Flexible cryogenic container system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9920970-B2
Application number	US-201113183045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2011
Priority date	Jan 20, 2009
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a cryogenic container for storing and/or transporting a medium, in particular a biochemical and/or medical product. The cryogenic container comprises at least one primary container, which has at least one flexible film bag. The flexible film bag is designed to receive the medium. The cryogenic container furthermore comprises at least one secondary container, which at least partially surrounds the primary container and is preferably at least partially flexible. The secondary container has at least one opening for insertion of the primary container. The secondary container furthermore has at least one preferably at least partially flexible outer sleeve. The secondary container furthermore has at least one heat exchanger space, which is arranged between the outer sleeve and the flexible film bag and receives at least one fluid heat exchange medium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cryogenic container for storing and/or transporting a medium, comprising:
a primary container formed as a flexible film bag configured to receive the medium; and
a secondary container at least partially surrounding the primary container, wherein the secondary container is at least partially flexible and has at least one openable and closable opening through which the primary container is configured to be inserted into and removed from the secondary container, wherein the secondary container is configured to adapt completely or partially to the shape of the filled primary container introduced into the secondary container, the secondary container comprising an at least partially flexible outer sleeve and an at least partially flexible inner sleeve and a heat exchanger space arranged between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve contacting the flexible film bag, the heat exchanger space comprising an enclosed channel between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve for receiving a fluid heat exchange material for freezing and/or thawing the medium, and wherein the secondary container comprises at least one first connector for delivery of the fluid heat exchange material to the channel and at least one second connector for removal of the fluid heat exchange material from the channel, whereby the fluid heat exchange material is configured to flow through the channel and around the primary container.

2. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , wherein the primary container comprises a disposable film bag.

3. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger space comprises a spacer element arranged therein, wherein the spacer element is configured to permit the fluid heat transfer material to flow through the spacer element, and wherein the spacer element maintains a spacing between the outer sleeve and the flexible film bag.

4. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve of the secondary container comprises at least one metal film and/or at least one plastic film and/or a paper film coated with a metallic material.

5. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve are connected to each other in at least one area to close off the heat exchanger space.

6. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , wherein the secondary container further comprises an element that controls or regulates filling of the heat exchanger space.

7. The cryogenic container of claim 6 , wherein the element comprises a float valve.

8. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , further comprising a substantially dimensionally stable outer container, wherein the outer container receives the secondary container having the primary container received in the secondary container, the outer container shielding the secondary and primary containers from external mechanical action.

9. The cryogenic container of claim 8 , wherein the outer container comprises a corrugated board.

10. The cryogenic container of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to reversibly couple the cryogenic container to at least one supply device for supplying the fluid heat exchange material to the cryogenic container.

11. A method for storing and/or transporting a medium using a cryogenic container, comprising:
providing a primary container formed as a flexible film bag configured to receive the medium;
providing an at least partially flexible secondary container having a flexible outer sleeve an at least partially flexible inner sleeve, and an opening through which the primary container is configured to be inserted into and removed from the secondary container;
inserting the primary container into the interior space of the secondary container through the opening such that the secondary container at least partially surrounds the primary container;
arranging a heat exchanger space between the flexible outer sleeve and the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve contacting the flexible film bag, the heat exchanger space comprising an enclosed channel between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve for receiving a fluid heat exchange material for freezing and/or thawing the medium;
introducing the medium into the primary container, wherein the secondary container adapts completely or partially to the shape of the primary container introduced into the secondary container; and
conveying a heat exchange material into or through the heat exchanger space for freezing and/or thawing the medium;
wherein the secondary container comprises at least one first connector for delivery of the fluid heat exchange material to the channel and at least one second connector for removal of the fluid heat exchange material from the channel, whereby the fluid heat exchange material is configured to flow through the channel and around the primary container.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising introducing the secondary container into at least one substantially dimensionally stable outer container, whereby the outer container shields the secondary container with the primary container received therein against external mechanical action.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising freezing and then storing and/or transporting the medium, wherein the heat transfer medium conveyed has a temperature below the freezing point of the medium.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, after the storing and/or transporting of the medium, introducing into the heat exchanger space a second heat transfer material with a temperature above the freezing point of the medium.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing the medium from the primary container and then disposing of the primary container and/or the secondary container and/or an outer container.

16. A secondary container for use in a cryogenic container having a primary container formed as a flexible film bag configured to receive a medium, the secondary container comprising:
an at least partially flexible material and having at least one openable and closable opening through which the primary container is configured to be inserted into and removed from the secondary container;
an at least partially flexible outer sleeve and an at least partially flexible inner sleeve;
wherein, when the primary container is placed in the secondary container:
(a) a heat exchanger space is formed between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve contacting the flexible film bag, the heat exchanger space comprising an enclosed channel between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve for receiving at least one fluid heat exchange material for freezing and/or thawing the medium; and
(b) the secondary container adapts completely or partially to the shape of the filled primary container;

and wherein the secondary container comprises at least one first connector for delivery of the fluid heat exchange material to the channel and at least one second connector for removal of the fluid heat exchange material from the channel, whereby the fluid heat exchange material is configured to flow through the channel and around the primary container.

17. The secondary container of claim 16 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises at least one metal film and/or at least one plastic film and/or a paper film coated with a metallic material.

18. A cryogenic container for storing and/or transporting a medium, comprising:
a primary container having a flexible film bag configured to receive the medium; and
a secondary container at least partially surrounding the primary container, wherein the secondary container is at

Assignees

• Arnitz Theo
• Liebig Carsten
• Hoffmann La Roche

Inventors

• Arnitz Theo
• Liebig Carsten

Classifications

• F25D2331/8014

  for medical use · CPC title

• A01N1/0257

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A01N1/0263

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• F25D3/107

  portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally · CPC title

• A01N1/0268

  Human Necessities · mapped topic