Clean Transportation System

Abstract

A method of transporting a biological material container between a sterile field and a nonsterile field and substantially maintaining sterility of the biological material container. A first portion with a first end of the container is inserted into an inner cavity of a first member of a housing assembly. A second member of the housing assembly is coupled to the first member such that a second portion of the biological material container is covered by the second member. A second end of the biological material container opposite to the first end is covered with a cap member of the housing assembly such that the biological material container is full encapsulated within the housing assembly to maintain sterility in the nonsterile field. A container port of the biological material container is coupled to a cap port extending through the housing assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transporting a biological material container between a sterile field and a nonsterile field and substantially maintaining sterility of the biological material container, the method comprising:
 encapsulating the biological material container within a housing assembly, the housing assembly including a first member, a second member removably coupled to the first member, and a port providing communication into the biological material container from outside the housing assembly, the biological material container including a first portion covered by the first member and a second portion covered by the second member and extending from the first member;   introducing a biological material into the biological material container via the port;   transporting the biological material container within the housing assembly between the sterile field and the nonsterile field;   decoupling the second member from the first member;   exposing the second portion of the biological material container; and   removing the biological material container from the first member via the second portion of the biological material container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing a cap member from the housing assembly to expose a third portion of the biological material container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoupling the second member from the first member and removing the biological material container from the second member while the biological material container is coupled to the first member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein decoupling the second member from the first member comprises breaking a frangible coupling between the first and second members. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein decoupling the second member from the first member comprises sliding the second member relative the first member and away from the port. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accommodating side ports of the biological material container in side members extending from a first end of the second member. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising frictionally coupling a cap member to the second member. 
     
     
         8 . A method of transporting a biological material container between a sterile field and a nonsterile field and substantially maintaining sterility of the biological material container, the method comprising:
 inserting a first portion and a first end of the biological material container into an inner cavity of a first member of a housing assembly, the inner cavity formed between an open end and a closed end of the first member;   coupling a second member of the housing assembly to the first member such that a second portion of the biological material container is covered by the second member;   covering a second end of the biological material container opposite to the first end with a cap member of the housing assembly such that the biological material container is fully encapsulated within the housing assembly to maintain sterility in the nonsterile field; and   coupling a container port of the biological material container to a cap port extending through the housing assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 introducing a biological material into the biological material container via the container port;   transporting the biological material container within the housing assembly between the sterile field and the nonsterile field;   decoupling the second member from the first member;   exposing the second portion of the biological material container; and   removing the biological material container from the first member via the second portion of the biological material container.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising sliding the second member relative to the first member away from the container port to decouple the second member from the first member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein decoupling the second member from the first member comprises breaking a frangible coupling between the first and second members. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing the cap member before decoupling the second member from the first member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein removing the cap member comprises pulling opposite tabs of the cap member away from the second member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising accommodating side ports of the biological material container in side members extending from a first end of the second member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising frictionally coupling the cap member to the second member. 
     
     
         16 . A method of transporting a biological material container between a sterile field and a nonsterile field and substantially maintaining sterility of the biological material container, the method comprising:
 inserting a first end of the biological material container into an inner cavity of a hollow member of a housing assembly, the inner cavity formed between an open end and a closed end of the hollow member;   covering a second end of the biological material container opposite to the first end with a cap member of the housing assembly such that the biological material container is fully encapsulated within the housing assembly to maintain sterility in the nonsterile field; and   coupling a container port of the biological material container to a cap port extending through the housing assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 transporting the biological material container within the housing assembly between the sterile field and the nonsterile field;   decoupling the cap member from the hollow member; and   removing the hollow member from the biological material container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 covering a first portion of the biological material container with the cap member; and   covering a second portion of the biological material container with the hollow member.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising accommodating side ports of the biological material container in side members extending from the open end of the hollow member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising frictionally coupling the cap member to the hollow member. 
     
     
         21 . A method of transporting a biological material container between a sterile field and a nonsterile field and substantially maintaining sterility of the biological material container, the method comprising:
 transporting a biological material container fully encapsulated within a housing assembly between the sterile field and the nonsterile field;   decoupling a second member of the housing assembly from a first member of the housing assembly, wherein the first member covers a first portion of the biological material container and the second member covers a second portion of the biological material container;   exposing the second portion of the biological material container; and   removing the biological material container from the first member via the second portion of the biological material container.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising sliding the second member relative to the first member away from a port of the biological material container communicating with the housing assembly to decouple the second member from the first member. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein decoupling the second member from the first member comprises breaking a frangible coupling between the first and second members. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising removing a cap member fully encapsulating the biological material within the housing assembly before decoupling the second member from the first member. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein removing the cap member comprises pulling opposite tabs of the cap member away from the second member.