Device for transporting graft

A device to be detachably attached to a container that possesses an inside surface upstanding from a bottom surface and an open end opposite the bottom surface, and that contains a graft, the device comprising:

• an annular member having a through hole passing through and opening to opposite surfaces of the annular member so that the through hole defines a first space surrounded by the annular member, the opposite surfaces of the annular member being first and second surfaces, the annular member having an outer periphery, the annular member being positionable in the container so that the first surface of the annular member faces the bottom surface of the container and the graft is located in the first space;
• a lid positionable at the open end of the container to seal the container, the lid being positionable at the open end of the container after the annular member is positioned in the container so that the annular member is interposed between the lid and the bottom surface of the container;
• the lid being configured so that when the lid is positioned at the open end of the container to seal the container, a second space exists between the lid and the inside surface of the container;
• a protective member configured to be positioned on the second surface of the annular member so that the protective member is between the annular member and the lid to protect the first space, the protective member having an outer periphery, the protective member being configured so that when the protective member is positioned on the second surface of the annular member, the protective member completely covers the through hole in the annular member to protect the first space while the outer periphery of the protective member is located other than radially outwardly of the outer periphery of the annular member, the protective member being made of a fluid impermeable material so that gas and liquid do not pass through the protective member;
• and;
• a sealing member configured to be interposed between an upper end of an upstanding wall of the container and an inner surface of the lid.

A method comprising;

• positioning an annular member in an interior of a container by introducing the annular member through an open end of the container, the container including a bottom surface positioned opposite the open end and an inside surface extending away for the bottom surface so that the interior of the container is surrounded by the bottom surface and the inside surface, the annular member being configured so that the annular member surrounds a first space and the annular member being located in the container so that a graft and liquid are in the first space, the annular member having oppositely facing first and second surfaces, the first surface of the annular member facing towards the bottom surface of the container and the second surface of the annular member facing away from the bottom surface of the container;
• positioning a protective member on the second surface of the annular member so that the protective member overlies the first space and covers the through hole in the annular member to protect the first space, the protective member being made of a fluid impermeable material so that gas and liquid do not pass through the protective member;
• positioning a lid on the open end of the container to seal the container while the annular member and the protective member are positioned in the interior of the container so that the annular member is interposed between the protective member and the bottom surface of the container while the protective member is interposed between the lid and the annular member, and a seal positioned between and in contact with an upper edge of a side wall of the container and an inner surface of the lid;
• and
• the lid being positioned on the open end of the container so that a second space exists between the lid and the inside surface of the container.

A cell-culture transporting device comprising:

• a container having an interior in which is positioned liquid and a sheet-shaped cell culture, the container including a bottom surface and a side wall extending upwardly away from the bottom surface, the side wall possessing an inner surface so that the bottom surface and the inner surface of the side wall surround the interior of the container, the container also including an open end;
• an annular member positioned in the container, the annular member having a through hole passing through the annular member so that opposite open ends of the through hole open to respective opposite surfaces of the annular member, the opposite surfaces of the annular member including first and second surfaces, the first surface of the annular member facing towards the bottom surface of the container and the second surface of the annular member facing away from the bottom surface of the container, the sheet-shaped cell culture being positioned in the through hole in the annular member so that the sheet-shaped cell culture is located between the open ends of the through hole;
• a protective member overlying the second surface of the annular member, the protective member being made of a fluid impermeable material so that gas and liquid do not pass through the protective member;
• a lid positioned at and closing the open end of the container to seal the interior of the container;
• a seal positioned between and in contact with an upper edge of the side wall of the container and an inner surface of the lid;
• and
• a second space in the interior of the container between the lid and the inner side wall surface of the container.