GB2576721A

GB2576721A - Cryogenic shipping and storage containers

Info

Publication number: GB2576721A
Application number: GB1813971.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miguel Fernandes Mateus Tiago
Original assignee: Biopharma Supplies Ltd
Current assignee: Biopharma Supplies Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-28
Filing date: 2018-08-28
Publication date: 2020-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-28
Also published as: GB2576721B; GB201813971D0

Abstract

An apparatus for loading and unloading specimen trays from a dry shipper comprises three fixed side members 12, a removable side member (24, figure 4), such as a removable locking rod, and a cover 10, having eight sides (ie of octagonal shape). The three fixed side members may join at the bottom to form a cruciform base 14. The apparatus may be formed of stainless steel.

Description

CRYOGENIC SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINERS

Field of the invention

This invention relates to cryogenic shipping and storage containers and more especially to apparatus for loading and unloading inter alia specimen holding trays of hazardous biological materials into and from a cryogenic storage container commonly termed a dry shipper.

Background to the invention

Cryogenic containers for safely storing and transporting specimens at liquid nitrogen temperatures are well known and generally include an outer container which retains a quantity of cryogenic liquid or gas and which is dimensioned to receive a sealed dry shipper within which is located a multiplicity of biological or other potentially hazardous specimens for inter alia transportation or storage purposes.

Typically, the specimens to be stored and/or transported are retained within several rectangular or round trays formed with a multiplicity of specimen receiving compartments, the trays being locatable one above another to define a relatively tight fit within the dry shipper.

Cryogenic containers and dry shippers are conventionally produced from stainless steel and are of a standard circular section, the latter defining a relatively snug fit within the former .

Specimen trays are conventionally round or square shaped and are divided into a matrix comprising a multiplicity of individual specimen holding compartments, the trays defining a tight fit within the dry shipper.

The loading and unloading of specimen trays into and from a dry shipper is generally by hand and presently requires the use of heavy duty insulated gloves by the relevant personnel to cope with the prevailing temperatures of around minus 196 degrees centigrade. These gloves are less than satisfactory for reasons that the corners of rectangular specimen trays generally make contact with the internal periphery of the dry shipper, leaving little room for maneuvering the trays into position without causing damage to the trays and possible spillage of the tray contents .

The present invention sets out to provide apparatus for loading and unloading presently available specimen containing trays into and from a dry shipper of a cryogenic container which does not suffer from the problems identified above.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for loading and unloading rectangular or round specimen containing trays into and from a dry shipper of generally circular internal crosssection, the corners of rectangular specimen containing trays defining a Relatively tight fit when positioned within the generally circular internal surface of the dry shipper, the apparatus comprising a cover formed with eight sides from three of which depend fixed side members which connect the cover to a base and from the fourth of which depends a displaceable side member which, when in place, prevents removal of trays from the interior of the apparatus, and a handle connected to the upper surface of the cover for lifting the apparatus into and out of the dry shipper.

In a preferred arrangement each of the three fixed side member is of substantially the same width, the width of each such member being substantially equal to the width of the cover side from which it depends.

In this preferred arrangement, the three fixed side members together defining three sides of the apparatus and a cruciform shaped base of the apparatus.

The removable side member may comprise an elongate member which locates at one end in an opening formed in the base and includes at its other end a hook which co-operates with a complementary shaped opening in the cover to retain the elongate member in place.

The apparatus is preferably constructed from stainless steel.

In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for loading and unloading specimen containing trays into and from a dry shipper of generally circular internal cross-section, the apparatus comprising a cover, a base and three fixed side support members which extend betweeh the base and three sides of the cover, the fourth side being left open to enable loading of specimen containing trays into the apparatus but including a displaceable side member to close the open side of the apparatus when loaded, the/cover including four sides which lie generally parallel and ..adjacent to the sides of said specimen containing trays when the latter are loaded into the dry shipper and four other sides each of which joins and is inclined to its two neighbouring sides, each said inclined side being spaced from the neighbouring side of a specimen containing tray positioned said dry shipper.

In a further aspect, the invention provides apparatus for loading and unloading specimen containing trays into and from a dry shipper of generally circular internal cross-section, the apparatus comprising a cover having eight sides four of which lie generally parallel to the adjacent sides of a rectangular specimen tray when loaded into the dry shipper, and four of which are inclined with respect to the adjacent sides of said specimen tray when loaded into the dry shipper, a base, and three spaced side support members which extend between and are secured to the said parallel sides of the cover, a base, and a displaceable retention member extending between one of the parallel sides of the cover and the base to enable access to the interior of the apparatus for loading and unloading purposes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:Figure 1 is an isometric view of carrier apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 when positioned in a dry shipper; and

Figures 4 and 5 are” side views of the illustrated apparatus when loaded with specimen containing trays.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The carrier apparatus for loading and unloading specimen containing trays illustrated in the drawings comprises a cover 10, three side members 12 and a cruciform shaped base 14. As will be seen from the drawings, the apparatus is fully open on one side to enable the apparatus to be loaded with a stacked array of rectangular specimen trays 16 as shown in Figures 4 and

5. The specimen trays could, alternatively, be round rather than rectangular.

Presently, specimen trays are loaded into and unloaded from dry shippers by hand. Once loaded the corners of conventional specimen trays make contact with the internal surface of the dry shipper or come very close to making such contact. This means that the operator loading the trays into or removing the trays from the dry shipper has every chance that his/her hands will come into contact with the stainless steel sides of the dry shipper .

