Patent Application
20220194683
This patent application claims priority to German utility patent application number 20 2020 107 340.0 filed Dec. 17, 2020 and titled “insulation container for temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceutical products”. The subject matter of patent application number 20 2020 107 340.0 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The invention relates to an insulation container for temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceutical products according to the independent claim. The invention pertains to the technical field of thermal transport solutions for transport without temperature fluctuations, in particular transport in the clinical-pharmaceutical industry.
The spectrum of temperature-controlled transports includes, depending on the goods transported, arctic deep-freeze degrees as well as spring-like 18° C. Logistics services of this kind, which are carried out for instance for medication and cosmetics, paints and varnishes, confectionery, and foodstuffs of all kinds, are reliant on a professionally organized, continuous supply chain that is uniformly temperature-controlled to suit the product requirements. Implementing a new transport solution can be challenging and expensive if not put into practice effectively. Any inefficiency in product or service transport can result in serious loss of time and resources.
It is known from prior art to provide containers for temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceutical products. Such insulation containers are equipped with an outer container with a bottom and a wall to hold dry ice and the transport goods in the interior space formed therefrom. The interior space is closed with a lid which completely covers the interior space or the interior, respectively. Such containers can, for example, be of modular design and consist of a lightweight construction material equipped with a moisture- and temperature-resistant surface. The stored dry ice keeps the temperatures in the interior constant for several days, which is ideally suited for global shipping of sensitive medication. The outer container also includes an insulating material to keep the temperature in the interior space of the container at a stable level. Such containers provide excellent passive thermal single-way and multi-way shipping protection for valuable temperature-sensitive products, such as highly sensitive pharmaceutical products. This is particularly important because the standards for transporting vaccines, for example, are very high and must be demonstrably maintained throughout the entire transport chain.
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO2) and does not melt at an atmospheric pressure of approx. 1013 mbar (1 atmosphere), but changes directly into gaseous carbon dioxide, it sublimates and becomes a gas directly, expanding to 760 times its original volume. Under normal pressure, dry ice cannot get warmer than −78.4 degrees Celsius. Direct contact of dry ice with unprotected skin will cause frostbites or cold burns.
The problem here is that by reacting with moisture from the ambient air, the dry ice will stick to the container walls or freeze to the products being transported. This results in the clinical-pharmaceutical transport goods, for example, no longer being usable or only being usable to a limited extent.
Furthermore, US 2019/0177071A1 and CN 2 08 731 523 U are known from prior art.
The invention has the object of providing an insulation container which overcomes the disadvantages in prior art and enables the transport of pharmaceutical products without freezing and/or sticking of the dry ice.
The object is achieved by an insulation container for temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceutical products having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments form the subject-matter of the associated subclaims.
The invention encompasses an insulation container for temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceutical products comprising a (vacuum-insulated) outer container with an outer container bottom and an outer container wall, which are connected to each another in such a way as to form a receiving space which is open on one side. The insulation container includes a lid (lid or door element) designed so as to completely cover the receiving space by placing the lid onto the outer container. The insulation container further comprises a compartment structure which is inserted into the receiving space, and which separates the receiving space into separate compartments. The provision of a compartment structure allows for separate storage of dry ice and the product to be transported. This enables transport without causing the dry ice to freeze or stick to the product.
Preferably, the compartment structure comprises at least three (advantageously four) planar frame elements.
The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to drawings, wherein:
According to an advantageous aspect, the insulation container further comprises an outer shell disposed within the receiving space and surrounding the compartment structure in such a way as to separate the compartments formed by the compartment structure from the outer container wall. This ensures that the vacuum insulation panels of the outer container wall are protected against harmful exposure to the dry ice.
It is particularly advantageous if the frame elements each have a ridge portion which is formed in such a way as to connect two frame elements to each other in each case by engagement of the ridge portions. The ridge portion at the upper rim of a frame element is characterized in each case by elevations and indentations.
According to a preferred aspect, the ridge portion of at least one frame element comprises a plurality of recesses which are open on one side for receiving a further frame element in a plurality of positions. In this way, compartments of different sizes can be formed
According to an advantageous aspect, the frame elements of the compartment structure are disposed so as to form a rectangular grid. Due to the rectangular arrangement, a higher stability of the compartment structure is obtained.
It is particularly advantageous if the compartment structure is designed in such a way as to separate the receiving space into a central compartment and a plurality of peripheral compartments when inserted into the receiving space, wherein the peripheral compartments are disposed completely or partially surrounding the central compartment. This makes it possible to temperature-control the transport goods in the central compartment uniformly from all sides.
Advantageously, the peripheral compartments are connected to each other by means of a passageway. This allows media exchange between the peripheral compartments.
According to a preferred aspect, the peripheral compartments each have a rectangular opening cross-section of width B and length L, where B <L and 1 cm≤B≤10 cm, in particular 2 cm≤B≤6 cm. This allows a safe introduction of the transport goods and dry ice in sufficient quantity.
It has been proven advantageous if CO2 in a solid aggregate state (dry ice) and/or cold accumulator elements are disposed in the peripheral compartments. Cold accumulator elements can be, for example, latent heat accumulators (also known as phase change or phase change material (PCM) accumulators), which is a special type of heat accumulator which stores a large part of the thermal energy supplied thereto in the form of latent heat (e.g., for a phase change from solid to liquid state). Phase change materials absorb heat during melting and release it again during crystallization/freezing. This allows the required storage temperature to be maintained for the duration of the transport. This gives the advantage that PCM and dry ice can be combined with each other.
It is particularly advantageous if the compartment structure is formed of cold accumulator elements. This allows the frame elements to be omitted and the peripheral compartments for the dry ice to be formed of specially designed accumulator shells.
Advantageously, the insulation container comprises a bottom insert, which is disposed between the outer container bottom and the compartment structure, and which has bottom insert depressions. This ensures a homogeneous temperature distribution in the interior space of the insulation container.
According to a preferred aspect, the bottom insert includes a first layer with a closed surface, a second layer with transversely directed recesses arranged on the first layer, and a third layer with longitudinally directed recesses arranged on the second layer. As a result, the bottom insert is easy to manufacture, and the product is well ventilated.
According to an advantageous aspect, the insulation container comprises a lid insert comprising at least one lid compartment for receiving CO2 in solid aggregate state (dry ice) and/or cold accumulator elements, and which lid insert is designed so as to completely cover the receiving space. This allows the dry ice to also be provided from above.
The volume of the peripheral compartments has a volume ratio relative to the volume of the lid compartment (61) in the range of 80/20 to 50/50.
Preferably, the bottom insert comprises a volume that is smaller than or equal to the volume of the lid compartment.
Advantageously, handles are arranged on the lid compartment. This enables convenient and safe removal of the products.
It is particularly advantageous if the lid compartment is covered with a cover element. This prevents direct contact between the dry ice and the vacuum insulation panel of the outer container wall.
It has proven advantageous if the frame elements and the lid compartment comprise openings which are designed in such a way that the compartments are connected to each other in an air-permeable manner This ensures homogeneous temperature distribution in the interior space of the insulation container.
According to a preferred aspect, the frame elements comprise cardboard or plastic, in particular kraft liner or twin-wall sheets. This makes the compartments moisture-resistant, easy to handle, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to recycle.
Advantageously, the insulation container comprises at least one vacuum insulation element which is disposed in the insulation container in such a way as to at least partially enclose the receiving space. The vacuum insulation element comprises, for example, a silica sheet or silica powder or a glass fiber sheet or a polyurethane sheet.
It is particularly advantageous if a thermal insulation material is disposed between the vacuum insulation elements. This ensures that the temperature in the interior space can be kept constant over the entire transport time.
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| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2020 107 340.0 | Dec 2020 | DE | national |
