Container, container with contents, method for manufacturing container with contents, thawing method, and method for manufacturing cell preparation

Abstract

To provide a container that effectively prevents liquid from adhering to the opening of the container when thawing contents in the container, and the like.SOLUTION: A container 10 for containing a biological material has a cylindrical container body 20 having a first end 23 and a second end 24, at least the first end of which is closed, and a widening portion 40 connected to the connection portion of the container body. The container body is located closer to the first end than the connection portion in the direction in which the container body extends, and has a containing portion 21 for containing a content therein. In a cross section of the container that passes through the connection portion and is perpendicular to the direction in which the container body extends, the minimum possible value of the distance between a container first tangent that is tangent to the container contour and a container second tangent that is tangent to the container contour and parallel to the container first tangent is greater than the minimum possible value of the distance between the first tangent of the container body that is tangent to the contour of the container body and the second tangent of the container body that is tangent to the contour of the container body and parallel to the first tangent of the container body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a container, a container containing contents, a method for manufacturing a container containing contents, a thawing method, and a method for manufacturing a cell preparation. [Background technology]

[0002] Containers for storing contents in a frozen state are known, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example. The containers are used as biological material containers for storing biological materials such as cells and secretory substances from cells in a frozen state. Containers for biological materials are particularly used as cell containers for storing cultured cells in a frozen state until use. The contents in the container are thawed immediately before use by heat exchange between the container and a moderately heated liquid. For example, when the container contains contents including biological materials such as cells and secretory substances, the contents can be thawed by immersing the container in a liquid such as water maintained at 30°C to 40°C. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-110539 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-70402 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, when thawing an item contained in a container, it may be necessary to immerse a part of the container in liquid. In this case, the item may be contaminated by liquid adhering to an opening for inserting the item into the container or an opening for removing the item from the container.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to effectively prevent liquid from adhering to the opening of a container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A container according to the present disclosure comprises: A container for containing biological material, a cylindrical container body having a first end and a second end, at least the first end being closed; a widening portion connected to the connecting portion of the container body, the container body has a storage portion located closer to the first end than the connection portion in the extending direction of the container body and configured to store an object therein; In a cross section of the container that passes through the connection portion and is perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body, the minimum possible distance between a first container tangent that is tangent to the contour of the container and a second container tangent that is tangent to the contour of the container and parallel to the first container tangent is greater than the minimum possible distance between the first container body tangent that is tangent to the contour of the container body and a second container body tangent that is tangent to the contour of the container body and parallel to the first container body tangent.

[0007] A container according to the present disclosure comprises: A container for containing biological material, a cylindrical container body having a first end and a second end, at least the first end being closed; a widening portion connected to the connecting portion of the container body, the container body has a storage portion located closer to the first end than the connection portion in the extending direction of the container body and configured to store an object therein; In a cross section of the container that passes through the connection portion and is perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body, if a first container body tangent to the contour of the container body and a second container body tangent to the contour of the container body and parallel to the first container body tangent are drawn, the first container body tangent and the second container body tangent cross the expansion portion.

[0008] In a container according to the present disclosure, the storage portion may have a storage portion detail that has a smaller dimension in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body than the portion of the container body that is closer to the second end than the connection portion.

[0009] In the container according to the present disclosure, the dimension of the storage portion in the extension direction of the container body may be greater than the dimension of the storage portion in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body.

[0010] In the container according to the present disclosure, the storage portion may have a shape with a plurality of recesses in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body.

[0011] In the container according to the present disclosure, the storage portion may have rotational symmetry in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body.

[0012] In the container according to the present disclosure, the thickness of the wall surface of the storage section of the container body may be 3 mm or less.

[0013] In the container according to the present disclosure, the thermal conductivity of the wall surface of the storage section of the container body may be 0.1 W / m·K or more.

[0014] In the container according to the present disclosure, the widening portion may protrude so as to be spaced apart from a portion of the container body other than the connecting portion.

[0015] In the container according to the present disclosure, the volume of the expanding portion is V1, the total volume of the volume of the connecting portion including the interior of the container body and the volume of the storage portion including the interior is V2, the mass of the container is W1, and the density of water is ρ W In this case, the following equation (1) may be established.

number

[0016] In the container according to the present disclosure, the proportion X (%) represented by the following formula (2) may be 5% or more.

number

[0017] In the container according to the present disclosure, the value obtained by dividing the volume of the expanding portion by the area of ​​the connecting surface that forms the boundary between the expanding portion and the connecting portion is 5 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) or more.

[0018] In a container according to the present disclosure, the expansion portion may have an expansion main body portion that expands in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the container body, and an expansion auxiliary portion connected to the end of the expansion main body portion that is away from the container body.

[0019] In a container according to the present disclosure, when the volume of the expansion portion is V1, the total volume of the connection portion including the interior of the container body and the volume of the storage portion including the interior is V2, and the volume of the expansion assistance portion is V3, the ratio Y (%) expressed by the following formula (3) may be 1% or more.

number

[0020] In the container according to the present disclosure, the widening portion may be symmetrical when viewed from the extension direction of the container body.

[0021] In the container according to the present disclosure, the widening portion may have rotational symmetry when observed from the extension direction of the container body.

[0022] In a container according to the present disclosure, the widening portion may have an annular shape.

[0023] In the container according to the present disclosure, the container body and the expanding portion may be integrally molded.

[0024] In the container according to the present disclosure, the expansion portion may have a bag-like portion containing contents that expand when heated.

[0025] In the container according to the present disclosure, the bag-shaped portion may be raised toward a side away from the container body as a result of the contents being heated and expanding.

[0026] The container according to the present disclosure may further include a marker portion located closer to the second end portion than the connecting portion in the extending direction of the container body.

[0027] The container according to the present disclosure further includes an annular foam container connected to the inner surface of the container body and protruding toward the second end in the extension direction of the container body, The marking portion may overlap the foam receiving portion in the extending direction of the container body.

[0028] In a container according to the present disclosure, the second end of the container body may be closed.

[0029] The container according to the present disclosure may further include a lid that removably closes the second end of the container body.

[0030] In the container according to the present disclosure, the surface of the container body that forms the second end may have a thin-walled portion.

[0031] In the container according to the present disclosure, the second end of the container body may be closed by a seal formed by joining opposing side surfaces of the cylindrical container body.

[0032] In a container according to the present disclosure, the thickness of the wall of the container body at a portion located near the sealing portion on the first end side of the sealing portion may be smaller than the thickness of the wall of the storage portion.

[0033] In the container according to the present disclosure, the container body may have an opening, which allows the storage portion to communicate with the outside, on the second end side of the connecting portion.

[0034] A container containing contents according to the present disclosure is a container containing contents comprising the container described above and a frozen content located inside the container, Of the frozen contents located inside the container, 50% by mass or more is contained in the containing section.

[0035] A method for manufacturing a container containing contents according to the present disclosure includes a supplying step of supplying the contents to the storage section through the opening of the container described above; and a sealing step of sealing the opening.

[0036] A thawing method according to the present disclosure thaws a frozen item contained in the storage section of the container described above by heat exchange with a liquid, The method includes a thawing step of immersing the container in the liquid from the first end side of the container body.

[0037] In the thawing method according to the present disclosure, when the volume of the expansion portion is V1, the total volume of the connection portion of the container body including its interior and the volume of the storage portion including its interior is V2, the mass of the container is W1, and the density of the liquid is ρ, the following equation (1) may hold.

number

[0038] The method for producing a cellular preparation disclosed herein comprises thawing frozen cells contained in the container by heat exchange with a liquid to produce a cellular preparation, The method includes a thawing step of immersing the container in the liquid from the first end side of the container body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0039] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively prevent liquid from adhering to the opening of the container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a perspective view showing a specific example of a container. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the container of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the container before any contents are placed inside. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container for explaining the function of the container of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the container for explaining the function of the container of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a typical cylindrical container floating on liquid. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a typical cylindrical container floating on liquid. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the container for explaining the function of the container of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 17]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the container. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the container for explaining the function of the container of FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a side view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 26] 26 is a side view showing the container of FIG. 25 from a different direction than that of FIG. 25. FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the container of FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a side view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 32] 32 is a perspective view showing the container of FIG. 31 from a different direction than that of FIG. [Figure 33] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 35] FIG. 35 is a top view of the container of FIG. [Figure 36] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the container. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 is a side view of the container of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings accompanying this specification, the scale and aspect ratios have been appropriately changed and exaggerated from those of the actual objects for the sake of ease of illustration and understanding.

[0042] 1 to 12 are diagrams for explaining one embodiment of the present disclosure, showing one specific example of a container.

[0043] The container 5 for containing contents includes a container 10 and a content C contained in the container 10. The container 10 contains the content C. In this embodiment, as an example, a container 10 used to thaw the content C frozen by heat exchange with a liquid 51 (described later) will be described. The content C is, for example, a biological material. A biological material is a substance that can exist inside a living organism, and examples thereof include cells and secretory substances secreted by cells. Specific examples of the content C contained in the container 10 include human tissue, cultured cells such as cell sheets, and cell suspensions containing cells before culture. Generally, the content C containing biological materials such as cells is stored in a frozen state until use. The content C in the container 10 is immersed in a moderately heated liquid 51 together with the container 10 immediately before use. The content C thawed by heat exchange with the liquid 51 is removed from the storage section of the container 10 through an extraction opening (described later). In particular, container 10 according to this embodiment is devised to effectively prevent liquid 51 from adhering to the removal opening while contained item C is thawed using liquid 51. By preventing liquid 51 from adhering to the removal opening, contamination of contained item C removed through the removal opening can be effectively prevented.

[0044] First, one embodiment will be described with reference to a specific example shown in Figures 1 to 5. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a container 10. Figure 2 is a front view showing the container 10. An item C is contained inside the container 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0045] 1 and 2, the container 10 includes a cylindrical container body 20 and a widening portion 40 connected to the container body 20. Hereinafter, the portion of the container body 20 that is connected to the widening portion 40 will also be referred to as a connecting portion 22.

[0046] The container body 20 has a first end 23 and a second end 24, and at least the first end 23 is closed. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container body 20 has a cylindrical shape, and the first end 23 of the container body 20 is formed by a curved surface, particularly a hemispherical shape. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second end 24 of the container body 20 is closed. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second end 24 of the container body 20 is closed by a seal portion 25 formed by joining opposing side surfaces of the cylindrical container body 20. In this case, a removal opening for removing the contents C can be formed on the second end 24 side by cutting a portion of the container body 20 closer to the first end 23 than the seal portion 25 and located near the seal portion 25. The dashed line labeled 26 in FIG. 2 indicates an example of the position where the removal opening is planned to be formed by cutting the container body 20. Hereinafter, the portion planned to form the removal opening will also be referred to as the planned removal opening portion 26. 2 can be cut using scissors, for example. Although not shown, the thickness of the wall surface 27 of the container body at a portion located near the seal portion 25 on the first end 23 side of the seal portion 25 may be smaller than the thickness of the wall surface 27 in the storage portion 21. In this case, it is possible to more easily cut the portion of the container body 20 located near the seal portion 25 on the first end 23 side of the seal portion 25. Note that a removal opening may be formed on the second end 24 side by folding and cutting the portion of the container body 20 located near the seal portion 25 on the first end 23 side of the seal portion 25.

[0047] Although not shown, the container body 20 may have a thin wall portion where the thickness of the wall surface 27 is partially thin, or a recessed portion where part of the outer surface of the wall surface 27 is recessed inward. In this case, the connection portion 22 and the thin wall portion or the recessed portion may be spaced apart in the extending direction d1 of the container body 20.

[0048] The container body 20 preferably has resistance to contact with the liquid 51 during the thawing process of the contained item C, which will be described later. More specifically, the container body 20 preferably has physical properties that allow it to withstand an environment of at least 30°C or higher, typically 37°C. The container body 20 preferably has physical properties that allow it to withstand an environment of preferably 60°C or higher, and particularly preferably 100°C or higher, which is the boiling point of water as a typical liquid 51. The container body 20 is also preferably used in a process of freezing the contained item C, which will be described later. That is, the container body 20 preferably has resistance to both high temperatures during thawing and low temperatures during freezing. More specifically, the container body 20 preferably has physical properties that allow it to withstand an environment of at least 0°C or lower, preferably -80°C or lower, more preferably -150°C or lower in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen, and particularly preferably -196°C or lower, at which nitrogen can be maintained in a liquid state.

[0049] Here, being physically durable means, for example, that the material that constitutes the wall surface 27 of the container body 20 will not be damaged. Alternatively, being physically durable may mean that the container body 20 will not be damaged, causing the airtightness of the container 10 to be impaired and making it impossible to maintain a sterile state inside the container 10.

[0050] Materials that can be used for the container body 20 include, for example, low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, nylon, polyester, polyimide, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, fluorine-based resin, vinyl chloride copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, ionomer, polyurethane, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyacetal, phenolic resin, urea resin, epoxy resin, ABS resin, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.

[0051] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the container 10 of Fig. 2 cut along line III-III. The container body 20 has a storage section 21 that is located closer to the first end 23 than the connection section 22 in the extending direction d1 of the container body 20, and stores an item C therein.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container 10 of FIG. 2 taken along line IV-IV. In other words, it is a cross-sectional view of the container 10 of FIG. 2 taken in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the storage section 21 has rotational symmetry in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. When the storage section 21 has rotational symmetry in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20, the rotational symmetry may be, for example, two-fold symmetry, three-fold symmetry, four-fold symmetry, or six-fold symmetry. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the storage section 21 has a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20.

[0053] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the connection part 22 of the container body 20 is located between the storage part 21 and the intended removal opening part 26, which is the part through which the contents C are removed from inside the container 10.

[0054] Next, the expanding portion 40 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the expanding portion 40 is connected to the connecting portion 22 of the container body 20 and protrudes away from the portion of the container body 20 other than the connecting portion 22. The expanding portion 40 circumferentially surrounds the container body 20. The expanding portion 40 has a expanding main body portion 41 that expands in a direction intersecting the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the expanding main body portion 41 expands in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the container body 20 and the expanding portion 40 are integrally molded. Although not shown, the expanding portion 40 may be fabricated as a separate member from the container body 20 and attached to the container body 20. The material of the expanding portion 40 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of the liquid 51 used to thaw the contents C, typically a material having a specific gravity of less than 1, which is lighter than water. Like the container body 20, the expanding portion 40 is preferably resistant to both high temperatures during thawing and low temperatures during freezing.

[0055] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the expanding portion 40 has symmetry, particularly rotational symmetry, when observed from the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. When the expanding portion 40 has rotational symmetry when observed from the extension direction d1 of the container body 20, the expanding portion 40 may have, for example, two-fold symmetry, three-fold symmetry, or four-fold symmetry. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the expanding portion 40 has a circular ring shape.

[0056] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container 10 of FIG. 2 cut along line VV. In other words, it is a cross-sectional view of the container 10 taken along a plane passing through the connecting portion 22 and perpendicular to the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends. The container 10 having the expanding portion 40 has a shape that satisfies the following conditions. First, a first container tangent 73 is drawn that is tangent to the contour 101 of the container 10 in the cross-section of the container 10 that passes through the connecting portion 22 and is perpendicular to the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends. Also, a second container tangent 74 is drawn that is tangent to the contour 101 of the container 10 and parallel to the first container tangent. When an arbitrary first container tangent 73 and a second container tangent 74 parallel to the first container tangent 73 are drawn in this manner, the minimum possible distance between the first container tangent 73 and the second container tangent 74 is defined as value s1. Furthermore, a first container body tangent line 71 is drawn that is tangent to the contour 201 of the container body 20 in a cross section of the container 10 that passes through the connecting portion 22 and is perpendicular to the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends. Here, the contour 201 of the container body 20, at the portion where the expanding portion 40 and the connecting portion 22 are connected, is determined at the position of the connecting surface 22a that forms the boundary between the expanding portion 40 and the connecting portion 22. As an example, the connecting surface 22a is an imaginary surface that is obtained by extending in the direction d1 the outer surface of the wall surface 27 that is located closer to the second end 24 than the expanding portion 40. Furthermore, a second container body tangent line 72 is drawn that is tangent to the contour 201 of the container body 20 and is parallel to the first container body tangent line 71. In this way, when an arbitrary container body first tangent line 71 and a container body second tangent line 72 parallel to the container body first tangent line 71 are drawn, the minimum value that the distance between the container body first tangent line 71 and the container body second tangent line 72 can be is defined as value s2. In this case, value s1 is greater than value s2.

[0057] Furthermore, the container 10 having the expanding portion 40 according to this embodiment has a shape that satisfies the following condition: As described above, when an arbitrary first container body tangent line 71 and a container body second tangent line 72 parallel to the first container body tangent line 71 are drawn, the first container body tangent line 71 and the second container body tangent line 72 cross the expanding portion 40.

[0058] 3, the contents C are contained inside the container body 20 of the container 10, which has a first end 23 and a second end 24 closed, to form a contents-containing container 5. The contents C contained inside the container 10 is, for example, a biological material, specifically, a cell suspension containing cells cultured under sterile conditions or cells before culture.

[0059] Next, a method for producing a container 5 containing contents by storing contents C inside the container 10 will be described. As an example, a case will be described where contents C is a cell suspension. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the container 10 before contents C are stored inside. The container body 20 of the container 10 shown in FIG. 6 has an opening 28 that connects the storage section 21 to the outside, on the second end 24 side of the connecting section 22. In this case, a container containing contents can be produced by a supplying step of supplying contents C to the storage section 21 through the opening 28 of the container 10 shown in FIG. 6, and a sealing step of sealing the opening 28.

[0060] When the content C is a cell suspension, in the supply step, the content C is supplied to the storage section 21 in a Grade A environment in a sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing area where cell-harming bacteria and the like are eliminated, using an isolator, cell culture processing center, or the like. The mass of the content C stored inside the container body 20 will now be described. FIG. 7 shows the outline of the cross section of the container 10 shown in FIG. 3, with the extent of the spreading section 40 and other areas indicated by hatching. As shown in FIG. 7, the volume of the spreading section 40 (the volume of the portion hatched with dots) is V1, the total volume of the container body 20 (including the interior) of the connection section 22 and the storage section 21 (including the interior) (the volume of the portion hatched with diagonal lines) is V2, the mass of the container 10 is W1, and the density of the liquid 51 (described later) is ρ. In this case, the mass of the content C is equal to or less than ρ(V1 + V2) - W1. The volume of the connection part 22 including the interior thereof is, for example, the volume of the part of the container body 20 where the connection part 22 is located in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends, including the interior thereof.

[0061] Next, in the sealing step, the opening 28 of the container body 20 is sealed in a closed environment. As an example, the opening 28 is sealed by joining opposing side surfaces of the opening 28 of the container body 20 by heat sealing to form a seal portion 25 that closes the opening 28 as shown in Fig. 1. In this way, the storage portion 21 is maintained in a sterile, closed state, and the contents C containing the cells are held in the storage portion 21.

[0062] The method for manufacturing a container containing contents may further include a step of immersing the container 10 containing the contents C in a refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen or leaving it in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen. This allows the contents C in the container 10 to be stored in a frozen state until it is used. Hereinafter, the contents C in a frozen state will also be referred to as a frozen contents.

[0063] In the content-containing container 5 manufactured by the above method, which includes a container 10 and frozen content located inside the container 10, it is preferable that 50% by mass or more of the frozen content located inside the container 10 be contained in the storage section 21. Of the frozen content located inside the container 10, the proportion of the frozen content contained in the storage section 21 is more preferably 70% by mass or more, and even more preferably 90% by mass or more. When the container 10 is floated on a liquid 51, the frozen content located inside the storage section 21 that comes into contact with the liquid 51 is thawed more quickly due to heat exchange with the liquid 51 than the frozen content located in parts of the interior of the container 10 other than the storage section 21. For this reason, as described above, if the proportion of the frozen content contained in the storage section 21 is greater than a certain level, the frozen content can be thawed particularly quickly.

[0064] The frozen contents stored in the container 10 are thawed before use. A thawing method for thawing the frozen contents stored in the storage section 21 of the container 10 will be described below. Examples of frozen contents stored in the container 10 include liquids and suspensions containing fine particles, such as frozen cells, electrolyte infusions such as physiological saline, carbohydrate injections such as glucose, blood products, protein drugs such as antibiotics and antibodies, peptide drugs such as low-molecular-weight proteins and hormones, nucleic acid drugs, cellular drugs, vaccines for preventing various infectious diseases, steroids, insulin, anticancer drugs, protease inhibitors, analgesics, antipyretic analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, anesthetics, fat emulsions, antihypertensives, vasodilators, electrolyte correction injections such as heparin sodium chloride and potassium lactate, vitamins, and contrast agents.

[0065] As an example, a case will be described in which the frozen contents are frozen cells. The frozen cells are, for example, a frozen cell suspension. The cell suspension is, for example, a liquid in which cells are suspended in a cell cryopreservation solution. When the frozen contents are frozen cells, the thawing method for thawing the frozen contents can also be considered a method for producing a cell preparation by thawing the frozen cells. In this case, the cell preparations produced include, for example, hepatoma cells, hepatocytes (liver parenchymal cells), Kupffer cells, endothelial cells such as vascular endothelial cells and corneal endothelial cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, periodontal ligament-derived cells, epidermal cells such as epidermal keratinocytes, epithelial cells such as tracheal epithelial cells, digestive tract epithelial cells, cervical epithelial cells, and corneal epithelial cells, mammary gland cells, pericytes, muscle cells such as smooth muscle cells and cardiac muscle cells, kidney cells, pancreatic islet cells of Langerhans, nerve cells such as peripheral nerve cells and optic nerve cells, chondrocytes, bone cells, or stem cells, ES cells (embryonic stem cells), iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells), etc. Examples of stem cells include bone marrow undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, vascular stem cells, neural stem cells, small intestine stem cells, adipose stem cells, skin stem cells, periodontal tissue stem cells, ciliary body stem cells, corneal limbal stem cells, visceral stem cells, etc. The frozen contents contained in the container 21 are thawed by heat exchange with the liquid 51.

[0066] The method for thawing frozen stored items includes a thawing step of immersing the container 10 in liquid 51 from the first end 23 side of the container body 20. At this time, the container 10 obtains buoyancy as a portion of the container body 20 and at least a portion of the expanding portion 40 sink below the interface 51a of the liquid 51, and floats on the liquid 51 with the second end 24 of the container body 20 facing upward. Here, as shown in FIG. 8 , when the container 10 is immersed in the liquid 51 held in a liquid-holding container 50 from the first end 23 side of the container body 20, the container 10 floats on the liquid 51 with the storage portion 21 of the container body 20 immersed in the liquid 51 and the intended removal opening portion 26 of the container body 20 not immersed in the liquid 51. Therefore, the frozen stored items held in the storage portion 21 can be thawed by heat exchange with the liquid 51, while adhesion of the liquid 51 to the intended removal opening portion 26 can be suppressed. This makes it possible to form a take-out opening in the intended take-out opening portion 26, and to prevent the contained items C from being contaminated by the liquid 51 when the contained items C are taken out through the take-out opening.

[0067] The liquid 51 is not particularly limited as long as it can thaw the frozen contents, and is, for example, water. The temperature of the liquid 51 is not particularly limited as long as it can thaw the frozen contents. For example, when the frozen contents are frozen cells and a cell preparation is produced by thawing the frozen cells, the temperature of the liquid 51 is, for example, 30°C or higher and 40°C or lower, and typically 37°C.

[0068] 7, the volume of the expanding portion 40 is V1, the total volume of the connection portion 22 including its interior and the storage portion 21 including its interior of the container body 20 is V2, and the mass of the container 10 is W1. The density of the liquid 51 is ρ. In this case, it is preferable that the following equation (4) holds true.

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[0069] When the liquid 51 is water, the density of water is ρ W It is preferable that the following formula (1) is satisfied: Wis the density of water at 37°C, e.g., 1 g / cm 3 is.

number

[0070] The effect of formula (4) being satisfied will be explained. Let us consider a case in which the container 10 is immersed in the liquid 51 up to the end face of the expanding portion 40 on the second end 24 side in the extension direction d1 of the container body 20, as shown in FIG. 9 . In this case, the value of V1 + V2 corresponds to the volume of the portion of the container 10, including the interior, that is located below the interface 51a of the liquid 51. The buoyant force acting on the container 10 in the state shown in FIG. 9 is expressed as ρ(V1 + V2)g, where g is the gravitational acceleration. If the container 10 does not contain an object C inside, the gravity acting on the container 10 is expressed as W1g. Here, when formula (4) is satisfied, the buoyant force ρ(V1 + V2)g in the state shown in FIG. 9 is greater than the gravity W1g. Therefore, when the container 10 does not contain an object C inside, the portion of the container 10 on the second end 24 side of the expanding portion 40 floats without being immersed in the liquid 51.

[0071] Next, consider the case where container 10 contains contents C, forming container 5 with contents. In this case, if the mass of contents C contained inside container 10 is equal to or less than the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, the buoyant force acting on container 5 with contents in the state shown in FIG. 9 will be greater than or equal to the gravity acting on container 5 with contents. Therefore, container 5 with contents floats with the portion of second end 24 closer to expanding portion 40 not immersed in liquid 51. From the above, since equation (4) holds, adhesion of liquid 51 to intended removal opening portion 26 can be more effectively suppressed when the mass of contents C contained inside container 10 is equal to or less than the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1.

[0072] The effect of the expanding portion 40 when the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51 as shown in FIG. 8 will be described. First, consider the case where a typical cylindrical container 10' is floated on the liquid 51 as shown in FIG. 10 and the container 10' tilts. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the center of buoyancy B of the container 10' is located on the tilted side of the container 10' (the right side in FIG. 10) relative to the center of gravity G of the container 10'. In this case, a force that tries to correct the tilt of the container 10', i.e., a restoring force, acts on the container 10' due to the positional relationship between the center of gravity G and the center of buoyancy B.

[0073] Hereinafter, the intersection M of the axis of symmetry of the container 10', particularly the axis of rotational symmetry L1 of the cylindrical container 10', and the line of action L3 of buoyancy P2 acting on the container 10', will also be referred to as the metacenter M. In other words, whether a restoring force acts on the container 10' depends on the positional relationship between the center of gravity G and the metacenter M. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the center of buoyancy B is located on the side of the container 10' to which the center of gravity G is inclined. Therefore, the metacenter M, which is the intersection of the line of action L3 of buoyancy P passing through the center of buoyancy B and the axis of symmetry L1, is located above the center of gravity G. If the metacenter M is located above the center of gravity G as in the example of FIG. 10, a moment of force that corrects the inclination of the container 10' is generated.

[0074] The restoring force acts to rotate the container 10' by the downward gravity P1 and the upward buoyancy P2 acting on the container 10'. The magnitude of the restoring force P can be expressed by the following equation (5), where w2 is the distance between the line of action of gravity L2 and the line of action of buoyancy L3 shown in Figure 10, and m is the mass of the container 10'.

number

[0075] Also, consider the case where, as shown in Figure 11, a container 10' floating on liquid 51 tilts, and the center of gravity G moves to the tilted side of the container 10' (the right side in Figure 11) relative to the center of buoyancy B. In this case, as shown in Figure 11, the metacenter M, which is the intersection of the line of action L3 of buoyancy P passing through the center of buoyancy B and the axis of symmetry L1, is located below the center of gravity G. If the metacenter M is located below the center of gravity G as in the example of Figure 11, a moment of force that further tilts the container 10' is generated, and it becomes impossible to apply a restoring force to the container 10'.

[0076] 10, 11 and equation (5), it can be seen that in order to stably apply a sufficiently large restoring force to the container, it is preferable that the container be shaped so that when the container tilts, the center of buoyancy B moves more easily to the side to which the container tilts than the center of gravity G. Also, in order to make the container shaped so that the center of gravity G does not move easily, it is preferable that the position of the center of gravity G on the container is low.

[0077] Next, consider a hypothetical case in which the container 10 according to this embodiment, floating on the liquid 51 as shown in FIG. 8 , is tilted to one side as shown in FIG. 12 . In FIG. 12 , the container 10 is tilted to the left side of the figure. In this case, on the tilted side of the container 10, the portion of the expanding portion 40 that was located above the interface 51a of the liquid 51 in FIG. 8 sinks below the interface 51a. On the opposite side of the tilted side of the container 10, the portion of the expanding portion 40 that was located below the interface 51a of the liquid 51 in FIG. 8 rises above the interface 51a. As a result, the volume of the portion of the container 10, including the interior, that is located below the interface 51a of the liquid 51 increases significantly on the tilted side of the container 10 and decreases significantly on the opposite side of the tilted side of the container 10. In the example shown in FIG. 12 , the volume of the portion of the container 10 that is located below the interface 51a of the liquid 51 increases significantly on the tilted left side of the container 10 and decreases significantly on the right side, which is the opposite side of the tilted side of the container 10. Therefore, the center of buoyancy of container 10 moves significantly toward the side to which container 10 has tilted compared to before container 10 tilted. As a result, when container 10 tilts to one side, the center of buoyancy can be moved significantly toward the tilted side, allowing a stable restoring force to act on container 10. This makes it possible to more stably maintain the state in which container 10 floats on liquid 51 so that planned removal opening portion 26 of container body 20 is not immersed in liquid 51.

[0078] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, the container 10 has a shape in which the value s1 shown in Fig. 5 is greater than the value s2 by including the flared portion 40. This makes it easier for a restoring force to act on the container 10 when the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51, compared to a case in which the container 10 does not have the flared portion 40.

[0079] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, the expanding portion 40 has a shape such that when the first tangent line 71 to the container body and the second tangent line 72 to the container body are drawn in a cross section of the container 10 that passes through the connecting portion 22 and is perpendicular to the extending direction d1 of the container body 20, the first tangent line 71 to the container body and the second tangent line 72 to the container body cross the expanding portion 40. As a result, when the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51, the expanding portion 40 can act as a restoring force on the container 10 even if the container 10 tilts in various directions.

[0080] Furthermore, the expanding portion 40 has symmetry, particularly rotational symmetry, when observed from the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. In particular, the expanding portion 40 has an annular shape. By having the above-described shape of the expanding portion 40, when the container 10 is floating on the liquid 51 as shown in FIG. 8, the state in which the container 10 has the second end 24 of the container body 20 facing upward can be more stabilized. Furthermore, when the container 10 is floating on the liquid 51 as shown in FIG. 8, even if the container 10 is tilted in a number of different directions, the action of the expanding portion 40 makes it easier for a restoring force to act on the container 10.

[0081] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, the ratio X (%) represented by the following formula (2) is preferably 5% or more. By setting the ratio X (%) within the above range, it is possible to sufficiently increase the ratio of the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 to the sum of the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 and the total volume V2 of the container body 20, which is the total volume of the connection portion 22 including its interior and the storage portion 21 including its interior. Therefore, when the container 10 floating on the liquid 51 tilts, the function of the expanding portion 40 to significantly shift the center of buoyancy of the container 10 and apply a stable restoring force to the container 10 can be more easily achieved.

number

[0082] When the expanding portion 40 has a circular ring shape, from the viewpoint of ensuring a large volume V1 of the expanding portion 40, the width t1 of the expanding portion 40 shown in FIG. 3 is preferably 4 mm or more.

[0083] In the above-described specific example, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a shown in FIG. 3, which constitutes the boundary between the expanding portion 40 and the connecting portion 22, is 5 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) or more. This allows the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 to be sufficiently large in proportion to the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a. Therefore, when the container 10 floating on the liquid 51 tilts, the expanding portion 40 can more easily move the center of buoyancy of the container 10 and apply a stable restoring force to the container 10.

[0084] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, the expanding portion 40 protrudes away from the portion of the container body 20 other than the connecting portion 22. This separates the expanding portion 40 from the storage portion 21 of the container body 20, so that the storage portion 21 and the liquid 51 come into contact with each other as shown in Fig. 8, thereby enabling efficient heat exchange between the contents C stored in the storage portion 21 and the liquid 51.

[0085] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, the storage section 21 is preferably configured to increase the efficiency of heat exchange between the contents C stored in the storage section 21 and the liquid 51. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the thickness t2 of the wall surface 27 of the storage section 21 is preferably 3 mm or less. The thickness t2 is more preferably 2 mm or less, more preferably 1.5 mm or less, and even more preferably 1 mm or less. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the wall surface 27 of the storage section 21 is preferably 0.1 W / m·K or more. This allows the frozen contents to be thawed more quickly by heat exchange with the liquid 51.

[0086] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, it is preferable that the surface area of ​​the storage section 21 is large. The large surface area of ​​the storage section 21 increases the contact area between the storage section 21 and the liquid 51, thereby increasing the efficiency of heat exchange between the contents C and the liquid 51. This allows the frozen contents to be thawed more quickly. As an example, the dimension t3 of the storage section 21 in the extension direction d1 of the container body 20 shown in FIG. 3 is larger than the dimension t4 of the storage section in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body 20. The dimension t3 is more preferably 1.02 times or more, and even more preferably 2 times or more, of the dimension t4. By defining the relationship between the dimensions t3 and t4 as described above, the surface area of ​​the storage section 21 on the side surface can be increased, thereby making the surface area of ​​the storage section 21 sufficiently large.

[0087] With a container 10 having a storage section 21 that can increase the efficiency of heat exchange between the contents C and the liquid 51, for example, a frozen contents C of 100 ml or less can be thawed within 25 minutes. Also, a frozen contents C of 20 ml or less can be thawed within 15 minutes. Also, a contents C of 2 ml to 6 ml can be thawed within 6 to 10 minutes. Also, a contents C of 0.5 ml to 1.5 ml can be thawed within 3 minutes.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 4, the storage section 21 preferably has rotational symmetry in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the storage section 21 has a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. By having the storage section 21 have the above shape, when the container 10 is floating on the liquid 51 as shown in Fig. 8, the state in which the second end 24 of the container body 20 faces upward can be more stabilized. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the creation of a portion inside the storage section 21 that is particularly far from the liquid 51, and to transfer heat from the liquid 51 to the contained item C more evenly.

[0089] Furthermore, it is preferable that the connection portion 22 is located between the center of gravity of the container body 20 and the intended extraction opening portion 26 in the direction d1. This allows the center of gravity of the container 10 to be located at a sufficiently low position (a position sufficiently close to the first end portion 23). Therefore, when the container 10 floating on the liquid 51 tilts, the center of gravity of the container 10 is less likely to move, and the container 10 can be floated particularly stably on the liquid 51 when the intended extraction opening portion 26 is not immersed in the liquid 51.

[0090] After the frozen contents have been thawed, the contents C inside the container 10 are prepared for use as follows. First, the container 10 is lifted out of the liquid 51. Then, a removal opening for removing the contents C is formed in the intended removal opening portion 26. Next, the thawed contents C inside the container 10 is removed from the removal opening. Then, the removed contents C is prepared for use.

[0091] In the prior art disclosed in JP 2018-110539 A and JP 2001-70402 A, the container is placed in an outer bag prior to thawing the contents to prevent liquid from adhering to the intended access opening of the container. The contents are thawed by immersing the outer bag in liquid, and then the container is removed from the outer bag. Compared to this prior art, this embodiment eliminates the need to place the container 10 containing the frozen contents C in the outer bag before thawing, and to remove the container 10 from the outer bag before removing the thawed contents C through the access opening of the container 10. This significantly reduces the preparation time and effort required for using the frozen contents C. This effect is particularly advantageous when applying thawed biological materials, such as cell suspensions and cell sheets, to the human body.

[0092] Although one embodiment has been described using a specific example, this specific example is not intended to limit the embodiment. The above-described one embodiment can be implemented using various other specific examples, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and additions can be made without departing from the spirit of the embodiment.

[0093] An example of the modification will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description and the drawings used in the following description, parts that can be configured similarly to the above-described specific example will be designated by the same reference numerals as those used for the corresponding parts in the above-described specific example, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0094] In the specific example described above, the expanding portion 40 had an annular shape. However, the shape of the expanding portion 40 is not limited to this. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a container 10 in a modified example. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the expanding portion 40 is partially located closer to the first end 23 than the connecting portion 22 in the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. Although not shown, the expanding portion 40 in this modified example has rotational symmetry when observed from the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. By partially located closer to the first end 23 than the connecting portion 22, a restoring force can be more stably applied to the container 10.

[0095] 14, in a cross section of the container 10 passing through the connecting portion 22 and perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body 20, the expanding portion 40 may have portions extending in three different directions. Also, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the expanding portion 40 may have an elliptical shape with a portion missing. The expanding portion 40 may also have a shape as shown in FIG. 17. In the example shown in FIG. 17, in a cross section of the container 10 passing through the connecting portion 22 and perpendicular to the extension direction of the container body 20, the expanding portion 40 has a first portion 45 that connects to the connecting portion 22 of the container body 20 and extends in one direction. The expanding portion 40 also has a second portion 46 that connects to the first portion 45 and extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the first portion 45. In the examples shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the above-mentioned value s1 is greater than the value s2. Also, in the examples shown in Figures 14 to 17, if an arbitrary container body first tangent 71 that is tangent to the contour 201 of the container body 20 and a container body second tangent 72 that is tangent to the contour 201 of the container body 20 and parallel to the container body first tangent 71 are drawn, the container body first tangent 71 and the container body second tangent 72 will cross the expansion portion 40.

[0096] 18, the expanding portion 40 may extend in one direction in a cross section of the container 10 that passes through the connecting portion 22 and is perpendicular to the extending direction d1 of the container body 20. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the container body 20 has an elliptical shape. The expanding portion 40 extends in a direction that intersects with the extending direction of the major axis of the elliptical container body 20. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the above-mentioned value s1 is also greater than the value s2.

[0097] Furthermore, the expanding portion 40 may have a recessed portion 43 recessed toward the container body 20 when observed from the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a container 10 according to a modified example in which the expanding portion 40 has a recessed portion 43. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the container of FIG. 19 observed from the first end 23 side in the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. By having the recessed portion 43 in the expanding portion 40, a user of the container 10 can easily hold the container 10 by placing a finger on the recessed portion 43. The size of the recessed portion 43 is, for example, large enough to partially fit a person's finger. The number of recessed portions 43 is not particularly limited. In the example shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the expanding portion 40 has four recessed portions 43.

[0098] Furthermore, the expanding portion 40 may have a expanding main body portion 41 that expands in a direction intersecting the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends, and may also have a expanding auxiliary portion 42 connected to the end of the expanding main body portion 41 on the side away from the container body 20. FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a container 10 in a modified example in which the expanding portion 40 has the expanding auxiliary portion 42. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the container 10 of FIG. 21 cut along line XXII-XXII. In the example shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the expanding auxiliary portion 42 is located on the first end 23 side of the expanding main body portion 41 in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends, and expands in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends.

[0099] To explain the effects of the container 10 shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, consider the case where the container 10 floating on the liquid 51 tilts to one side, as shown in FIG. 24. In this case, the container 10 having the expansion assisting portion 42 shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is more likely to have its center of buoyancy shift toward the tilted side of the container 10 compared to the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. This makes it easier for the expansion portion 40 to significantly shift the center of buoyancy of the container 10 and apply a stable restoring force to the container 10 when the container 10 floating on the liquid 51 tilts. The restoring force corrects the tilt of the container 10 when the container 10 tilts due to waves in the liquid 51, for example. Furthermore, even if the restoring force does not correct the tilt of the container 10, the container 10 may continue to float on the liquid 51 while maintaining a certain tilt so that the intended extraction opening portion 26 is not immersed in the liquid 51. In this case as well, adhesion of the liquid 51 to the intended extraction opening portion 26 can be suppressed.

[0100] FIG. 23 shows the outline of the cross section of the container 10 shown in FIG. 22, and indicates the extent of the spreading portion 40 and the like by hatching. As shown in FIG. 23, V1 denotes the volume of the spreading portion 40 (the total volume of the portion hatched with dots and the portion hatched with horizontal lines), V2 denotes the total volume of the connection portion 22 including its interior and the storage portion 21 including its interior in the container body 20 (the volume of the portion hatched with diagonal lines), and V3 denotes the volume of the spreading auxiliary portion 42 (the volume of the portion hatched with horizontal lines). In this case, it is preferable that the ratio Y (%) expressed by the following formula (3) is 1% or more. By setting the ratio Y (%) within the above range, the ratio of the volume V3 of the spreading auxiliary portion 42 to the sum of the volume V1 of the spreading portion 40 and the total volume V2 of the connection portion 22 including its interior and the storage portion 21 including its interior in the container body 20 can be sufficiently large. Therefore, when the container 10 floating on the liquid 51 tilts, the action of the expanding portion 40 can be more easily achieved, which is to move the center of buoyancy of the container 10 significantly and apply a stable restoring force to the container 10.

number

[0101] Furthermore, the expanding portion 40 may have a bag-shaped portion 44 containing a content B that expands when heated. FIG. 25 is a side view showing a container 10 in a modified example in which the expanding portion 40 has a bag-shaped portion 44. FIG. 26 is a side view showing the container 10 of FIG. 25 from a different direction than FIG. 25. Note that FIGS. 25 and 26 show the same container 10 rotated approximately 90° about an axis extending in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends. FIG. 27 is a side view showing a state in which the container 10 is floating on liquid 51 and the bag-shaped portions 44 of the container 10 of FIG. 25 are heated. In the example shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, the expanding portion 40 has two bag-shaped portions 44, each containing a content B in a bag interior 44a. The content B contained in the bag-shaped portions 44 is, for example, air.

[0102] Because the expanding portion 40 has a bag-shaped portion 44 containing the contents B, the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 increases when heated and decreases when cooled. As a result, when storing a container 5 containing frozen contents C, the container 5 can be stored with the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 small, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 . This reduces the space required to store the container 5. Furthermore, when thawing the contents C by floating the container 5 on liquid 51, the contents B are heated by heat exchange with the liquid 51, and the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 increases, as shown in FIG. 27 . Therefore, when thawing the contents C, the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 can be made sufficiently large, further improving the function of the expanding portion 40 in stabilizing the state in which the container 10 floats on the liquid 51 so that the intended removal opening portion 26 of the container body 20 is not immersed in the liquid 51.

[0103] When the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51, the contents B are heated and expand, so that the bag-shaped portion 44 may stand upright facing away from the container body 20, as shown in Fig. 27. This causes the expansion portion 40 to separate from the storage portion 21 of the container body 20 when the container 5 containing the contents is floated on the liquid 51 to thaw the contents C. This allows the storage portion 21 to come into contact with the liquid 51, thereby enabling efficient heat exchange between the contents C stored in the storage portion 21 and the liquid 51.

[0104] As an example, when the temperature of content B contained in bag-shaped portion 44 is at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, content B expands so that the above-mentioned value s1 becomes greater than value s2. Furthermore, when the temperature of content B contained in bag-shaped portion 44 is at the second temperature higher than the first temperature, if an arbitrary container body first tangent 71 tangent to the outline 201 of container body 20 and an arbitrary container body second tangent 72 tangent to the outline 201 of container body 20 and parallel to the container body first tangent 71 are drawn, content B expands so that the container body first tangent 71 and the container body second tangent 72 cross the expanding portion 40.

[0105] The contents B contained in the bag-shaped portion 44 may expand so that the volume V1 of the expanding portion does not satisfy the following formula (1) when the temperature of the contents B is at a first temperature, but does satisfy formula (1) when the temperature of the contents B is at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. Also, the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 may expand so that X (%) in the following formula (2) is less than 5% when the temperature of the contents B is at the first temperature, but X (%) in formula (2) is 5% or more when the temperature of the contents B is at the second temperature. Also, when the temperature of the contents B is at the first temperature, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a is 5 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) or more, but when the temperature of the contents B is at the second temperature, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a is 5 (mm 3 / mm 2) or more. The first temperature is, for example, the temperature of the contents B when the contents-containing container 5 containing the contents C in a frozen state is stored, and is, for example, −196°C or more and −20°C or less. The second temperature is, for example, the temperature of the contents B when the contents-containing container 5 is floated on a liquid 51 to thaw the contents C. For example, if the contents C in a frozen state are frozen cells, the second temperature is a temperature suitable for culturing the cells, and is, for example, 20°C or more and 40°C or less, and preferably 37°C.

number

[0106] Furthermore, when the expanding portion 40 of the container 10 has a bag-shaped portion 44, the container 10 may further include a string portion 60, one end of which is connected to a portion of the bag-shaped portion 44 and the other end of which is connected to a portion of the container body 20. FIG. 28 is a side view showing a modified example of a container 10 including a string portion 60, floating on liquid 51. In the example shown in FIG. 28, one end of the string portion 60 is connected to an end 44b of the bag-shaped portion 44 opposite to the end connected to the connecting portion 22. In the example shown in FIG. 28, the other end of the string portion 60 is connected to a side surface of the container body 20 closer to the first end portion 23 than the connecting portion 22 in the extending direction d1 of the container body 20. Although not shown, the other end of the string portion 60 may be connected to the bottom of the container body 20. When the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51, the string portion 60 restricts the movement of the bag-shaped portion 44 so that the end 44b of the bag-shaped portion 44 does not move more than a certain amount toward the second end 24 in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends. In this case, when the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51, as shown in FIG. 28 , the end 44b of the bag-shaped portion 44 can be prevented from moving away from the liquid 51. This makes it possible to increase the volume of the portion of the bag-shaped portion 44 that sinks below the interface 51a. This relatively reduces the volume of the portion of the container body 20 that sinks below the interface 51a, thereby preventing the liquid 51 from adhering to the intended dispensing opening portion 26.

