Container for both cryopreservation and transportation

Abstract

A container for both cryopreservation and transportation including a thermal insulating container which has an inlet-outlet port for a substance to be stored and a lid for opening and closing the inlet-outlet port at the top thereof, a storage section which has a bottomed tubular shape, is fixed in the thermal insulating container and capable of taking in and out the substance stored from the inlet-outlet port, and a wave-suppression plate which is positioned laterally in a space between the storage section and an inner wall of the thermal insulating container, and suppresses waving of the cryogenic liquefied gas in a liquid state accumulated in the space between the storage section and the inner wall of the thermal insulating container.

Claims

1. A container for both cryopreservation and transportation including a thermal insulating container which has an inlet-outlet port for a substance to be stored and a lid for opening and closing the inlet-outlet port at the top thereof, a storage section having a bottomed tubular shape which is fixed in the thermal insulating container and capable of taking in and out the substance stored from the inlet-outlet port, and a wave-suppression plate which is positioned laterally in a space between the storage section and an inner wall of the thermal insulating container, and suppresses waving of a cryogenic liquefied gas in a liquid state accumulated in the space between the storage section and the inner wall of the thermal insulating container.

2. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 1, wherein the container further includes a baffle plate which is provided on the inner wall of the thermal insulating container to prevent the cryogenic liquefied gas from entering the storage section.

3. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 2, wherein the wave-suppression plate is positioned outside of the storage section.

4. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 2, wherein the storage section is fixed with a fixing unit when placed on a bottom portion of the thermal insulating container, the fixing unit includes a plate member standing from the bottom portion of the thermal insulating container, and a connecting and fixing member which connects and fixes an upper end portion of the plate member with an upper end portion of the storage section.

5. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 2, wherein the container further includes a filling tube of which one end side is positioned in the space between the storage section and the inner wall of the thermal insulating container and the other end side is positioned outside the thermal insulating container and fills the space with the cryogenic liquefied gas.

6. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 1, wherein the wave-suppression plate is positioned outside of the storage section.

7. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 6, wherein the storage section is fixed with a fixing unit when placed on a bottom portion of the thermal insulating container, the fixing unit includes a plate member standing from the bottom portion of the thermal insulating container, and a connecting and fixing member which connects and fixes an upper end portion of the plate member with an upper end portion of the storage section.

8. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 6, wherein the container further includes a filling tube of which one end side is positioned in the space between the storage section and the inner wall of the thermal insulating container and the other end side is positioned outside the thermal insulating container and fills the space with the cryogenic liquefied gas.

9. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 1, wherein the storage section is fixed with a fixing unit when placed on a bottom portion of the thermal insulating container, the fixing unit includes a plate member standing from the bottom portion of the thermal insulating container, and a connecting and fixing member which connects and fixes an upper end portion of the plate member with an upper end portion of the storage section.

10. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 9, wherein the container further includes a filling tube of which one end side is positioned in the space between the storage section and the inner wall of the thermal insulating container and the other end side is positioned outside the thermal insulating container and fills the space with the cryogenic liquefied gas.

11. The container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to claim 1, wherein the container further includes a filling tube of which one end side is positioned in the space between the storage section and the inner wall of the thermal insulating container and the other end side is positioned outside the thermal insulating container and fills the space with the cryogenic liquefied gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partial cross section of a container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2A is a plan view of a container for both cryopreservation and transportation shown in FIG. 1 in a state where a lid and a thermal insulating material are removed.

(3) FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a container for both cryopreservation and transportation shown in FIG. 2A taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2A.

(4) FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a storage section and a wave-suppression plate provided in the container for both cryopreservation and transportation shown in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4A is a plan view showing the interior structure of the container for both cryopreservation and transportation shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the interior structure of the container for both cryopreservation and transportation shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4A,

(7) FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for a method of fixing the storage section of the container for both cryopreservation and transportation shown in FIG. 1, and is an enlarged view of a portion B surrounded by a circle of a broken line in FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the container for both cryopreservation and transportation according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a container 1 for both cryopreservation and transportation according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a thermal insulating container 3, a storage section provided in the thermal insulating container 3 to store substance such as pharmaceuticals, a wave-suppression plate 7 provided between an inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3 and an outer wall of the storage section 5, a baffle plate 9 provided on the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3 to prevent liquid nitrogen to enter the storage section 5, a liquid level gauge 11, and a filing tube 13 for the cryogenic liquefied gas.

(10) Hereinafter, each element constituting the container 1 for both cryopreservation and transportation will be described in detail.

(11) In the following description, liquid nitrogen will be described as an example of cryogenic liquefied gas. Moreover, as the cryogenic liquefied gas, liquefied helium, liquefied argon or the like can also be used.

