Figure 4.

Rotary bioartificial liver device. (A) Photograph of the bioarticificial liver used in the experiments described in reference ⁵⁶. (1) Gas supply: O₂, N₂, CO₂ and pressure air, connected to flowmeter. (2) Pump, regulates media-circulation. (3) Heating device with power supply. (4) Tube system containing bubble traps to avoid air bubbles entering in the circuit. (5) Oxygenator mediates gas flux to media circuit. (6) Chamber containing cells fixed into the reactor's rotation unit. (7) Reactor, housing for chamber and central unit of the rotary bioartificial liver provided by Fresenius Medical Care in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck, Austria. (B) HLSCs are placed in the dialysate compartment followed by their proliferation and aggregate formation around the hollow fibers (insert). HLSCs produce high concentratons of growth factors (e.g., HGF) that are reinfused into the venous line. This makes the rotary bioartificial liver device a source of conditioned media capable of exerting important, hepatotropic effects, such as induction of proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis.