TRANSPORT CONTAINER ASSEMBLY
A transport container assembly is provided for transporting temperature-sensitive material. The container includes a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment therein. The housing includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell. The shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/889,031, filed Oct. 10, 2013, which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to containers for transporting within a controlled environment and, more particularly, to containers for transporting material that is temperature sensitive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBiological and medical materials are routinely transported among medical facilities, e.g., clinics, hospitals, and laboratories. Several issues need to be considered with regard to transporting medical and other laboratory materials, such as contamination, damage, and viability of the transported material.
Temperature control during transportation is an important consideration for many items during transport. For example, blood samples for testing must be maintained within tight temperature ranges to ensure accurate lab results. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires documented temperature tracking for the transport blood, blood products, human tissues, stem cells, and donor organs, for use in certain circumstances.
Transporting such materials, e.g., blood and blood products always were a problem. Generally, the health care industry has relied on products developed and manufactured for the recreational industry for keeping food and beverages cold as a working solution. However, this generic approach has shortfalls. Current approaches for transporting such materials are expensive. Often, such methods do not meet criteria of the product being shipped. Often, overnight shipping required to meet temperature parameters.
It should, therefore, be appreciated that there exists a need for a transport container assembly that meets these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, and in general terms, the invention provides a transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material. The container includes a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment therein. The housing includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell. The shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume.
More particularly, by way of example only and not limitation, the housing includes a first side and a second side that mate with each other to define the interior cavity therebetween. Each side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell. The shells each define an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume
In an exemplary embodiment, the shells of the first and the second sides each include an opening for inserting the PCM within internal volume and a cap that closes the opening.
In a detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the first side and the second side are mounted to a tray assembly having a hinge disposed therebetween. The tray assembly includes a cover portion having a planar rigid support that is sandwiched between planar thermal sheets.
In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment,
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved or implemented over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved or implemented in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves, optimizes, or implements one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving or implementing other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, there are shown several embodiments of transport container assemblies for shipping medical materials, such as, vials of blood for laboratory testing, in accordance with the present invention. These container assemblies are configured to provide a stable temperature environment for the material housed therein throughout shipment. More particularly, the container assemblies maintain this temperature environment for long durations even when exposed to extreme external temperature environments. In this manner, the transport container assemblies can be used for shipping medical interiors, such as vials of blood valid laboratory testing, using standard mail methods without need of relying upon overnight shipments.
With reference now to
In the exemplary embodiment, the tray assembly 12 comprises two conforming sides that couple together via a hinge 22, providing a book style configuration. The tray assembly is opened to access the interior compartments 16 for inserting and removing the vials 22. When closed, the sides conformably mate to obtain the vials within the recesses. In the exemplary embodiment, both the first side 24 and second side 26 contribute to form the recesses for the vials.
With reference now to
In the exemplary embodiment, the thermal sheets 32 of the tray assembly 12 is formed of metallized polyethylene terephthalate. The thermal sheets aid in maintaining control temperature environment within the tray assembly isolating the interior cavity from the external environment thereby inhibiting heat transfer therebetween. In other embodiments there is a materials having thermal isolating properties can be used. Alternatively, in certain applications thermal sheets and can be excluded entirely without requiring an invention.
The interior walls 36 of the tray assembly are formed by a thermoform inlay that defines recesses 20 (
With continued reference to
In other embodiments, the insulating structures 40 can be formed of various other insulating materials can be used such as ABS expanding foam, styrene, among other. For example, insulating structures can be an EPS foam having a high “R-rating,” such as that commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and/or Corning Inc.
Tamper seals can be used to ensure that the container was not opened prior to delivery to the intended recipient. Tamper seals can be provided on the vials, tray assembly, and/or the shipping container, as desired. It should further be appreciated that tamper seals can be used on various other embodiments in accordance with the invention such as those discussed in detail.
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It should be noted that various types of phase change materials (PCM) can be used, including encapsulated PCM, salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and various paraffins (such as octadecane), among others. For example, the PCM can be a mixture of salt hydrates having a capacity to store thermal energy as latent heat. Examples of such salt hydrates are available under the trade name SavEnrg™ provided by RGEES LLC, of Candler N.C.
Once PCM material is received within the external shell the opening can be captured or otherwise secured to retain the PCM material within the external shell.
The transport container assembly is configured to maintain a relatively constant temperature, set between −4 degrees F. and 71 degrees (plus/minus 5 degree) when exposed to temperatures extremes while in transport. Tests demonstrate requirements can be maintained in excess of 72 hours.