[0107] In the specific example described above, the second end 24 of the container body 20 is closed by the seal portion 25. However, the form of the closed second end 24 is not particularly limited as long as the contents C can be removed from the second end 24 side of the container body 20. In a modified example shown in FIG. 29 , the second end 24 is closed by a surface 24a, which forms the second end 24. The surface 24a forming the second end 24 has a thin-walled portion 24b. The thin-walled portion 24b is configured to facilitate puncturing with a syringe or a syringe needle. The thickness of the thin-walled portion 24b is preferably 1 mm or less, more preferably 0.5 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.3 mm or less. Although not shown, the surface 24a closing the second end 24 may have a thickness similar to that of the side surface of the container body 20. Also, although not shown, when second end 24 is closed by surface 24a, container 10 may further include a pull tab attached to surface 24a, and surface 24a may have an easy-tear line that is cut when the pull tab is pulled up to form an access opening in surface 24a.

[0108] 30, the container 10 may further include a lid member 11 that closes the second end 24 of the container body 20. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the lid member 11 is a member that can be attached to and detached from the second end 24 of the container body 20, and has a cap shape. Although not shown, the lid member 11 may be a member that is adhered to the second end 24 so that it can be peeled off from the second end 24. Although not shown, the lid member 11 may be a member made of a material that is easily punctured with a glass tube or the like, such as rubber.

[0109] Furthermore, although not shown, when the second end 24 of the container body 20 is closed by the seal portion 25 as in the specific example described above, a pouring flow path defined by the seal portion 25 may be formed in a part of the interior of the container body 20 on the second end 24 side, through which the contained item C passes when the contained item C is removed from the container 10. Furthermore, the seal portion 25 may be formed with an opening initiation means such as a cut or notch. More specifically, a pouring flow path defined by the seal portion 25 may be formed inside the container body 20, and the seal portion 25 may be formed with an opening initiation means that can break the wall surface 27 of the container body 20 so as to cross the pouring flow path.

[0110] Regardless of the form of the closed second end 24 as described above, by removing the contents C from the second end 24 side of the container body 20, contamination of the contents C by the liquid 51 can be prevented.

[0111] In the specific example described above, the first end 23 of the container body 20 was closed by a hemispherical surface. However, the first end 23 may be closed by a seal portion 29, as in a modified example shown in Figures 31 and 32. Note that Figures 31 and 32 show the same container 10 rotated approximately 90° around an axis extending in the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. In the example shown in Figures 31 and 32, the second end 24 is closed by a surface 24a having a thin-walled portion 24b.

[0112] 31 and 32 may contain an item C by the following method. First, the item C is supplied into the container 10 from the open first end 23 before the seal portion 29 is formed. Next, the opposing side surfaces of the open first end 23 are joined by heat sealing to form the seal portion 29 as shown in FIGS.

[0113] Furthermore, in the specific example described above, the storage section 21 has a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. However, as shown in FIG. 33 , the storage section 21 may have a shape having multiple recesses 21a in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. The recesses 21a are portions of the wall surface 27 of the storage section 21 of the container body 20 that are recessed toward the interior of the storage section 21. In the example shown in FIG. 33 , the storage section 21 has six recesses 21a and has a six-fold symmetric shape in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20. By having the storage section 21 have the above shape, the surface area of ​​the storage section 21 can be sufficiently increased. This can increase the efficiency of heat exchange between the contents C and the liquid 51. Furthermore, by preventing the creation of a portion inside the storage section 21 that is particularly far from the liquid 51, heat from the liquid 51 can be more evenly transferred to the contents C.

[0114] The container 10 may further include a marker portion 12 located closer to the second end 24 than the connecting portion 22 in the extending direction d1 of the container body 20. FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a modified container 10 including the marker portion 12, showing the state before the opening 28 on the second end 24 side is sealed. FIG. 35 is a view of the container 10 of FIG. 34 observed from the second end 24 side in the extending direction d1 of the container body 20. FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the container 10 of FIG. 35 taken along line XXXVI-XXXVI. In the examples shown in FIGS. 34 and 36, the marker portion 12 is a protrusion-like portion provided on the outer periphery of the container body 20. Although not shown, the marker portion 12 may be a groove-like portion provided on the outer periphery of the container body 20. The marking portion 12 indicates that a removal opening for removing the contents C should be formed on the second end 24 side of the marking portion 12 in the extending direction d1 of the container body 20, for example.

[0115] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 35 and 36, the container 10 may further include an annular foam container 13 that is connected to the inner surface of the container body 20 and protrudes toward the second end 24 in the extension direction d1 of the container body 20.

[0116] The effect of the bubble trapping section 13 will now be described. When thawing the contents C contained inside the container 10, air bubbles may form on the surface of the contents C. In this case, when an extraction opening is formed on the second end 24 side and the contents C is extracted by sucking the contents C from inside the container 10 using a syringe, pipette, or the like, air bubbles may adhere to the tip of the syringe, pipette, or the like. In this case, the user of the container 10 can remove the air bubbles from the tip of the syringe, pipette, or the like by hooking the air bubbles onto the bubble trapping section 13. This makes it possible to extract the contents C from inside the container 10 while preventing the syringe, pipette, or the like from sucking up air bubbles that have adhered to the tip, which would hinder the operation of sucking up the contents C.

[0117] 36, the angle θ1 formed between the wall surface 27 of the container body 20 and the foam container 13 is, for example, 50° or less. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid inside the container 10 from accumulating between the wall surface 27 of the container body 20 and the foam container 13.

[0118] When container 10 includes marker portion 12 and foam container portion 13, marker portion 12 may overlap foam container portion 13 in extension direction d1 of container body 20, as shown in Figure 36. In this case, a user of container 10 can determine the position of foam container portion 13 by marker portion 12 without having to look inside container body 20. In the examples shown in Figures 34 and 36, first end portion 23 is flat. Therefore, container 10 can be placed on a horizontal surface with first end portion 23 facing downward.

[0119] As shown in FIGS. 34 to 36 , the container 10 may further include gripping portions 14 that are connected to the container body 20 on the second end 24 side of the connecting portion 22 in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends, and that protrude away from the container body 20. In the example shown in FIGS. 34 to 36 , the container 10 includes two gripping portions 14 that have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and extend in a direction away from the container body 20. The gripping portions 14 are located closer to the second end 24 than the marker portion 12 in the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends. The gripping portions 14 allow a user of the container 10 to thaw the contents C by holding the gripping portions 14 located closer to the second end 24 than the connecting portion 22 and immersing the container 10 in the liquid 51. This prevents the user's hands from coming into contact with the liquid 51 when immersing the container 10 in the liquid 51.

[0120] Furthermore, the storage section 21 may have a small storage section portion 21b that has a smaller dimension in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20 than a portion of the container body 20 closer to the second end 24 than the connecting portion 22. FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a container 10 according to a modified example in which the storage section 21 has the small storage section portion 21b, showing the state before the opening 28 on the second end 24 side is sealed. FIG. 38 is a side view of the container 10 of FIG. 37. As shown in FIG. 38, the dimension t5 of the small storage section portion 21b in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20 is smaller than the dimension t6 of the portion of the container body 20 closer to the second end 24 than the connecting portion 22. Note that if the dimension t6 is not constant, the dimension t5 is smaller than the maximum value of the dimension t6. The volume of the small storage section portion 21b is preferably 70% or more of the overall volume of the storage section 21.

[0121] Because the dimension t5 of the smaller storage section portion 21b is smaller than the dimension t6, when the container 10 is floated on the liquid 51, the distance between the contents C located at the center of the interior of the smaller storage section portion 21b in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction d1 of the container body 20 and the liquid 51 can be kept small. This allows for efficient heat exchange between the contents C stored in the smaller storage section portion 21b and the liquid 51. Furthermore, because the dimension t6 of the portion of the container body 20 closer to the second end 24 than the connecting portion 22 is larger than the dimension t5, a larger extraction opening can be formed when forming an extraction opening in the portion of the container body 20 closer to the second end 24 than the connecting portion 22. This makes it easier to extract the contents C from the inside of the container 10 through the extraction opening. In particular, this makes it easier to insert the tip of a pipette or the like into the inside of the container 10 through the extraction opening and dispense the contents C using the pipette or the like.

