Patent Application
20220289461
This application claims priority of Canadian (CA) Patent Application No. 3,111,955, filed on Mar. 12, 2021, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to reusable composite containers. In particular, the present invention relates to reusable composite containers for cold chain packaging. Other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the present specification.
Cold chain packaging allows temperature control of a payload (e.g., perishable goods) during shipping and distribution of a package. Containers used for cold chain packaging may be composed of a variety of materials including expanded polystyrene (EPS). EPS is thermally insulating and lightweight but easily damaged. Forces exerted upon an EPS container during shipping and handling can result in damage to the container as well as the payload housed inside. Further, when an EPS container harbouring a temperature-sensitive payload is damaged, the container must be opened and the payload transferred to a new container, which subjects the payload to potentially harmful temperature fluctuations. The relative fragility of EPS also leads many package recipients to consider EPS containers as single-use containers, resulting in their mass disposal and waste.
Senders and recipients of temperature-sensitive goods may desire improved thermal insulation over that provided by EPS alone. This is particularly important for perishable goods where even small temperature variations can impair the activity of the product (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or reduce its shelf-life (e.g., seafood).
In March 2020, a global pandemic was declared due to the now well-known outbreak of Covid-19. Later in 2020, both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna developed vaccines for Covid-19 and these vaccines began to receive regulatory approval by various countries toward the end of 2020.
These initially approved vaccines must be stored at very cold temperatures (e.g., −80° C.) to maintain their viability and efficacy.
According to the Province of Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines, the recommended storage temperature of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is −70° C. while the recommended storage temperature of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine is −20° C. (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/vaccine/vaccine_storage_handling_pfizer_moderna_pdf). These guidelines further state that, in the case of the Moderna vaccine, if placed in a portable freezer unit (−25° C. to −15° C.), the vaccines can go back into a freezer unit after they are received at their destination.
It would be desirable to a container capable of maintaining a payload disposed in the payload enclosure between −15° C. and −25° C. for a period of at least 48 hours in an ambient temperature of up to 35° C. when tested pursuant to ISTA 7D Test Procedure.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a composite container comprising a thermally insulated inner container disposed within a thermally insulated outer container, the thermally insulated inner container configured to receive one or more phase change material (PCM) elements to define a payload enclosure, the one or more PCM elements configured to maintain a payload disposed in the payload enclosure initially at −20° C. between 8° C. and −25° C., such as between 2° C. and 8° C. or between −15° C. and −25° C., for a period of at least 48 hours in an ambient temperature of up to 35° C. when tested pursuant to ISTA 7D Test Procedure.
As is known in the art, International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) 7D Test Procedure is a development test to evaluate the effects of external temperature exposures of individual packaged-products. The following are some features in overview of the ISTA 7D Test Procedure:
The composite container may be used to ship perishable goods, and during shipping, the perishable goods may be maintained at a nearly constant temperature below the ambient temperature using cooling means. The container may be shipped by a sending party and received by a receiving party, and the receiving party may return the container to the sending party after receiving the container. The sending party may then reuse the container to ship perishable goods.
The present composite container is well suited transport a COVID-19 vaccine such as the Moderna vaccine.
In a preferred embodiment the present composite container further comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element (e.g., in the form of a tag, sticker, etc.) allowing the user to identify, authenticate, track, sense and engage with each item relatively seamlessly. Further details on suitable RFID elements can be found at https://rfid.averydennison.com/en/home/explore-rfid/for-brands-and-enterprise-customers.html.
If the RFID element is used with the present composite container, it may be preferably placed on one or two, more preferably, two interior surfaces of the inner container. Alternatively, the RFID element could be placed on one or two, more preferably, two exterior surfaces of the inner container. Alternatively, one RFID element could be placed on an interior surface of the inner container and one RFID element could be placed on an exterior surface of the inner container.
If the RFID element is used with the present composite container, it may be preferably placed on one or two, more preferably, two interior surfaces of the outer container. Alternatively, the RFID element could be placed on one or two, more preferably, two exterior surfaces of the outer container. Alternatively, one RFID element could be placed on an interior surface of the outer container and one RFID element could be placed on an exterior surface of the outer container.
If the RFID element is used with the present composite container, it is preferred to use two RFID elements, more preferably one RFID element on the container lid (inner container or outer container) and one RFID element on the container receptacle (inner container or outer container).