The sides of the PCM housing are configured to mate with one another in a secure manner. In the exemplary embodiment, the opposing sides of projections and corresponding recesses to provide a secure fit. The opposing sides further defined one or more cavities for receiving vials, and/or file assemblies. Interior cavities can further receives a data logger (sensor assembly) configured to monitor the temperature environment within the PCM housing during shipment, in compliance with the appropriate regulations.
Although in the exemplary embodiments references made primarily to shipment of blood vials for laboratory testing, it should be appreciated that the present invention can be used for shipment of other products or materials, particularly those requiring me maintaining a temperature controlled environment during shipment. For example only, and not limitation, various other biological materials that can utilize the present invention include any type of biological, medical or other laboratory samples such as blood, urine, feces, sperm, eggs, saliva, umbilical fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, biopsy core, bacterial culture and other body fluids, fetes, organs, and limbs of humans and of animals; as well as water for analysis, food fractions for analysis, medications, animals and portion of animals, and other materials, specimens or samples that it may be sought to transport by use of the present invention.
It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides a transport container assembly and/or related kit that enables shipment of temperature sensitive materials the cost effective manner. Moreover, transport container assemblies and/or related kits in accordance with the invention enable a modular shipping solution that is lightweight, expandable, and adaptable to the needs of the customer, such as extending the temperature-controlled time period to reduce or eliminate the need for overnight shipping.
The present invention has been described above in terms of presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. However, there are other embodiments not specifically described herein for which the present invention is applicable. Therefore, the present invention should not to be seen as limited to the forms shown, which is to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, the invention is defined only be the claims set forth below.
Claims
1. A transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material, comprising:
- a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment for securing biological material therein, the housing includes a first side and a second side that mate with each other to define the interior cavity therebetween, the first side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume, and the second side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume.
2. The transport container assembly of claim 1, wherein the shells of the first and the second sides each include an opening for inserting the PCM within internal volume and a cap that closes the opening.
3. The transport container assembly of claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side are mounted to a tray assembly having a hinge disposed therebetween.
4. The transport container assembly of claim 3, wherein the tray assembly includes a cover portion having a planar rigid support that is sandwiched between planar thermal sheets.
5. The transport container assembly of claim 1, wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is selected from a group consisting of salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and paraffins.
6. The transport container assembly of claim 5, wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is mixture of salt hydrates.
7. The transport container assembly of claim 1, wherein the first side defines a plurality of recesses each sized to receive a single vial.
8. The transport container assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve that receives the housing assembly, and a shipping container that receives the combination of the sleeve and housing assembly, the sleeve sheets comprises sheets of metallized polyethylene terephthalate that define captured gas pockets.
9. The transport container assembly of claim 8, wherein the gas pockets have an elongated tubular shape in parallel alignment with one another and argon gas is confined within the gas pockets
10. The transport container assembly of claim 1, further comprising an exterior assembly having two sides coupled together, wherein the first and the second sides of the housing assembly are each attached to the corresponding side of the exterior assembly and aligned to mate together to form the interior cavity.
11. A transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material, comprising:
- a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment for securing biological material therein, the housing includes a first side and a second side that mate with each other to define the interior cavity therebetween, the first side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume, and the second side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume; and
- a shipping container that receives the housing assembly therein.
12. The transport container assembly of claim 11, wherein the first side and the second side are disposed in a hinged tray assembly.
13. The transport container assembly of claim 12, wherein the tray assembly includes a cover portion having a planar rigid support that is sandwiched between planar thermal sheets.
14. The transport container assembly of claim 11, wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is selected from a group consisting of salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and paraffin.
15. The transport container assembly of claim 14, wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is mixture of salt hydrates.
16. The transport container assembly of claim 11, wherein the first side defines a plurality of recesses each sized to receive a single vial.
17. A transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material, comprising:
- a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment for securing biological material therein, the housing includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume that confines the PCM within the internal volume.
18. The transport container assembly of claim 17, wherein the shell includes an opening for inserting the PCM within internal volume and a cap that closes the opening.
19. The transport container assembly of claim 17, wherein the PCM is selected from a group consisting of salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and paraffin.
20. The transport container assembly of claim 17, wherein the PCM is mixture of salt hydrates.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 10, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 27, 2015
Applicant: PARADIGM DESIGN SOLUTIONS, INC. (Los Angeles, CA)
Inventors: Steffen Smith (Los Angeles, CA), Peter Kohn (Solana Beach, CA)
Application Number: 14/512,135