Heart Valves & Tissue Procurement

In 1996, we started procuring hearts for valves for Cryolife in Georgia. This was done with much help from Dr. Reynolds, a local heart surgeon who wanted to have access to local tissue.

Our contract to procure tissues for the American Red Cross started in 1998. This means that the American Red Cross has right of first refusal with South Dakota hospitals. The Eye Bank was fully trained and getting paid for their work 3/1/99.

We also began procuring tissues for Regeneration Technologies in Florida. They have different criteria than the Red Cross, meaning more potential donors meet criteria for donation.



Teams of three or four procure the tissue. Teams are based in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. It can take 3-6 hours to do a complete donor.

In 2001, the SD Lions Eye Bank formed a division of itself called Spirit of the North Tissue Services. We are now able to offer full eye and tissue procurement services to all hospitals independently of the American Red Cross.

If the SD Lions Eye Bank had not gone into tissues, the time would come that we could no longer stay in business. This service also makes the donation process easier for hospitals and funeral directors, who have only one organization to deal with and have a faster completion time for donors.
Our Favorite LinksSDLEB's Videos
Lions Eye Bank International