Abstract: A carton for packaging fragile containers is provided. The carton includes an energy absorbing insert member, two rigid plates, and packaging. Fragile containers are located on each side of the energy absorbing insert member and the rigid plates compress the containers against the energy absorbing insert member. The packaging surrounds the energy absorbing insert, containers, and rigid plates.

Abstract: A container is disclosed for maintaining its contents at a desired temperature for an extended period of time such as for use in shipping contents in a frozen condition. The container includes an outer shell which is substantially airtight and which has an inner surface; a passive heat exchange medium; a support structure for the heat exchange medium; and means for maintaining an air space between the contents of the container and substantially the entire inner surface of the outer shell of the container and between the contents of the container and the support structure for the heat exchange medium for allowing convection current to develop in the air space which circulates past the heat exchange medium and maintains a substantially uniform temperature around the contents of the container.

Abstract: Centrifugal processing apparatus in which a processing chamber is rotatably mounted with respect to a stationary base. An umbilical cable segment is fixed at one end substantially along the axis of the processing chamber at one side thereof, with the other end of the cable segment being attached substantially on the axis in rotationally locked engagement to the processing chamber. A coaxial main drive shaft is provided and is driven at a first angular velocity. The cable segment extends from its location in rotationally locked engagement to the processing chamber, through a central bore defined by the main drive shaft and radially outwardly therefrom. Power is transmitted to the processing chamber via a transmission countershaft which is parallely located with respect to the main drive shaft and operative to turn in the direction opposite to the direction of the main drive shaft.