(12) <Thermal Insulating Container>

(13) The thermal insulating container 3 has an inlet-outlet port 15 for the substance at the top, and a lid 17 which can open and close the inlet-outlet port 15 is provided at the inlet-outlet port 15. The thermal insulating container 3 has a vacuum double-wall structure including an outer wall 3a and an inner wall 3b.

(14) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bottom portion of the inner wall 3b is a circular thick bottom portion 19 having a thickness larger than the other portions. A support member 21 is provided under the thick bottom portion 19, and the thick bottom portion 19 is supported by a support member 21.

(15) The inside of the thermal insulating container 3 (the inside of the inner wall 3b) is hollow, and the hollow portion is provided with a storage section 5 for storing substances such as pharmaceuticals.

(16) Moreover, as will be described later, a space between the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3 and an outer wall of the storage section 5 serves as an accumulation section for the liquid nitrogen.

(17) <Storage Section>

(18) The storage section 5 is positioned in a hollow portion in the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and is formed by a square cylinder having a bottom and an opening at the upper portion, which is made of stainless steel (see FIG. 3). A heat insulating material 22 fixed to the lid 17 is disposed between an opening of the storage section 5 and the inlet-outlet port 15 for substance to be stored when the lid 17 is attached (see FIG. 1).

(19) Moreover, the storage section 5 is fixed in the thermal insulating container 3. In this case, when the storage section 5 is fixed to the heat insulating container 3 by welding or the like, for example, it is considered that the storage section 5 may be deformed or broken due to thermal shrinkage with the cryogenic liquefied gas such as liquid nitrogen.

(20) Therefore, the storage section 5 is fixed with a fixing unit as explained below in a state where the storage section 5 is placed on the thick bottom portion 19 of the heat insulating container 3 in the present embodiment.

(21) Hereinafter, a fixing method of the storage portion 5 by the fixing unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

(22) Plate members 23 which are made of an angle material, and positioned so as to surround the four corners of the storage section 5 stand and are fixed to the thick bottom portion 19 by welding. The plate member 23 has a bent portion 23a which bends outwardly at the upper end thereof.

(23) On the other hand, a frame member 25 having an L-shaped cross section is welded to the outer peripheral portion near the upper end of the storage section 5. Then, the bent portion 23a and the frame member 25 are fasten tightly with a connecting and fixing member 27 such that the bent portion 23a and the frame member 25 are sandwiched from above and below to integrate them. That is, the storage section 5 is fixed in the thermal insulating container 3 by the plate member 23 and the connecting and fixing member 27.

(24) <Wave-Suppression Plate>

(25) The wave-suppression plate 7 is positioned horizontally between the storage section 5 and the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3. The wave-suppression plate 7 suppress the generation of wave of the liquid nitrogen accumulated in the space between the storage section 5 and the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3.

(26) As shown in FIG. 3, three wave-suppression plates 7 are provided so as to surround the storage section 5. The wave-suppression plate 7 is fixed to the plate member 23.

(27) Regarding the positioning of the wave-suppression plate 7 in the vertical direction, the central wave-suppression plate is located at the level of the liquid surface when the liquid nitrogen is filled by 100%, the uppermost wave-suppression plate is located at the level of the liquid surface when the liquid nitrogen is filled by 125%, and the lowest wave-suppression plate is located at the level of the liquid surface when the liquid nitrogen is filled by 50%.

(28) Moreover, the liquid nitrogen easily enters the storage portion 5 when the liquid surface is highest, and the liquid is waved. Accordingly, the wave-suppression plate 7 is provided in accordance with the highest position of the liquid surface height. Thereby, it is possible to effectively suppress waves when the liquid surface position is highest.

(29) The number of the wave-suppression plate 7 may be appropriately set according to the height of the interior of the thermal insulating container 3 and the height of the storage section 5.

(30) As shown in FIG. 3, the wave-suppression plate 7 has a circular shape according to the inner shape of the thermal insulating container 3, and the peripheral portion thereof is bent downwardly. The rigidity of the wave-suppression plate 7 is enhanced by downwardly bending the peripheral edge. It is also possible to suppress lateral movement of the liquid nitrogen.

(31) Moreover, when the diameter of the wave-suppression plate 7 is small, since there is little need to enhance the rigidity, the wave-suppression plate 7 may be a flat plate.

(32) In addition, a plurality of gas flow holes 7a are provided in the wave-suppression plate 7. Thereby, a large amount of vaporized nitrogen gas generated at the time of filling passes through and easily goes upward.

