Paragonix Technologies has announced the completion of the world’s first donor kidney transported utilising commercial air travel while being continuously perfused in its KidneyVault portable renal perfusion system.
This case was facilitated by the Donor Network of Arizona (DNA), and the donor kidney was successfully transplanted at a transplant centre in Texas.
The KidneyVault portable renal perfusion system received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-clearance in October 2024 and is designed for seamless, end-to-end hypothermic perfusion.
“Using the Paragonix KidneyVault is another way we’re showing our commitment to getting every possible organ available to the more than 104,000 people in the USA waiting for a lifesaving transplant—90,000 of whom need a kidney,” says Nathan Fine, organ utilization manager at DNA. “For medically complex kidneys, this technology helps us prevent the non-use of donated organs, which can be heartbreaking for the donor’s family as well as our team.”
Recent revisions to the national kidney allocation policy have expanded organ distribution and increased transplant offers. This has led to more complex logistics and longer cold ischaemia times.
To mitigate these challenges, the clinical community increasingly relies on hypothermic machine perfusion, which pumps a perfusate solution through the kidney to maintain viability in a controlled environment.
To date the ability to transport these critical devices has been difficult, typically requiring private aircraft. The KidneyVault system, equipped with a data-driven dashboard that tracks perfusion parameters, temperature conditions, and other critical metrics, allows for transportation inside the cabin of commercial flights—a previously inaccessible method presently being examined by a working group set by the Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“We are dedicated to leveraging advanced technology to overcome geographic barriers in organ transplantation,” said Lisa Anderson, president of Paragonix Technologies. “Through innovation in hypothermic perfusion and real-time remote monitoring, we hope to enable seamless kidney transport across greater distances, ensuring more equitable access to life-saving transplants. By integrating data-driven solutions and optimising logistics, we strive to bridge the gap between donors and recipients, making high-quality care accessible to all, regardless of location.”
