Tissue container systems

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to tissue container systems that find use in the transport of tissues and methods of using the tissue container systems. In particular the present invention relates to systems that support the transport, thawing and use of cryopreserved human skin equivalents, and methods of their use by a health care provider.

1 . A kit comprising:
 a sterile tissue container system comprising:
 substantially identical top and bottom sterile tissue containers; 
 a tray comprising a porous bottom surface; and 
 an organotypic skin substitute supported on the porous bottom surface of the tray; 
   a sterile package containing the sterile tissue container system; and   a tissue compatible solution.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the top and bottom sterile tissue containers comprise:
 a perimeter wall comprising a flange extending therefrom;   a substantially planar bottom surface, the perimeter wall surrounding the bottom surface defining a dish having a dish length and a dish width;   at least one ridge projecting from the perimeter wall above the flange, the at least one ridge having a ridge length and a ridge width; and   at least one space recessed below the flange on the perimeter wall, the recessed space having a recess length and a recess width.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface has a perimeter defined by the perimeter wall and comprising a perimeter ledge extending around the perimeter to provide a reservoir defined by the perimeter ledge and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the perimeter wall has a male end and a female end opposite the male end along the dish length, wherein the at least one ridge is located at the male end of the perimeter wall and the at least one space is located at the female end of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the flange comprises one or more tabs extending from the male end of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the flange comprises one or more tabs extending from the female end of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the ridge has a proximal end and the proximal end of the ridge has one or more indents therein. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein when the top and bottom sterile tissue containers are assembled the flanges of the top and bottom containers contact one another. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the flange comprises one or more tabs extending from the male end of the perimeter wall and one or more tabs extending from the female end of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein when the top and bottom sterile tissue containers are assembled, the one or more tabs extending from the male end of the perimeter wall of the bottom sterile tissue container do not overlap with the one or more tabs extending from the female end of the perimeter wall of the top sterile tissue container. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein when the top sterile tissue container is rotated and placed facing the bottom sterile tissue container, the at least one space on the female end of the bottom sterile tissue container releasably receives the at least one ridge on the male end of the top sterile tissue container, thereby forming an enclosed container. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sterile tissue container is formed from a medical grade plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the porous bottom surface of the tray is a porous membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the porous membrane comprises a semi-permeable polymer film or a semi-permeable track-etched polymer film. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the porous membrane comprises polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polycarbonate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the porous membrane is plasma treated to improve cell attachment. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the porous membrane has a thickness of about 5 microns to about 20 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the porous membrane comprises pores with a pore size of about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the porous membrane has a pore density of about 1×10 5  and about 1×10 8  pores per square centimeter. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises one or more tray tabs. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the organotypic skin substitute is cryopreserved. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent medium. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the absorbent medium is selected from the group consisting of Telfa pads, cellulosic pads, gauze pads, and foam pads. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue compatible solution is a buffered solution in the range of pH 7.0 to 7.4. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the tissue compatible solution comprises DMEM, Ham's F-10, Ham's F-12, DMEM/F-12, Medium 199, MEM, RPMI, HEPES, Tris, MOPS, Trizma buffer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sterile package comprises a heat sealed sterile bag. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the sterile bag is a plastic or polymer bag. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sterile package is sealed inside a secondary bag. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the secondary bag comprises plastic, foil, or Mylar.