Biliary System Tissue & Organs

  • Common Bile Duct (BD): This duct is harvested at a length of 3 mm.
  • Cystic Duct (CYD): This duct is harvested at a length of 1 mm.
  • Pancreas (PAN): One whole pancreas from one animal.
  • Duodenum (DU): Duodenum portion of the small intestine with or without intact mesentery. Contents are rinsed out with water and the tissue measures 12” in length.
  • Liver with Gall Bladder (LVGB): Liver with gall bladder and bile. Bile duct is tied off to retain the bile.
  • Liver with Hepatic Artery (LVHA): Liver with hepatic artery attached. The artery is not dissected.
  • Liver with Hepatic Portal Vein (LVHPA): Liver with approximately 1” of hepatic portal vein attached.L
  • Liver without Gall Bladder (LVWOGB)
  • Gall Bladder (GB): Harvested from the liver. It is optional to ligate the biliary duct to retain the bile in the bladder.

Advantages of Porcine Biliary System Tissues in Research Models

Porcine biliary tissues are widely used in preclinical and procedural research because their anatomical structure closely resembles human hepatobiliary architecture. The size, duct orientation, and vascular relationships make them suitable for surgical training and device validation.

Compared to synthetic models, intact biological tissue provides:

  • Realistic ductal elasticity and wall thickness
  • Preserved hepatic vascular relationships
  • Accurate bile duct branching patterns
  • Authentic tissue response during suturing, clipping, and catheterization

These materials are part of ABI’s broader portfolio of ethically harvested Porcine Tissues, supplied for research and education under controlled handling protocols.

Clinical and Research Applications of Biliary System Tissues

Porcine biliary tissues support a range of research and training environments, including medical device development, hospital-based surgical programs, and pharmaceutical investigation.

Common applications include:

  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) training
  • Biliary stent placement and catheter testing
  • Hepatic perfusion and vascular access research
  • Liver-based drug metabolism studies
  • Pancreatic and duodenal interface modeling

Liver with Gall Bladder preparations allow evaluation of bile retention and duct ligation techniques. Liver with Hepatic Artery or Portal Vein attachments support vascular device validation and controlled perfusion modeling.

ABI supports medical device companies, universities, hospitals, and government research teams through customized harvesting and coordinated delivery. Learn more about these sectors on our Industries We Serve page.

Maintaining biological sample integrity is essential for hepatobiliary research. Rapid harvest, immediate chilling to controlled temperatures, and validated cold-chain methods support consistent research tissue logistics. Additional details about temperature-controlled packaging and biological tissue shipping are available on our Tissue Shipping page.

For integrated anatomical models involving multiple systems, related preparations are available within our Tissue Blocks catalog.

Coordinate Your Biliary Tissue Requirements

Are porcine biliary tissues appropriate for device testing?

Yes. Porcine bile ducts, liver specimens, and associated vascular structures are frequently used in early-stage medical device validation, particularly for stents, catheters, and endoscopic tools where anatomical realism is required.

Yes. Liver specimens can be harvested with hepatic artery or portal vein attachments based on research specifications. Custom harvesting protocols are available to align with study design.

Tissues are harvested post-mortem under regulated conditions and chilled immediately to support biological sample integrity. Temperature-controlled packaging and coordinated same-day or next-morning delivery help preserve structural stability during transit.

Coordinate Your Biliary Tissue Requirements

Biliary tissues often support scheduled device testing, surgical labs, and preclinical research initiatives. Early coordination ensures proper anatomical specifications, temperature-controlled tissue shipping, and delivery timing aligned with your research schedule.

To discuss harvesting options or schedule delivery, visit our Contact page to connect with the ABI team.

Below are Links of Available Porcine Tissues, Organs and Systems

Below is a List of Available Porcine Tissues, Organs and Systems

Browse our available tissues by category, or access a PDF of the complete catalog here.

For an alphabetical list of our available tissues, please click here.