By Anthony Giudice, Manager, Clinical and Technical Advisors
Adopted by 98% of OPOs around the country, LifePort Kidney Transporter has been supporting kidney transplantation for more than 20 years. But that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped innovating. The same trusted preservation technology that has safeguarded more than 275,000 kidneys worldwide now offers GPS-enabled remote monitoring and tracking, delivering continuous insight into each kidney’s perfusion and location anytime, anywhere.
Precision Monitoring and Tracking to Protect Every Gift
Designed to create greater transparency during the kidney’s journey from donor to recipient, the newest features enable live reporting of the device location and pump parameters to a secure web portal that’s available on any internet-connected device. This information can be accessed through an automatically generated link, which can easily be shared with OPO and transplant center teams. The remote monitoring and tracking capability is also airline compliant, featuring automatic Flight Safe mode activation during in-cabin air transport and re-establishing cellular communications within 15 minutes of landing.
This increased transparency and ease of device data sharing has been incredibly beneficial to OPOs. Versiti, a blood center and OPO in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has witnessed the benefits of LifePort Kidney Transporter’s remote monitoring and tracking features first-hand. LKT’s automatic upload of pump parameters has enabled them to significantly decrease their allocation start time, reducing Versiti’s average kidney time on pump prior to allocation start from 1 hour and 3 minutes to just 23 minutes. So far this year, Versiti’s kidney non-use rate is 18.2%, which is lower than the national average. Amanda Beck, a Recovery Service Supervisor at Versiti, said, “None of our kidney utilization data would look like it does today if it wasn’t for LifePort Kidney Transporter. We’re very thankful for our partnership with ORS.”
Another OPO, Nevada Donor Network, also reported high satisfaction with the new remote monitoring and tracking feature. Bethany Guieb, a Surgical Recovery Coordinator, praised LKT’s ability to provide real-time updates on pump parameters and device location, giving their transplant center partner enhanced OR planning capability and improved peace of mind. Nevada Donor Network was even able to quickly locate a device that had been reported as missing post-transplantation. “I remembered the amazing website that came along with these new enhancements and then we could see its exact location,” said Bethany.
Additional Enhancements Based on Customer Needs
The latest LifePort Kidney Transporter also features injection molded components that significantly enhance durability and impact resistance. Additional improvements – such as a redesigned ice well to reduce perfusate egress and an upgraded display panel backing – further elevate its functionality and user experience.
Lastly, all new LifePort Kidney Transporter units now come standard with an Audible Alert Switch, located on the External Connections Panel. This FAA-compliant switch allows for easy management of audible alerts, enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency when transporting on a commercial aircraft.
Our ongoing commitment to innovation and client partnerships drives us to continually refine LifePort technology to meet evolving needs of the professionals who rely on it every day. Every new enhancement – from remote monitoring and tracking to injection-molded components – is designed with one single purpose: to honor the donor’s precious gift of life. Each innovation helps ensure every kidney is delivered in optimal health, protecting each gift, every time, so that one’s selfless act can become another’s second chance at life.