Shock absorbing device to protect cryopreserved biological material

Inventors

McCormick, Bruce

Assignees

Savsu Techonologies Inc

Abstract

A shock absorbing device to protect cryogenically frozen biological material includes an outer sleeve and a foam sleeve. The outer sleeve defines an interior volume and has an opening configured to pass a biological material container into the interior volume. The foam sleeve is in the interior volume and has an opening and an interior cavity. The opening of the foam sleeve is aligned with the opening of the outer sleeve to pass the biological material container into the interior cavity. In another embodiment, the shock absorbing device includes a first layer, a foam layer, and a liner layer to retain the foam layer. A first side of the foam layer is adjacent and facing a second side of the first layer. A first side of the liner layer is adjacent and facing a second side of the foam layer.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a cryogenically compatible shock absorbing device to protect cryogenically frozen biological material containers during storage and shipping. The device includes an outer sleeve defining an interior volume and an opening configured to pass a biological material container into the interior volume, with a foam sleeve positioned in the interior volume such that an opening of the foam sleeve is aligned with the opening of the outer sleeve to pass the biological material container into an interior cavity of the foam sleeve.

The disclosure describes shock dampening using a flexible foam at ambient temperature that conforms around the frozen biological material container and then becomes rigid or brittle upon cryogenic freezing. Microfractures in the foam, including reticulated foam edge or strand breakage, absorb or vary shock and vibration so that force transmission to the cryogenically frozen biological material is prevented or reduced. The foam constructions include reticulated foam and non-reticulated foam, with optional configurations in which foam encirclement can be continuous or partially encircling using continuous foam or separated foam pieces or panels.

In additional embodiments, the device uses layered constructions in which a foam layer is retained by a liner layer, and a liquid-absorption liner may be included. Foam layers or foam panels can be enclosed using liner materials, including optional inner liners or pouches that retain foam debris. The outer sleeve can include an opening and a foldable outer closing flap with tabs and handles, and foam panels can be enclosed by panel liners that may be adjacent to a liquid-absorbing liner for regulatory or infectious-substance shipment.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims cover three structural categories of shock absorbing devices, with the inventive features centered on an outer sleeve opening for receiving a biological material container and reticulated-foam shock absorption, either as a single foam sleeve, a layered foam/liner/absorption stack, or removable reticulated foam panels enclosed within liners.

Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is anchored by an outer sleeve with an opening to receive a biological material container into an interior volume, combined with reticulated foam shock absorption implemented as an aligned foam sleeve cavity, as a retained foam layer with an attached liner and an intervening liquid-absorption layer, or as removable reticulated foam panels enclosed by liner structures.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications