Multiple Walled Primary Package with Phase Change Material

Abstract

A container for a temperature sensitive product, such as a pharmaceutical compound, includes an inner vessel and an outer shell. When the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell, a chamber adapted to receive a phase change material is defined between an inner vessel wall and an outer shell wall. A container may also include multiple chambers defined by multiple walls, with different phase change materials disposed in different chambers. A cap, such as a child-proof cap, may be used to secure the contents of the container.

1 . A container for a temperature sensitive product comprising:
 an inner vessel having an inner vessel wall connecting an open upper end of the inner vessel and a closed lower end of the inner vessel;   an outer shell having an outer shell wall connecting an open upper end of the outer shell and a closed lower end of the outer shell, wherein the outer shell is adapted to receive the inner vessel such that, when the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell, a chamber adapted to receive a phase change material is defined between the inner vessel wall and the outer shell wall; and   a cap adapted to be placed over the open upper end of the inner vessel and the open upper end of the outer shell, when the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein an insulation layer is adjacent to the outer shell wall. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein an insulation layer is adjacent to the inner vessel wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the outer shell is formed from a first material and the inner vessel is formed from a second material. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the inner vessel is formed from a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein a rim extends around the open upper end of the inner vessel, such that the rim is in direct contact with the outer shell when the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell. 
     
     
         7 . A container for a temperature sensitive product comprising:
 an inner vessel having a hollow inner vessel wall connecting an open upper end of the inner vessel and a closed lower end of the inner vessel;   an outer shell having a hollow outer shell wall connecting a closed upper end of the outer shell and an open lower end of the outer shell, wherein the outer shell is adapted to receive the inner vessel such that, when the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell, the open upper end of the inner vessel is adjacent to the closed upper end of the outer shell;   a first phase change material contained within the hollow inner vessel wall; and   a second phase change material contained within the hollow outer shell wall.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein an insulation layer is adjacent to the hollow outer shell wall. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7  wherein an insulation layer is adjacent to the hollow inner vessel wall. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the outer shell is formed from a first material and the inner vessel is formed from a second material. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the inner vessel is formed from a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7  wherein a rim extends around the closed lower end of the inner vessel, such that the rim is in direct contact with the open lower end of the outer shell when the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the inner vessel and the outer shell are of substantially equal lengths. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the hollow inner vessel wall and the hollow outer vessel wall are in direct contact when the inner vessel is contained in the outer shell. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the closed lower end of the inner vessel comprises a hollow panel containing the first phase change material. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the closed upper end of the outer shell comprises a hollow panel containing the second phase change material. 
     
     
         17 . A container for a temperature sensitive product comprising:
 a syringe barrel;   an outer sleeve having a hollow outer sleeve wall, wherein the outer sleeve is adapted to receive the syringe barrel; and   a phase change material contained within the hollow outer sleeve wall.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15  wherein an insulation layer is adjacent to the hollow outer sleeve wall. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15  wherein an insulation layer is adjacent to the syringe barrel. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the outer sleeve includes a closed end.