Packaging system for tissue grafts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11375710-B2
Application number	US-202016903663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jan 10, 2017
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A tissue graft container is provided having an interior space and including a vent which allows fluid (liquid and vapor) to escape from the container during drying of the tissue graft. The vent may be one or more apertures, one or more elongated openings, or a combination thereof, through one or more components of the container. A tissue graft packaging system having a retainer including first and second members with respective first and second pluralities of channels, and configured to removeably interconnect the first and second members in a closed configuration. The first and second pluralities of channels create a continuous interior space. The retainer further includes a vent, such as apertures, slits, etc., through one or both of the first and second retainers, for allowing moisture to escape from the retainer during the drying of a tissue graft contained within the continuous interior space of the retainer.

First claim

We claim:

1. A tissue graft container, comprising:
at least a first component having first engagement means and a first interior surface;
at least a second component having second engagement means and a second interior surface, wherein the at least first component and the at least second component cooperate to engage one another, via the first and second engagement means, to form a closed configuration in which the tissue graft container has an exterior surface facing an exterior environment;
an interior space sized and shaped for containing a tissue graft and which is formed by the at least first component and the at least second component when in their closed configuration, wherein the first and second interior surfaces face the interior space; and
a vent comprising an aperture which extends either through the first component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof, or through the second component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof, and providing fluid communication between the interior space of the tissue graft container and the exterior environment.

2. The tissue graft container of claim 1 , wherein the vent comprises a plurality of apertures, each of which extends either through the first component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof, or through the second component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof.

3. The tissue graft container of claim 1 , wherein the vent comprises:
a first plurality of apertures, each of which extends through the first component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof; and
a second plurality of apertures, each of which extends through the second component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof.

4. A tissue graft container, comprising:
at least a first component having a first interior surface and a first engagement means thereon and at least a second component having a second interior surface and a second engagement means, wherein the at least first component and the at least second component cooperate to engage one another, via the first and second engagement means, to form a closed configuration in which the tissue graft container has an exterior surface facing an exterior environment and,
an interior space sized and shaped for containing a tissue graft and which is formed by the at least first component and the at least second component when in their closed configuration, wherein the first and second interior surfaces face the interior space;
a vent comprising an elongated opening which extends either through the first component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof, or through the second component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof, and providing fluid communication between the interior space of the tissue graft container and the exterior environment.

5. The tissue graft container of claim 4 , wherein the vent comprises a plurality of elongated openings, each of which extends either through the first component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof, or through the second component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof.

6. The tissue graft container of claim 4 , wherein the vent comprises:
a first plurality of elongated openings, each of which extends through the first component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof; and
a second plurality of elongated openings, each of which extends through the second component, from the interior surface to the exterior surface thereof.

7. A tissue graft packaging system comprising:
a retainer, said retainer including
a first member having a first inner surface including first engagement means, a first plurality of channel sidewalls extending along said first inner surface, a first plurality of channels defined by said first plurality of channel sidewalls, and a first outer surface;
a second member having a second inner surface including second engagement means configured to removably engage said first engagement means, a second plurality of channel sidewalls extending along said second inner surface, a second plurality of channels defined by said second plurality of channel sidewalls, and a second outer surface; and
a vent on said first member and extending from said first inner surface to said first outer surface, or on said second member and extending from said second inner surface to said second outer surface, or both,

wherein said first plurality of channel sidewalls and said second plurality of channel sidewalls are configured to form a continuous interior space between said first and second members, and wherein, when said first and second members are assembled, said vent is in fluid communication with said first and second plurality of channels and said continuous interior space and allows moisture to escape from said retainer.

8. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 7 , wherein said vent comprises a plurality of apertures, each of which extends from said first inner surface to said first outer surface of said first member, or from said second inner surface to said second outer surface of said second member.

9. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 8 , wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged in one or more rows, each of which extends across at least a portion of said first channels of said first member, or across at least a portion of said second channels of said second member.

10. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged in two rows, each of which extends across all of said first channels of said first member, or across all of said second channels of said second member.

11. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged in four rows,
wherein a first and second of said four rows are evenly spaced on said first member and each of said first and second of said four rows each extends across all of said first channels, and
wherein a third and fourth of said four rows are evenly spaced on said second member and each of said third and fourth of said four rows each extends across all of said second channels.

12. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 7 , wherein said vent comprises one or more elongated openings, each of which extends from said first inner surface to said first outer surface of said first member, or from said second inner surface to said second outer surface of said second member.

13. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 12 , wherein each of said one or more elongated openings extends across at least a portion of said first channels of said first member or across at least a portion of said second channels of said second member.

14. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 13 , wherein said one or more elongated openings comprises two slits which are evenly spaced on said first member or on said second member.

15. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 13 , wherein said one or more elongated openings comprises four slits,
wherein a first and second of said four slits are evenly spaced on said first member and each of said first and second of said four slits each extends across all of said first channels, and
wherein a third and fourth of said four slits are evenly spaced on said second member and each of said third and fourth of said four slits each extends across all of said second channels.

16. The tissue graft packaging system of claim 7 , wherein said first member includes a first end and an opposed second end, said first

Assignees

• Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation

Inventors

• Wu Kevin
• Poyss Elizabeth Ann
• Nilsen Todd
• Ling Alison

Classifications

• A01N1/147

  Carriers for immersion in cryogenic fluid for slow freezing or vitrification · CPC title

• A01N1/162 Primary

  Temperature processes, e.g. following predefined temperature changes over time · CPC title

• A01N1/146 Primary

  Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving · CPC title

• B65D2205/00

  Venting means · CPC title

• B65B9/02

  Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs · CPC title