IPL-1 Core Isolated Perfused Lung System for Mouse

The IPL-1 is an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) system specifically engineered for the fragile mouse lung. The core system can be initially configured with various system options or upgraded later as you needs change.

The IPL-1 core system contains all the primary equipment to accomplish the basic perfusion and ventilation experiments,requiring only the addition of core options for ventilation. Application-specific upgrades and options are also available.

Advanced System Design
Features & Benefits
Applications
Measured Signals & Calculated Parameters
Included items
Additional Requirements for a Functional Unit
Additional Components
Specialized Applications & Options

Advanced System Design

Due to the fragile nature of the mouse lung, its suspension from the tracheal and vascular cannulae is difficult to accomplish without the rapid occurrence of edema. In collaboration with experts in pulmonary physiology, a design was developed which allows for ventilation and perfusion with the lungs remaining in situ at a slight incline in the open thorax. This novel approach simplifies cannulation of the pulmonary artery and left atrium of the heart and dramatically reduces edema formation.

Most of the studies with isolated perfused lungs have been performed with lungs obtained from rats, guinea pigs, rabbits or dogs. The interaction of the immune system with the lung is currently an area of great interest. The mouse is the best characterized rodent species with respect to its immune system. Immunologic probes such as antibodies and cytokines are more widely available for mice versus other species. Likewise, the mouse is the most commonly used animal model in the biomedical research community due to the wealth of genetically modified variants for the species.

Ventilation 

The HSE IPL systems for EVLP are the only commercially available systems that allow the investigator to select either positive or negative pressure ventilation. Positive pressure ventilation can be used in studies that seek to mimic clinical EVLP systems. Sub-atmospheric pressure ventilation, due to the substantial difference in vascular flow rates, allows one to more precisely mimic the in vivo physiological conditions. The lung is placed in the chamber and ventilated by either positive airway pressure or negative artificial thoracic pressure. It is connected through the tracheal cannula to the pneumotachometer for measurement of respiratory air flow. Using either positive or negative pressure, the respiration rate, the inspiratory pressure and the end-expiratory pressure can be adjusted with separate controls using the Ventilation Control Module (VCM). Positive only ventilation using a regular MiniVent ventilator is also possible. The surgery is always performed under positive ventilation to avoid the lung collapsing. Switching over to subatmospheric ventilation only requires you to attach the chamber lid and switch over a stopcock. Switching back to positive ventilation is always possible.

Perfusion 

The pulmonary artery is cannulated to provide perfusion. The perfusate is passed by means of a roller pump at constant flow or constant pressure (using the SCP module) through the heat exchanger, through a bubble trap to the pulmonary artery and finally into the lung vascular bed. The perfusate outflow is usually provided by cannulating the left atrium of the heart. The non-functional lung remains in the thoracic cavity and allows easier cannula placement for the effluent.

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Features & Benefits

• Exclusive artificial thorax chamber for isolated lung with integrated changeover system—quick switch between simple positive-pressure ventilation and physiological subatmospheric (negative) pressure ventilation
• Integrated surgery table—reduces damage during preparation
• Pressure-balancing vessel—eliminates transmural pressure difference during sub-atmospheric ventilation; allows for simulation of hypertensive cardiac afterload
• Built-in, warmed pneumotachometer—minimal dead space volume
• Low flow resistance and dead space volume—minimize perfusion artifacts
• Milled infusion and pressure measurement paths—allow access to closed chamber
• Built-in humidifier frit—prevents lung drying
• Moist lung chamber has access ports for additional measurements or other sensors
• Simple add-on aerosol nebulizer
• Optional multi-gas inlet adapter for hyperoxic, hypercapnic, anesthetic or other alternative gas studies
• Drug injection pathway built directly into pulmonary perfusate stream
• Cannulae are matched to size of mouse vessel and feature tip occlusion protectors and an articulated mini ball system which allow cannulae to be precisely positioned—further reducing incidence of vascular occlusion 

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Applications

• Investigation of ventilation and perfusion in the isolated mouse lung 
• Continuous measurement of respiratory mechanics (respiration rate, inspiratory and expiratory air flow, tidal volume, minute volume, dynamic airway resistance, dynamic lung compliance) and perfusion characteristics (pulmonary artery pressure, left atrium pressure, lung vascular resistance, pO₂, pCO₂, pH)
• Drug testing on respiration and vascular parameters
• Toxicology tests on respiration and vascular parameters
• Aerosol tests, surfactant studies, etc.

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Measured Signals and Calculated Parameters

• Pulmonary artery (perfusion) pressure
• Respiratory airflow
• Intrapleural (artificial thorax) pressure or tracheal pressure
• Perfusion flow (calculated by the SCP from pump speed or measured directly using an integrated transit time flow probe)

The following parameters can be calculated from the raw data*:

• Respiration rate
• Peak inspiratory and expiratory airflow
• Tidal volume, minute volume
• Vascular resistance
• End-inspiratory and end-expiratory pressures
• Dynamic airway resistance and dynamic lung compliance
• Inspiratory time and expiratory time (Software Option)

* Calculations are automatic when PULMODYN data acquisition software is used.

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Included Items

Included items are representative of a typical IPL-1 Cpre System. Individual components can be customized to your needs.

The Base Unit (73-2329) includes:

Temperature-controlled negative pressure lung chamber (artificial thorax) with cover including Venturi jet, positive pressure ventilation head, air humidifier, pneumotachometer, connectors to interface with the perfusionsystem, pressure equilibration vessel for venous flow and all necessary accessories (tracheal cannulae, pulmonary artery cannulae, left atrium cannulae). Optional Y adapter available for positive pressure ventilation.

Mouse Cannulae (included with Base Unit):

• Tracheal Cannula for Mouse, ID 1.0 mm, OD 1.3 mm, L 20 mm (73-4181)
• Pulmonary Artery Cannula for Mouse, Stainless Steel, ID 1.0 mm, OD 1.3/1.6 mm, L 28 mm (73-0723)
• Atrial Cannula for Mouse, ID 1.0 mm, OD 1.6 mm, L 24 mm (73-0724)

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Additional Requirements for a Functional Unit

For a functional IPL-1 unit the core system requires a suitable ventilation system. For only positive ventilation a mouse ventilator can be used. If positive and sub-atmospheric pressure ventilation is required, the Ventilation Control Module must be purchased.

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Standard Options for the Core IPL-1 System (Purchase Separately)

PULMODYN Data Acquisition Software

Online evaluation of a wide range of signals and classical respiration parameters.

Note: Ponemah Data Acquisition & Analysis Software from DSI, a Harvard Bioscience Company is also suitable.

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Specialized Applications & Options

Venous Pressure Measurement 

Venous pressure transducer and amplifier for venous pressure measurement in an isolated perfused lung system.

Perfusate Deoxygenation

For deoxygenation of blood or buffers containing proteins (e.g. albumin) or erythrocytes.

pH Control

Delivers CO₂ to maintain pH when system is not deoxygenated with N₂/CO₂ gas mixture.

Perfusion Solution Monitoring

Permits precise continuous or discontinuous measurement in liquid media or perfusate of these three key parameters: pO2_, pH and pCO₂ .

Temperature Measurement

Measure perfusate temperature in any isolated perfused organ system.

Perfusate Filtration

For filtration of recirculated perfusate.

Aerosol Application

Add-on to deliver aerosol to the isolated lung.

Drug Addition

For accurate drug addition using a syringe pump. Additional option for flow controlled drug addition, where flow is measured (or calculated) and a drug must be added in a certain ratio. 

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