(33) <Baffle Plate>

(34) The baffle plate 9 is provided on the upper portion of the inner 3b of the heat insulating container 3 and prevents the liquid nitrogen from entering the storage section 5. That is, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4B, the baffle plate prevents the liquid nitrogen from moving on the inner wall 3b of the heat insulating container 3 and entering into the storage portion 5 due to the lateral shaking.

(35) In order to effectively exhibit such a function, it is preferable that the baffle plate 9 be provided so as to surround the outer peripheral of the storage section 5 and to downwardly extend from the upper end of the opening of the storage section 5.

(36) <Liquid Level Gauge>

(37) The liquid level gauge 11 detects the liquid level of the liquid nitrogen in the heat insulating container 3. The liquid level gauge 11 includes a liquid level sensor 11a extending into the thermal insulating container 3 through the inlet-outlet port 15, and a display portion 11 b which is mounted on the upper portion of the thermal insulating container 3 and displays the liquid level.

(38) <Filling Tube>

(39) The filling tube 13 injects the liquid nitrogen from the outside. One end side of the filling tube 13 is positioned in a space between the thermal insulating container 3 and the storage section 5, and the other end side thereof is positioned in the upper end part of the thermal insulating container 3. The other end side serves as an injection port 13a for the liquid nitrogen.

(40) In the container 1 for both cryopreservation and transportation of the present embodiment configured as described above, the liquid nitrogen is injected into the space (liquid nitrogen storage portion) between the outer wall of the storage section 5 and the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3. Then, the substance such as pharmaceuticals is stored in the storage section 5, and the lid 17 is closed. Thereby, it is possible to store and transport the substance.

(41) Since the upper end portion of the storage section 5 is opened and connected with the liquid nitrogen storage portion in a state where the substance to be stored is stored, the gasified liquid nitrogen can enter the storage portion 5 from the upper opening of the storage section 5, sufficient cooling effect can be obtained.

(42) Further, it is possible to prevent the liquid surface of the liquid nitrogen from waving in the vertical direction by providing the wave-suppression plate 7, and thereby it is also possible to prevent the splash due to the waving from entering through the opening of the storage portion 5.

(43) As described above, the container 1 for both cryopreservation and transportation of this embodiment can prevent contamination of the substance stored by the liquid nitrogen and sufficiently cool the substance stored.

(44) Further, in the container 1 for both cryopreservation and transportation of this embodiment, since the remaining amount of the liquid nitrogen can be visually confirmed by the liquid level gauge 11, and the liquid nitrogen can be injected from the filling tube 13. Accordingly, the liquid nitrogen can be easily replenished.

(45) In the above embodiment, the wave-suppression plates 7 are fixed to the side of the storage section 5, that is, the wave-suppression plates 7 are fixed to the plate members 23 so as to surround the storage portion 5. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the wave-suppression plate 7 may be fixed to the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3. Moreover, the wave-suppression plate 7 may be directly fixed to the inner wall 3b of the thermal insulating container 3. Otherwise, another member such as a bracket is fixed to the inner wall 3b and the wave-suppression plate 7 may be fixed to the bracket.

(46) Further, the wave-suppression plate 7 may be positioned so as not to be fixed but floating on the liquid surface of the liquid nitrogen like a drop lid. When the wave-suppression plate 7 is not s necessary to make the wave-suppression plate 7 with a material which withstands the cold of the liquid nitrogen and is floating on the liquid nitrogen. For example, the wave-suppression plate 7 may be foamed using polyurethane or the like in this case.

(47) The wave-suppression plate 7 is positioned in the horizontal direction in the above embodiment. As long as it is possible to suppress the upward and downward movement of the liquid nitrogen, the wave-suppression plate 7 is not necessarily horizontal but may be oblique.

(48) As described above, the wave-suppression plate 7 in the above-described embodiment is a plate which spreads in the lateral direction and prevents the liquid surface from waving. However, in addition to this wave-suppression plate 7, a partition plate which divides the liquid nitrogen storage section in circumferential direction may be erected in the longitudinal direction. By providing the partition plate, the movement of the liquid nitrogen in the lateral direction is restricted, thereby making it possible to suppress the waving more effectively.

(49) While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL

(50) 1 container for both cryopreservation and transportation 3 thermal insulating container 3a outer wall 3b inner wall 5 storage section 4 wave-suppression plate 7a gas flow hole 9 baffle plate 11 liquid level gauge 11a liquid level sensor 11b display portion 13 filing tube 13a injection port 15 inlet-outlet port 17 lid 19 thick bottom portion 21 support member 22 heat insulating material 23 plate member 23a bent portion 25 frame member 27 connecting and fixing member