EP-4735576-A1 - SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR SYSTEM SUPPORTING LIVE CELLS

Abstract

A shipping container for the support and shipment of a system for supporting at least one live cell includes a container and a lid configured to be removably coupled together to form a container cavity therebetween. A lower stabilization support and an upper guard are provided for supporting the system. The lower stabilization support is sized to be received within the container, and includes an upwardly opening recess configured to receive and support at least a portion of the system. The upper guard includes a lower surface that is sized to be at least partially received within an upwardly directed system cavity of the system. In this way, the lower stabilization support and upper guard are configured to securely support the system within the container cavity between the container and the lid.

Inventors

• MAMINISHKIS, ARVYDAS

Assignees

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240627

Claims (20)

1. 1. A shipping container for receiving a system for supporting at least one live cell, the system including an upwardly directed system cavity, the shipping container comprising: a container, a lid, the container and the lid being configured to be removably coupled together to form a container cavity therebetween, a lower stabilization support, the lower stabilization support being sized to be received within the container, the lower stabilization support including an upwardly opening recess configured to receive and support at least a portion of the system, and an upper guard, the upper guard including a lower surface, the lower surface being sized to be at least partially received within the upwardly directed system cavity of the system, wherein the lower stabilization support and upper guard are configured to securely support the system within the container cavity between the container and the lid.
2. 2. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein the lower stabilization support and the upper guard are configured such that at least one surface of the supported system engages at least one surface of the upper guard, and at least one surface of the supported system engages at least one surface of the lower stabilization support.
3. 3. The shipping container of any of claims 1 and 2 wherein the upwardly opening recess includes an annular flange.
4. 4. The shipping container of any of claims 1-3 wherein the lower stabilization support includes an annular sidewall with a generally horizontal portion, the generally horizontal portion including the upwardly opening recess.
5. 5. The shipping container of claim 4 wherein the lower stabilization support has an inverted cup shape.
6. 6. The shipping container of claim 5 wherein the upwardly opening recess is configured with an annular flange spaced from the generally horizontal portion.
7. 7. The shipping container of any of claims 1-6 wherein the lower stabilization support includes at least one opening extending through the lower stabilization support.
8. 8. The shipping container of claim 7 wherein the opening is disposed through an upper end of the lower stabilization support.
9. 9. The shipping container of any of claims 1-8 wherein the upper guard has a generally conical structure.
10. 10. The shipping container of any of claims 1-9 wherein the lower surface of the upper guard includes a generally rounded lower surface.
11. 11. The shipping container of any of claims 1-10 wherein the upper guard includes an upper flange from which a spacing structure extends to the lower surface, the spacing structure having generally conical structure.
12. 12. The shipping container of claim 11 wherein the spacing structure includes at least one protrusion configured to be received within the system.
13. 13. The shipping container of claim 12 wherein the spacing structure includes at least one opening through the at least one protrusion.
14. 14. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein the upper guard includes at least one opening therethrough.
15. 15. A method of shipping a system for supporting at least one living cell, the system including an upwardly directed system cavity, the method comprising: positioning a lower stabilization support within a container, positioning the system supporting the at least one live cell within an upwardly opening recess of the lower stabilization support, positioning a well of an upper guard within the upwardly directed system cavity of the system, and disposing a lid on the container and removably coupling the lid to the container to support the system within the container cavity between the container and the lid.
16. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein positioning the lower stabilization support includes positioning an inverted generally cup-shaped lower stabilization support within the container.
17. 17. The method of claim 15 wherein positioning the system includes engaging at least one surface of the system with at least one surface of the lower stabilization support.
18. 18. The method of claim 15 wherein positioning the well includes engaging at least one surface of the upper guard with at least one surface of the system.
19. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein positioning the well includes positioning the upper guard with the well spaced from a membrane of the system.
20. 20. The method of claim 15 further including providing at least one media within the container prior to disposing the lid on the container.

Description

DESCRIPTION SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR SYSTEM SUPPORTING LIVE CELLS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0001] This invention was made with Government support by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This patent disclosure relates generally to shipping containers, and, more particularly to a containers for shipping live cells and cell cultures. BACKGROUND [0003] Snapwell and Transwell are systems utilized for the support of cell lines and cell cultures. Snapwells generally include a polycarbonate membrane supported by a detachable ring, cells being supported on the membrane. Transwells similarly include a membrane with a support structure. [0004] Transportation of such arrangements may be challenging, however. The growing use of the Snapwell and Transwell cell culturing systems for various tissue transplantation applications requires a reliable way to transport tissues without damaging them. Some tissues can be frozen for the ease of transportation, some not. Those that cannot be frozen and grown on Snapwells do not have any available, secure shipment options. SUMMARY [0005] The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a shipping container for receiving a system for supporting at least one live cell. The shipping container includes a container and a lid. The container and the lid are configured to be removably coupled together to form a container cavity therebetween. The shipping container further includes a lower stabilization support and an upper guard. The lower stabilization support is sized to be received within the container, and includes an upwardly opening recess configured to receive and support at least a portion of the system. The upper guard includes a lower surface that is sized to be at least partially received within an upwardly directed system cavity of the system. In this way, the lower stabilization support and upper guard are configured to securely support the system within the container cavity between the container and the lid. [0006] The disclosure describes, in another aspect, a method of shipping a system for supporting at least one tissue. The method includes positioning a lower stabilization support within a container, positioning a system supporting at least one live cell within an upwardly opening recess of the lower stabilization support, positioning a well of an upper guard within an upwardly directed system cavity of the system, and disposing a lid on the container and removably coupling the lid to the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING! S) [0007] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a shipping container for live cells according to this disclosure. [0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shipping container of FIG. 1 housing an exemplary system for the support of cell lines and cell cultures in the form of a Snapwell system. [0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded, side elevational view of the shipping container and Snapwell system of FIG. 2. [0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lid of the shipping container of FIGS. 1-3. [0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the upper guard of the shipping container of FIGS. 2-3 [0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the Snapwell system supported in the shipping container of FIGS. 2-3. [0013] FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower stabilization support of the shipping container of FIGS. 1-3. [0014] FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the bottom container of the shipping container of FIGS. 1-3. [0015] FIG. 9 is an isometric, exploded view of the shipping container and Snapwell system of FIGS. 2-3. [0016] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the upper guard of FIGS. 2-3 and 5. [0017] FIG. 11 is an exploded, side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a shipping container and an exemplary system for the support of cell lines and cell cultures in the form of a Transwell system. [0018] FIG. 12 is an isometric, exploded view of the shipping container and the Transwell system of FIG. 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] This disclosure relates to shipping containers for supporting and shipping supporting systems for live cell lines and cell cultures. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “at least one live cell” will be utilized to refer to one or more of live cell lines, cell cultures and tissues. [0020] Known systems 100, 130 for the support of cell lines and cell cultures include, for example, Snapwell systems 100 and Transwell systems 130. These systems 100, 130 typically include membrane or other support surface supported by a surrounding polymeric housing that provides access to the cells supported on membrane. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “system for supporting at least one live cell” will refer to systems such as, but not limited to, the Snapwell and Transwell systems, which are designed to support cell lines, cell cultures, and ti