Container for Transporting Temperature Controlled Items

Abstract

A reusable container for transporting temperature controlled items, which includes an outer case including a lid, and an insulating layer substantially inside the outer case and the lid. A generally rigid well is located inside the insulating later. At least one cooling element is provided, which is capable of maintaining temperature within a prescribed temperature range for predetermined periods of time, the cooling element being disposed within the well and at least partially defining a receptacle area. A caddy can be located in the receptacle area, at least partially surrounded by the cooling element, and is designed to accommodate at least one item to be transported. The cooling element may include a phase change material sealed within a plastic surround, and is designed to be separately removable and freezable prior to use. Temperature logging and/or location logging devices may be included.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a Continuation-In-Part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 333,194 filed Jan. 17, 2006, which was a Continuation-In-Part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 281,548 filed Nov. 17, 2005 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 681,769 filed May 17, 2005. The present application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 681,774 filed May 17, 2005, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 681,770 filed May 17, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 682,318 filed May 18, 2005. The entire disclosures of these earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to a container for transporting temperature controlled items such as one or more of biological material, biologics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and food products at a required temperature range. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIO...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The invention is directed to a reusable container for transporting temperature controlled items such as biological material, pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals and other products, providing the ability to not onl

Problems solved by technology

Transporting biological material such as blood and blood products in a timely manner has always been a problem.

The coolers that have been used to cool biological and related materials have significant limitations.

For example, they do not address the need for documented temperature monitoring for blood products for transfusions that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires as of 2004.

The FDA requires that blood and blood products taken out of storage and transported must be maintained at transport temperature range of 1° C. to 10° C. which compromises the time of acceptable use.

However, one of the limitations of this method of transportation is that wet ice is messy, often spills during transportation, and re-icing while in transit is sometimes challenging in remote areas.

Dry ice offers its own complications as it can be hazardous; for example, loose dry ice can inadvertently touch the blood or blood product, causing it to freeze the blood or blood product at the area of contact and damage the entire product.

Furthermore, if dry ice is placed in a non-vented container, it will explode, and so care must be taken to vent the container.

Concentrations of CO2 can also build up to harmful levels inside the container as the dry ice transforms to its gaseous form.

Additionally, dry ice is sometimes unavailable in certain parts of the world, and is difficult to handle as it can burn the skin of a user.

These factors only serve to further limit the ability to transport blood and blood products for pr

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