Passively temperature-regulated shipping container suitable for biological, pharmaceutical materials or food products

Abstract

Disclosed is a shipping container suitable for use for pharmaceuticals, biological materials, blood or tissues, or food products, having a double-walled multiple-chamber structure, wherein a first phase change material, with a phase change temperature between 2° to 8° C. (and in a preferred embodiment, 5°C.) in a payload chamber, and wherein the container includes one or more first chambers surrounding and sharing a wall with the payload chamber, and housing ice (or ice gel packs). A lid fits over (or is hinged to) the upper edges of the walls to seal the container and the payload.

1 . A shipping container for food product or pharmaceutical, biological materials that require temperature maintenance at refrigeration levels, comprising: 
 an outer perimeter wall, and an insulating wall surrounded by the outer wall;    one or more first chambers between the interior side of the outer wall and the outer side of the insulating wall, and an inner chamber, designed to accommodate the payload, surrounded by the insulating wall;    a removable lid on one side of the container; and    a lower side opposite the lid; and wherein a material which has a temperature of about 0° C. is positioned in the first chamber, and a phase change material having a solid to liquid phase change temperature in a range from 2° to 8° C. is positioned in the inner chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the phase change material has a solid to liquid phase change temperature at 5° C.  
   
   
       3 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the phase change material is decanol.  
   
   
       4 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the outer perimeter wall and the outer surface of the insulating wall define the first chambers, and the inner surface of the insulating wall defines the inner chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein additional insulating material is positioned in the inner chamber or first chamber, or in both.  
   
   
       6 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the insulating wall and the outer wall are made of expanded polystyrene, urethane, and/or include a vacuum panel or an air baffle.  
   
   
       7 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the payload is biological materials, including cells, pharmaceuticals, blood or tissues or food products,  
   
   
       8 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the removable lid is attached by hinges to a portion of the outer wall.