Packaging tube for a predetermined volume of a biological substance to be stored at a low temperature and system including same
Inventors
Ehrsam, Alain • EHRSAM, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE LAURENCE MARIE EVELYNE, null • Lesieur, Francis • EHRSAM, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE PHILIPPE JEAN PAUL, null • EHRSAM, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE LAURENT CHRISTOPHE, null
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8266872-B2
Publication Date
2012-09-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to a packaging tube for a pre-determined volume of a biological substance to be stored at a low temperature and to a system including same. The inventive packaging tube comprises a portion (2) for receiving the volume and an annular end portion (3) designed to be more easily crushed by pinching than the receiving portion (2) and to adopt a flattened position in which two lips (30) are in contact with one another. In addition, the annular end portion (3) is designed such that the lips (30) are secured to one another in order to form a seal (31) on the tube. The system includes at least one such tube and a jaw welding device designed to move the annular portion (3) into the flattened position and to weld the lips (30) to one another in order to form the seal (31).
Core Innovation
The problem is to package a predetermined volume of biological substance to be stored at low temperature, while providing better contamination protection than stopper-based solutions at cryogenic temperatures. The described tube is for inside diameter at least equal to 6 mm and is closed at one end and opened at the opposite end for introducing the predetermined volume, and includes a portion for receiving the volume with a wall having a predetermined thickness.
An annular end portion is included with a wall having at least a part of its length that is thinner than the wall of the receiving portion. The annular end portion is configured to be crushed by clamping more easily than the receiving portion and to assume a flattened position in which two lips at outer ends of the annular end portion are in contact with each other, and the lips are fastened together to form a hermetic seal of the tube.
The concept is extended by a jaw-welding system in which a welding device has jaws to clamp and crush the annular end portion to form the flattened position and to fasten the lips together for the hermetic seal. Variants include heat welding or an UV-activated glue sealing approach, and optional features such as an annular groove, a localized sampling area easier to perforate, and an identification element housed in resin and/or through viewing windows.
Claims Coverage
The document presents independent claim coverage for a low-temperature biological packaging tube with an annular end portion designed for crush-forming a flattened, hermetically sealed state. It further includes complementary claim coverage for a packaging system using a jaw welding device to clamp and crush the annular end portion to create the sealed flattened lips. Main inventive features are extracted below for each independent claim identified in the partial content.
Tube with annular crushable end for hermetic seal
A tube for packaging a predetermined volume of biological substance to be stored at a low temperature, of inside diameter at least equal to 6 mm, closed at one end and having an opening at the opposite end for introducing the predetermined volume, including a portion for receiving the volume, and an annular end portion configured to be crushed by clamping more easily than the receiving portion and to assume a flattened position in which two lips at outer ends of the annular end portion are in contact with each other, the annular end portion being such that the lips are fastened together to form a hermetic seal of the tube.
Packaging system using jaws to form flattened hermetic seal
A system packaging a predetermined volume of biological substance for low-temperature storage using a tube and a welding device having jaws, wherein the jaws flatten an annular portion and fasten the lips together to form a hermetic seal.
Across the independent claim focus shown, the core coverage is the structural design of a low-temperature biological packaging tube with a thinner annular end portion that can be crushed to a flattened lip-contact position to enable a hermetic seal, optionally paired with a jaws welding system to perform the crush and fastening of the lips.
Stated Advantages
Improves contamination protection at cryogenic temperatures versus stopper-based prior art.
Documented Applications
Packaging a predetermined volume of biological substance for storage at low temperature, including cryogenic temperatures.
Hermetic sealed delivery/packaging of biological substance in a cryogenic context using the tube and sealing approach.
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