Transport container assembly

Abstract

A transport container assembly is provided for transporting temperature-sensitive material. The container includes a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment therein. The housing includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell. The shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material, comprising:
 a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment for securing biological material therein, the housing includes a first side and a second side that mate with each other to define the interior cavity therebetween,
 the first side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume, and 
 the second side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume. 
   
     
     
         2 . The transport container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shells of the first and the second sides each include an opening for inserting the PCM within internal volume and a cap that closes the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The transport container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first side and the second side are mounted to a tray assembly having a hinge disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The transport container assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tray assembly includes a cover portion having a planar rigid support that is sandwiched between planar thermal sheets. 
     
     
         5 . The transport container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is selected from a group consisting of salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and paraffins. 
     
     
         6 . The transport container assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is mixture of salt hydrates. 
     
     
         7 . The transport container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first side defines a plurality of recesses each sized to receive a single vial. 
     
     
         8 . The transport container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve that receives the housing assembly, and a shipping container that receives the combination of the sleeve and housing assembly, the sleeve sheets comprises sheets of metallized polyethylene terephthalate that define captured gas pockets. 
     
     
         9 . The transport container assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the gas pockets have an elongated tubular shape in parallel alignment with one another and argon gas is confined within the gas pockets 
     
     
         10 . The transport container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an exterior assembly having two sides coupled together, wherein the first and the second sides of the housing assembly are each attached to the corresponding side of the exterior assembly and aligned to mate together to form the interior cavity. 
     
     
         11 . A transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material, comprising:
 a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment for securing biological material therein, the housing includes a first side and a second side that mate with each other to define the interior cavity therebetween,
 the first side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume, and 
 the second side includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume and the PCM is confined within the internal volume; and 
   a shipping container that receives the housing assembly therein.   
     
     
         12 . The transport container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side and the second side are disposed in a hinged tray assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The transport container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the tray assembly includes a cover portion having a planar rigid support that is sandwiched between planar thermal sheets. 
     
     
         14 . The transport container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is selected from a group consisting of salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and paraffin. 
     
     
         15 . The transport container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the PCM of the first side and the second side is mixture of salt hydrates. 
     
     
         16 . The transport container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side defines a plurality of recesses each sized to receive a single vial. 
     
     
         17 . A transport container assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive material, comprising:
 a housing assembly that defines an interior cavity that provides a stable temperature environment for securing biological material therein, the housing includes a shell and a phase control material (PCM) within the shell, the shell defines an internal volume that confines the PCM within the internal volume.   
     
     
         18 . The transport container assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shell includes an opening for inserting the PCM within internal volume and a cap that closes the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The transport container assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the PCM is selected from a group consisting of salt hydrates, fatty acids and esters, and paraffin. 
     
     
         20 . The transport container assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the PCM is mixture of salt hydrates.