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts, and in which:
The present invention relates to a composite container comprising a thermally insulated inner container disposed within a thermally insulated outer container, the thermally insulated inner container configured to receive one or more phase change material (PCM) elements to define a payload enclosure, the one or more PCM elements configured to maintain a payload disposed in the payload enclosure initially at −20° C. between 8° C. and −25° C., such as between 2° C. and 8° C. or between −15° C. and −25° C., for a period of at least 48 hours in an ambient temperature of up to 35° C. when tested pursuant to ISTA 7D Test Procedure. Preferred embodiments of the present composite container may include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the following:
The present composite may be used to transport payload disposed in the payload enclosure from a shipping location to a destination location. The payload maybe a perishable product, preferably a pharmaceutical product, preferably a vaccine product such as product such as COVID-19 vaccine product (e.g., the Moderna vaccine described above).
The present composite container comprises a thermally insulated inner container disposed within a thermally insulated outer container. Preferably, one or both, more preferably both, of the thermally insulated inner container disposed and the thermally insulated outer container are made of foam.
Some details of preferred embodiments of the present composite container may be found in International Publication Number WO2016/008057A1.
In a preferred embodiment, the present composite container is configured to comply with ISTA 3A Test Procedure.
As is known in the art, Test Procedure 3A is a general simulation test for individual packaged-products shipped through a parcel delivery system. The test is appropriate for four different package types commonly distributed as individual packages, either by air or ground. The types include standard, small, flat and elongated packages. Basic Requirements: atmospheric pre-conditioning, random vibration with and without top load, and shock testing. The details of conducting Test Procedure 3A are available from ISTA.
The phase change material (PCM) element is generally known. A PCM will maintain the temperature of the payload at its stated phase change temperature while undergoing its solid/liquid phase transitions. A PCM will respond to the outside environmental temperature by absorbing or releasing heat as it changes state from solid to liquid and back. The process is reversible and repeatable while always maintaining the same temperature.
Preferably, the phase change material (PCM) element useful in the present composite container is in the form of a rigid container comprising a cooling gel. In a preferred embodiment, the rigid high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic container is sealed to prevent leakage and offers excellent resistance to compression and breakage. Durability also means the product is capable of being cleaned and refrozen for repeated use. It does not change shape when thawed or frozen, helping to prevent contents from shifting.
A preferred phase change material (PCM) element useful in the present composite container is commercially available from Rapid Aid under the tradename Temp Aid™.
With reference to
The product changes phase at the specified temperature to provide optimal thermal protection. When the adjacent temperature dips below the phase change temperature, the gel will solidify and release its stored energy. If the surrounding temperature goes above the phase change temperature, it will liquefy and absorb the excess energy.
The a composite container in accordance with the first more preferred embodiment was tested with a simulated payload (a compartmentalized water blanket modified to include three (3) thermocouples to measure the temperature at the top, middle and bottom of the simulated payload), together with a temperature probe in the product itself. This composite container was subjected to the ISTA 7D Test Procedure.
The results of the ISTA 7D Test Procedure are illustrated in
The a composite container in accordance with the second more preferred embodiment was tested with a simulated payload (a compartmentalized water blanket modified to include three (3) thermocouples to measure the temperature at the top, middle and bottom of the simulated payload), together with a temperature probe in the product itself. This composite container was subjected to the ISTA 7D Test Procedure.
The results of the ISTA 7D Test Procedure are illustrated in
The a composite container in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in
Atmospheric Pre-Conditioning 12 hrs Room Condition.
First Sequence Shock Test. Results: no puncture of package box (including inside the packaging) greater than 9 square inches or 10% of the damaged box surface, no failure of the tape or seal (include inside the packaging) and no any parts escape the package box.
Random Vibration with Dynamic Load—Over the Road Trailer Simulation. Results: No abnormality was observed externally on the packaged-product and inside containers of EPP and EPS after completion.
Random Vibration without Load—Pick-up and Delivery Vehicle Simulation. Results: No abnormality was observed externally on the packaged-product and inside containers of EPP and EPS after completion
Second Sequence Shock Test. Results: no puncture of package box (including inside the packaging) greater than 9 square inches or 10% of the damaged box surface, no failure of the tape or seal (include inside the packaging) and no any parts escape the package box.
In summary, the composite container in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in
While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments and examples, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Thus, various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments.
All publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3111955 | Mar 2021 | CA | national |