[0122] As yet another modification, in the above-described container 10, the storage section 21 of the container body 20 is maintained in a sterile state, and the contents C are stored directly in the storage section of the container body 20. However, this is not limiting. The contents C may be stored in an inner bag separate from the container 10, and the contents C may be frozen and stored in this inner bag. The inner bag containing the contents C may then be stored in the above-described container 10, and a thawing operation using the liquid 51 may be performed. In this example, the container 10 may be used only during the thawing operation. Even in such a usage example, adhesion of the liquid 51 to the removal opening of the container 10 is effectively suppressed, and therefore adhesion of the liquid 51 to the inner bag when removing the inner bag from the container 10 can be effectively prevented.

[0123] Furthermore, in the above example, the contained item C contains a biological material, but this is not a limitation. Even for various contained items C that do not contain a biological material, it may be desirable to prevent contamination with, adhesion of, or contact with the liquid used in heat exchange. For example, when exchanging heat between food and heated or cooled water, it may be desirable to prevent water from adhering to the food. The container 10 according to the embodiment described above can be applied to various contained items C, not limited to contained items C containing a biological material, and can effectively prevent the liquid 51 from contacting, adhering to, or being mixed into the contained item C during heat exchange with the liquid 51.

[0124] Furthermore, in the above-described specific example, a method has been described in which the container 10 is used to thaw the frozen contents C by heat exchange with the liquid 51. However, the method of using the container 10 is not limited to this. As an example, the contents C can be frozen by heat exchange with the liquid 51. The contents C to be frozen can be a biological material, in particular a cell suspension containing cells cultured under sterile conditions or cells before culture.

[0125] As an example, a method for freezing a cell suspension using a container 10 will be described. First, a container 10 having an opening 28 as shown in Figures 34 to 36 is floated on a liquid 51 with the second end 24 facing upward. In this case, the liquid 51 is not particularly limited as long as it can freeze the cell suspension, and is, for example, liquid nitrogen.

[0126] The container 10 floats with the second end 24 facing upward even when floating on the liquid 51 that freezes the contents C. Therefore, by using the container 10, adhesion of the liquid 51 to the opening 28 can be suppressed, and contamination of the contents C by the liquid 51 can be suppressed. When the liquid 51 is liquid nitrogen, the density of the liquid nitrogen is ρ N It is preferable that the following formula (6) is satisfied. When the above formula (4) or formula (6) is satisfied, the container 10 can be floated on the liquid 51 more stably, and adhesion of the liquid 51 to the opening 28 can be suppressed. Note that, when the density ρ of liquid nitrogen is Nis the density of liquid nitrogen at the triple point, e.g., 0.807 g / cm 3 is.

number

[0127] Next, droplets of the cell suspension are dropped into the interior of the container 10 through the opening 28 using an inkjet head, a spray, or the like. As a result, the cell suspension is cooled and frozen by coming into contact with the container 10, etc. In this case, the cell suspension may be frozen while maintaining the shape of droplets. In this way, the cell suspension can be frozen while being supplied to the interior of the container 10.

[0128] By sealing the opening 28 after freezing the cell suspension, the cell suspension can be stored in a frozen state in the container 10. In this case, the container 10 containing the frozen cell suspension can be stored in a low-temperature environment of, for example, −196° C. or higher and −150° C. or lower.

[0129] According to the above-described method for freezing a cell suspension, droplets of the cell suspension are created using an inkjet head or the like, and each droplet is cooled, allowing the cell suspension to be frozen in a short time. Furthermore, freezing the cell suspension, sealing the container 10, and storing the frozen cell suspension in a low-temperature environment can be performed using a single container 10, thereby shortening the time required to freeze and store the cell suspension. This reduces the risk of cells being damaged by external temperatures before freezing and storing the cell suspension. This allows for a reduction in the amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or glycerol, which have traditionally been added to cell suspensions to reduce cell damage during freezing. Alternatively, the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide or glycerol is no longer necessary. This reduces the cytotoxicity and effects on the undifferentiated state of cells that result from adding a large amount of dimethyl sulfoxide or glycerol to the cell suspension.

[0130] When the container 10 is used in the method for freezing a cell suspension described above, the first end 23 of the container 10 may be flat, as shown in FIGS. 34 to 36. Furthermore, the inner surface of the container 10 near the first end 23 (the surface marked with reference numeral 27a in FIG. 36) may have a plurality of depressions recessed toward the outside of the container 10, although this is not shown. As an example, the depressions have a circular shape when observed from the second end 24 of the container 10. In this case, the diameter of the depressions when observed from the second end 24 of the container 10 is preferably 1 mm or less, more preferably 0.5 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.2 mm or less. When the inner surface 27a of the container 10 near the first end 23 has the depressions, if the cell suspension is frozen while maintaining its droplet shape, the frozen droplets will be trapped in the depressions, suppressing their movement. This can prevent collisions between frozen droplets and damage to the cell suspension during transportation of the container 10, for example. [Example]

[0131] Next, the present disclosure will be explained in more detail using examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to the description of the following examples as long as it does not depart from the gist of the disclosure.

[0132] Example 1 In Example 1, a container 5 containing contents, which includes a container 10 having the configuration shown in Figures 1 to 4 and a frozen content C contained inside the container 10, was floated on a liquid 51 as shown in Figure 8. Then, the container 5 containing contents was floated on the liquid 51 in a state where the second end 24 of the container body 20 was not immersed in the liquid 51, and an evaluation was made as to whether the container 5 containing contents could float stably.

[0133] The container 10 was made of polyethylene. The volume V1 of the expanding portion 40 divided by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a was 5.44 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) The proportion X (%) represented by the above formula (2) was 9%.

[0134] The liquid 51 in which the container 10 floated was water at 37°C. The density ρ of the liquid 51 was 1 g / cm 3 In this case, the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above equation (4), is 1.05(g).

[0135] The content C was frozen cells obtained by freezing a cell suspension. The mass of the content C contained inside the container 10 was 1.00 (g).

[0136] Example 2 In Example 2, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 1, except for the points described below, was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 to determine whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51. In Example 2, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connection surface 22a was 1.09 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) The percentage X (%) expressed by the above formula (2) was 2%. The value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 1.00 (g).

[0137] Example 3 In Example 3, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 1, except for the points described below, was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51 using the same method as in Example 1. In Example 3, a container 10 having the configuration shown in Figures 19 and 20 was used. The value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connection surface 22a was 12.94 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) The percentage X (%) expressed by the above formula (2) was 39%. The value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 9.75 (g).

[0138] Example 4 In Example 4, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 3, except for the points described below, was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51 using the same method as in Example 3. In Example 4, the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above equation (4), was 9.59 (g). In addition, the mass of the contents C contained inside the container 10 was 2.00 (g).

[0139] Example 5 In Example 5, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 3, except for the points described below, was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51 using the same method as in Example 3. In Example 5, the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above equation (4), was 9.70 (g). In addition, the mass of the contents C contained inside the container 10 was 5.00 (g).

[0140] Example 6 In Example 6, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 3, except for the points described below, was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3 to determine whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51. In Example 6, the proportion X (%) represented by the above formula (2) was 11%. Furthermore, the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 5.12 (g).

[0141] Example 7 In Example 7, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 6, except for the points described below, was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51 using the same method as in Example 6. In Example 7, the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above equation (4), was 4.96 (g). In addition, the mass of the contents C contained inside the container 10 was 2.00 (g).

[0142] Example 8 In Example 8, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 6, except for the points described below, was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51 using the same method as in Example 6. In Example 8, the value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above equation (4), was 5.07 (g). In addition, the mass of the contents C contained inside the container 10 was 5.00 (g).

[0143] (Evaluation Results of Examples 1 to 8) In all of Examples 1 to 8, it was confirmed that the container 5 containing the contents floated on the liquid 51 with the second end 24 of the container body 20 not immersed in the liquid 51. Therefore, it was found that the container 10 of the present disclosure inhibits adhesion of the liquid 51 to the intended removal opening portion 26 located on the second end 24 side of the container body 20.

[0144] The following evaluation was further performed to evaluate the stability of the containers 5 containing contents of Examples 1 to 8, particularly when floating on turbulent liquid 51. First, a water bath (manufactured by AS ONE Corporation, product name "Thermal Robo TR-2AR") was prepared, which had a water tank filled with water as liquid 51 and a jet pump (discharge rate: 10 L / min). Next, the jet pump was operated to turbulently create waves in the water tank. Next, the containers 5 containing contents were floated on the water surface approximately 25 cm away from the jet pump, so that the second end 24 was not submerged in the water, and the ability of the containers 5 to float stably was evaluated. The water temperature was 37°C.