As mentioned previously, the temperature within the dry shipper will be of the order of minus 196 degrees centigrade thus making the wearing of heavy duty gloves when loading and unloading specimen trays a necessity. However, the wearing of such gloves renders the loading process more difficult and the chances of spilling or damage to the specimen contents of the trays more likely.

To assist the loading and unloading process, in the present invention the specimen trayb 16 are first loaded into the carrier 12 through the open side of the carrier. To facilitate subsequent loading of the loaded carrier into the dry shipper, the four corners 2-Q of the cover 10 (these being shown in broken line in Figure/2) are cut away to define a generally octagonal shape thereby significantly increasing the spaces between the lid 10 and the sides of the dry shipper without reducing the ability for the operator to load and unload the specimen trays to and from the dry shipper.

A lifting handle 22 is provided on the cover 10 of the carrier apparatus .

As shown, the carrier is produced from strips of stainless steel which are folded to produce the sides, base and lid of the carrier. The base takes the form of a cross, the two steel strips which define the base being welded to produce the shape illustrated in the drawings. Typically, two strips of the base are from 13.8 to 14cm in length and the carrier height is 21cm. The steel strips are typically of 0.10cm in thickness.

A locking device comprising a steel rod 24 which includes at one end a hook 26 which locates within openings 28 formed in the cover 10, the other end of the rod 24 locating within an opening 30 formed within a lip 32 located in the base 14.

Other locking mechanisms to that described may be employed.

Once the trays have been loaded, a locking device is employed to hold the trays in place and to prevent one or more trays spilling from the apparatus. The locking device may simply comprise a stainless steel rod or wire formed at one end with a hook which locates within holes 24 set in the cover 10, the lower end 26 of the rod passing into domplementary sized holes 28 formed in a lip 30 which forms part of the base 12.

The trays may be of various designs including clear and opague trays as illustrated in Figutes 4 and 5.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of apparatus for loading and unloading specimen holding trays into and from a dfy shipper and that modifications readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as ’set out in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading and unloading rectangular or round specimen containing trays into and from a dry shipper of generally circular internal cross-section, the corners of rectangular specimen containing trays defining a relatively tight fit when positioned within the generally circular internal surface of the dry shipper, the apparatus comprising a cover formed with eight sides from three of which depend fixed side members which connect the cover to a base and from the fourth of which depends a removable side member which, when in place, prevents removal of trays from the interior of the apparatus, and handle connected to the upper surface of the cover for lifting the apparatus into and out of the dry shipper.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim/1 wherein each of the three fixed side member is of substantially the same width, the width of each such member being substantially egual to the width of the cover side from which it depends.

3. Apparatus as clammed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the three fixed side members together defining three side of the apparatus and a cruciform shaped base of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the removable side member comprises an elongate member which locates at one end in an opening formed in the base and includes at its other end a hook which co-operates with a complementary shaped opening in the cover to retain the elongate member in place.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 constructed from stainless steel.

6. Apparatus for loading and unloading specimen containing trays into and from a dry shipper of generally circular cross-section, the apparatus comprising a cover, a base and three fixed side support members which extend between the base and three sides of the cover, the fourth side being left open to enable loading of specimen containing trays into the apparatus but including a removable side member to close the open side of the apparatus when loaded, the cover including four sides which lie generally parallel and adjacent to the sides of said specimen containing trays when the latter are loaded into the dry shipper and four other sides each of which joins and is inclined to its two neighbouring sides, each said inclined side being spaced from the neighbouring side of a specimen containing tray positioned said dry shipper.

7. Apparatus for loading and Unloading specimen containing trays into and from a shipper of generally circular internal cross-section/ the apparatus comprising a cover having eight sides four of which lie generally parallel to the adjacent sides of a rectangular specimen tray when loaded into the dry shipper, and four of which are inclined the adjacent sides of said specimen tray when loaded into the dry/shipper, a base, and three spaced side support members which extend between and are secured to the said parallel sides of the cover, a base, and a displaceable retention member extending between one of the parallel sides of the cover and the base to enable access to the interior of the apparatus for loading and unloading purposes .