Mailer for cell culture apparatus

Abstract

A mailer for shipping cells contained in a cell culture apparatus, wherein the mailer comprises a containment system that can absorb and contain within the mailer a fluid that may leak from the cell culture apparatus. The containment system comprises an absorbent material that surrounds the cell culture apparatus; a liquid impermeable layer which seals the absorbent material so as to contain the fluid within the mailer; and a leak proof seal formed between a top panel of the mailer and a bottom section of the mailer into which is inserted the cell culture apparatus.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A mailer for shipping cells contained within a cell culture apparatus comprising: 
 a housing comprised of a gas-permeable, absorbent material, wherein the housing has a bottom section having a recessed area adapted to receive the cell culture apparatus, wherein the housing has a top panel which is openable and closable with respect to the bottom section, and wherein the top panel may be detachably secured to the bottom section in forming a leak-proof seal;    a liquid impermeable layer adapted to seal the absorbent material; and    a liquid impermeable, pressure sensitive adhesive.    
     
     
         2 . The mailer according to  claim 1 , wherein the top panel further comprises a liquid impermeable, pressure sensitive, non-permanent adhesive for detachably securing the top panel to the bottom section.  
     
     
         3 . The mailer according to  claim 2 , further comprising a release liner which is detachably secured to the liquid impermeable, pressure sensitive, non-permanent adhesive.  
     
     
         4 . The mailer according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material has the absorbing capacity of greater than 3 times the maximum liquid volume of the cell culture apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The mailer according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional sheets of absorbent material which are placed adjacent to, and in contact with, the cell culture apparatus inserted into the recessed area.  
     
     
         6 . The mailer according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid impermeable layer is gas-permeable.  
     
     
         7 . The mailer according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid impermeable layer is a coating.  
     
     
         8 . The mailer according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid impermeable layer is a sheet which is adhesively secured to the absorbent material by use of a liquid impermeable, pressure sensitive, permanent adhesive.  
     
     
         9 . The mailer according to  claim 1 , wherein the mailer further comprises a hinge means for hinging together the top panel and bottom section.  
     
     
         10 . The mailer according to  claim 1 , wherein the mailer further comprises a side pouch secured to an exterior surface of the mailer.  
     
     
         11 . A mailer for shipping cells contained within a cell culture apparatus, wherein the mailer comprises a containment system that can absorb and contain within the mailer a fluid that may leak from the cell culture apparatus, and wherein the containment system comprises: 
 an absorbent material that surrounds the cell culture apparatus;    a liquid impermeable layer which seals the absorbent material so as to contain the fluid within the mailer; and    a leak proof seal formed between a top panel of the mailer and a bottom section of the mailer, wherein the bottom section has a recessed area into which is inserted the cell culture apparatus, and wherein the top panel is detachably secured to the bottom section.    
     
     
         12 . A method of using the mailer according to  claim 3 , the method comprising: inserting a cell culture apparatus into the recessed area; removing the release liner from the liquid impermeable, pressure sensitive, non-permanent adhesive; and closing the top panel to contact the bottom section to seal and detachably secure the top panel to the bottom section.