Temperature controlled container and related methods
AssigneeCryoport, Inc.
InventorsBret Bollinger, Ben Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage container is provided. The container may be insertable into a cold-storage dewar or other cold-storage container and may have multiple compartments. A payload item may be inserted into a tray and placed in one compartment for cold storage. Temperature buffering material may be inserted into one or more other compartment to provide for increased holding time at or near a desired temperature.
Claims21
A storage container comprising:
- an external wall comprising a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container;
- and
- a pair of inner walls, each comprising a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner walls dividing the cylinder into sections,
- wherein an outer void is defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall, the outer void configured to receive a temperature buffering material, and
- wherein an inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive an item rack to receive and secure an item in the item rack.
A method of using a storage container for cold storage of an item, wherein the storage container has (i) an external wall comprising a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container and (ii) a pair of inner walls, each comprising a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner walls dividing the cylinder into sections, the method comprising:
- inserting a temperature buffering material into an outer void of the storage container defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall and configured to receive the temperature buffering material;
- inserting an item rack having an item received and secured therein, into the inner void;
- and
- placing the storage container into a dewar.
A storage container comprising:
- an external wall having a closed cross-sectional shape in at least one plane and defining an outer periphery of the storage container;
- and
- a pair of inner walls, each comprising a plane between two locations on the external wall, the inner walls dividing the closed cross-sectional shape into a plurality of sections,
- wherein an outer void is defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall, the outer void configured to receive a temperature buffering material, and
- wherein an inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive an item rack to receive and secure an item in the item rack
An item rack for supporting an item in a container, the item rack comprising:
- a handle;
- a guiding section adjacent to the handle and comprising a pair of narrowing incline faces to guide an item into the item rack;
- a compression section adjacent to the guiding section and providing a pair of parallel compression faces to ameliorate dislodging of the item from the item rack;
- an enlarging section adjacent to the compression section and comprising a pair of widening inclined faces;
- a retaining section adjacent to the enlarging section and providing a pair of parallel retaining faces spaced more widely apart than the pair of parallel compression faces;
- and
- a floor joining the parallel retaining faces together and providing a lowermost portion of the item rack disposed opposite from the handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.