[0145] As a result of evaluation on the rippling liquid 51, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connection surface 22a was 5 (mm 3 / mm 2 ), and the container 5 of Example 2, in which the ratio X (%) was less than 5%, did not float stably, and the second end 24 came into contact with water. On the other hand, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a was 5 (mm 3 / mm 2) or more and the proportion X (%) is 5% or more, the containers 5 containing the contents of Examples 1 and 3 to 8 floated stably. Therefore, according to the container 10 of the present disclosure, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a is 5 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) or by making the ratio X (%) 5% or more, it has been found that the container 5 containing the contents can be floated particularly stably on the liquid 51 with the second end 24 of the container body 20 not immersed in the liquid 51.

[0146] Example 9 In Example 9, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 1, except for the points described below, was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 to determine whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51. In Example 9, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connection surface 22a was 9.45 (mm 3 / mm 2 ). The ratio X (%) represented by the above formula (2) was 7%. The value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 6.67 (g). The mass of the contents C contained inside the container 10 was 5.00 (g). Note that the container 10 of Example 9 does not have the expansion assisting portion 42, and therefore the ratio Y (%) represented by the above formula (3) was 0%.

[0147] In evaluating whether a container 5 containing contents can stably float on liquid 51, the following evaluation method was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents can maintain a state in which the second end 24 of the container body 20 is not immersed in liquid 51, particularly when the container 5 containing contents floating on liquid 51 is tilted. The container 5 containing contents was immersed in liquid 51 so that the extension direction d1 of the container body 20 and a line perpendicular to the interface 51a of the liquid 51 formed a certain angle, and the container 5 containing contents was floated on liquid 51. Then, it was determined whether the container 5 containing contents could float on liquid 51 for 10 minutes or more while maintaining a state in which the second end 24 of the container body 20 was not immersed in liquid 51. This procedure was performed multiple times while changing the angle formed between the extension direction d1 of the container body 20 and a line perpendicular to the interface 51a of the liquid 51 when the container 5 containing contents was immersed in liquid 51. Hereinafter, when the container 5 containing the contents is immersed in the liquid 51, the angle formed by the direction d1 in which the container body 20 extends and a line perpendicular to the interface 51a of the liquid 51 will also be referred to as angle θ2.

[0148] Example 10 In Example 10, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 9, except for the points described below, was used to evaluate whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51 using the same method as in Example 9. In Example 10, a container 10 having a spreading assisting portion 42 of the form shown in Figures 21 and 22 was used. The value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connecting surface 22a was 11.10 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) The percentage X (%) expressed by the above formula (2) was 8%. The value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 6.69 (g). The percentage Y (%) expressed by the above formula (3) was 1%.

[0149] Example 11 In Example 11, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 10, except for the points described below, was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 to determine whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51. In Example 11, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connection surface 22a was 12.75 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) The percentage X (%) expressed by the above formula (2) was 9%. The value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 6.72 (g). The percentage Y (%) expressed by the above formula (3) was 2%.

[0150] Example 12 In Example 12, a container 5 containing contents similar to the container 5 of Example 10, except for the points described below, was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 to determine whether the container 5 containing contents stably floats on the liquid 51. In Example 12, the value obtained by dividing the volume V1 by the area of ​​the connection surface 22a was 17.70 (mm 3 / mm 2 ) The percentage X (%) expressed by the above formula (2) was 12%. The value of ρ(V1+V2)-W1, which is the left side of the above formula (4), was 6.76 (g). The percentage Y (%) expressed by the above formula (3) was 6%.

[0151] (Evaluation Results of Examples 9 to 12) In Example 9, when the angle θ2 was 0°, the container 5 containing the contents floated on the liquid 51 while maintaining a state in which the second end 24 of the container body 20 was not immersed in the liquid 51, but this state could not be maintained when the angle θ2 was 3°. In Example 10, when the angle θ2 was 3°, the container 5 containing the contents floated on the liquid 51 while maintaining the state, but this state could not be maintained when the angle θ2 was 5°. In Example 11, when the angle θ2 was 5°, the container 5 containing the contents floated on the liquid 51 while maintaining the state, but this state could not be maintained when the angle θ2 was 8°. In Example 12, the container 5 containing the contents could maintain the state even when the angle θ2 was 8°.

[0152] From the above evaluation results, it was confirmed that a container 5 containing contents having the spreading assisting portion 42 can maintain the second end 24 of the container body 20 not immersed in the liquid 51 even when tilted to a greater extent than a container 5 containing contents without the spreading assisting portion 42. It was also confirmed that a container 5 containing contents having a container 10 with a larger proportion Y (%) can maintain the second end 24 of the container body 20 not immersed in the liquid 51 even when tilted to a greater extent. Therefore, it was found that with the container 10 of the present disclosure, by increasing the proportion Y (%), the container 5 containing contents can be floated particularly stably on the liquid 51 with the second end 24 of the container body 20 not immersed in the liquid 51.

[0153] The following evaluation was further performed to evaluate the stability of the containers 5 containing contents of Examples 9 to 12, particularly when floating on turbulent liquid 51. First, a water bath (manufactured by AS ONE Corporation, product name "Thermal Robo TR-2AR") was prepared, which had a water tank filled with water as liquid 51 and a jet pump (discharge rate: 10 L / min). Next, the jet pump was operated to turbulently create waves in the water tank. Next, the containers 5 containing contents were floated around the jet pump, ensuring that the second end 24 was not submerged in water, and it was evaluated whether the containers 5 containing contents could stably float. The water temperature was 37°C.

[0154] As a result of evaluation on rippling liquid 51, container 5 containing contents of Example 9, which did not have spreading assisting portion 42, did not float stably, and second end 24 came into contact with water. On the other hand, containers 5 containing contents of Examples 10 to 12, which did have spreading assisting portion 42, floated stably. This shows that spreading assisting portion 42 allows container 5 containing contents to float particularly stably on liquid 51, with second end 24 of container body 20 not immersed in liquid 51. [Explanation of symbols]

[0155] C. Contents 5. Container containing contents 10 containers 11 Lid material 12 Marking section 13 Foam holder 14 Grip part 20 Container body 201 Contour 21 Storage unit 21a Recess 21b Storage details 22 Connection 22a Connection surface 23 First end 24 Second end 24a side 24b Thin wall part 25 Seal part 26. Removal opening planned section 27 Wall 28 Opening 29 Seal part 40 Spreading section 41 Spreading main body 42 Spreading auxiliary part 43 Recess 44 Pouch 44a Inside the bag 50 Liquid Holding Container 51 Liquid 51a Interface 60 String section 71 First tangent to container body 72 Second tangent to container body 73 Container 1st connection 74 Container 2nd connection

Claims

1. A container for containing biological material, a cylindrical container body having a first end and a second end, at least the first end being closed; a widening portion connected to the connecting portion of the container body, the container body has a storage portion located closer to the first end than the connection portion in the extending direction of the container body and configured to store an object therein; In a cross section of the container that passes through the connection portion and is perpendicular to the direction in which the container body extends, the minimum value that can be taken by the distance between a first container tangent line that is tangent to the contour of the container and a second container tangent line that is tangent to the contour of the container and parallel to the first container tangent line is greater than the minimum value that can be taken by the distance between the first container body tangent line that is tangent to the contour of the container body and a second container body tangent line that is tangent to the contour of the container body and parallel to the first container body tangent line, The container further comprises a marker portion located closer to the second end than the connection portion in the extending direction of the container body.

2. A container for containing biological material, a cylindrical container body having a first end and a second end, at least the first end being closed; a widening portion connected to the connecting portion of the container body, the container body has a storage portion located closer to the first end than the connection portion in the extending direction of the container body and configured to store an object therein; When a first tangent to the container body that is tangent to the outline of the container body and a second tangent to the container body that is tangent to the outline of the container body and is parallel to the first tangent to the container body are drawn in a cross section of the container that passes through the connecting portion and is perpendicular to the extending direction of the container body, the first tangent to the container body and the second tangent to the container body cross the widening portion, The container further comprises a marker portion located closer to the second end than the connection portion in the extending direction of the container body.

3. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the marking portion is a groove-shaped portion provided on the outer periphery of the container body.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a gripping portion that is connected to the container body on the second end side of the connecting portion in the extension direction of the container body and that protrudes away from the container body.

5. The container according to claim 4 , wherein the gripping portion is located closer to the second end than the marking portion in the extending direction of the container body.

6. a ring-shaped foam container connected to the inner surface of the container body and protruding toward the second end in the extension direction of the container body; The container according to claim 1 , wherein the marking portion overlaps with the foam container portion in the extending direction of the container body.

7. 7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the expanding portion has a main body portion that expands in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the container body, and an auxiliary portion that is connected to the end of the main body portion that is away from the container body.

8. The volume of the spreading part is V １ The total volume of the connection part including the inside of the container body and the volume of the storage part including the inside of the container body is V ２ , the volume of the expansion assisting portion is V ３ The container according to claim 7, wherein the ratio Y (%) represented by the following formula (3) is 1% or more: [Equation 1]

9. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the expansion portion has a bag-shaped portion containing contents that expand when heated.

10. The container according to claim 9 , wherein the bag-shaped portion is configured to stand upright toward a side away from the container body when the contents are heated and expand.

11. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the container body has an opening portion that communicates the storage portion with the outside, the opening portion being located closer to the second end than the connecting portion.

Images