thermal and optical investigation of ex vivo liver perfusion
A machine is being developed to keep a liver viable outside of the body for multiple days. Various parameters are continuously monitored to evaluate the quality of the liver. An optical and thermal method shall be added to the system to further enhance the understanding of the liver perfusion.
It is known that the liver has the ability to regenerate. Liver resection (surgical removal of the diseased part of the liver) for the treatment of liver cancer has been carried out for a few decades but many tumors are inoperable because the removal of a too large piece of liver is fatal. In this context, therapeutic strategies for liver regeneration are being researched in which the growth of a healthy liver piece outside of the body is carried out until a sufficient size is reached, with subsequent transplantation and removal of the diseased part. To this end, an ex vivo liver perfusion machine is currently being developed to extend the viability of liver tissue outside of the body up to five days and allow its growth.
It is known that the liver has the ability to regenerate. Liver resection (surgical removal of the diseased part of the liver) for the treatment of liver cancer has been carried out for a few decades but many tumors are inoperable because the removal of a too large piece of liver is fatal. In this context, therapeutic strategies for liver regeneration are being researched in which the growth of a healthy liver piece outside of the body is carried out until a sufficient size is reached, with subsequent transplantation and removal of the diseased part. To this end, an ex vivo liver perfusion machine is currently being developed to extend the viability of liver tissue outside of the body up to five days and allow its growth.
Recent experiments have shown that the perfusion of the liver with blood is non homogenous. The surface temperature of the liver depends on the local perfusion. The goal of this project is to evaluate the liver perfusion with optical methods. For this purpose, a thermal infrared and an optical camera system shall be integrated into the existing system. Thermal and optical measurements will be compared and improvements to the liver perfusion elaborated. Further, correlations between optical measurements and other perfusion parameters, such as flow and pressure, will be studied.
Recent experiments have shown that the perfusion of the liver with blood is non homogenous. The surface temperature of the liver depends on the local perfusion. The goal of this project is to evaluate the liver perfusion with optical methods. For this purpose, a thermal infrared and an optical camera system shall be integrated into the existing system. Thermal and optical measurements will be compared and improvements to the liver perfusion elaborated. Further, correlations between optical measurements and other perfusion parameters, such as flow and pressure, will be studied.
Dustin Becker, ML H 14, +41 44 632 24 99, dbecker@ethz.ch,
Dr. Martin Schuler, ML H 18, +41 44 632 24 92, martin.schuler@wysszurich.ch,
Dr. Max Hefti, ML H 18, +41 44 632 45 06, max.hefti@wysszurich.ch
Dustin Becker, ML H 14, +41 44 632 24 99, dbecker@ethz.ch,
Dr. Martin Schuler, ML H 18, +41 44 632 24 92, martin.schuler@wysszurich.ch,
Dr. Max Hefti, ML H 18, +41 44 632 45 06, max.hefti@wysszurich.ch