AU2006254092B2

AU2006254092B2 - Refrigerator for storing vials and cartridge for use in the same

Info

Publication number: AU2006254092B2
Application number: AU2006254092A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Philip Nigel Bordet-Stead; David Helps; Gaynor Hillier; Tanja Langgner; Stephen Murray
Original assignee: Intervet International BV
Current assignee: Intervet International BV
Priority date: 2005-06-03
Filing date: 2006-06-01
Publication date: 2010-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-01
Also published as: AU2006254092A1; JP5006872B2; CN101218478A; EP1891388B1; CN101218478B; BRPI0611010B1; JP2008545485A; PT1891388T; EP1891388A1; BRPI0611010A2; RU2367858C1; DK1891388T3; ES2714380T3; WO2006128897A1

Description

WO 2006/128897 PCT/EP2006/062819 Refrigerator for storing vials and cartridge for use in the same The invention relates to a refrigerator for storing vials containing a (bio)pharmaceutical substance, in particular vaccines for animals, comprising a cabinet having an internal space for accommodating the vials arranged in 5 columns, a cooling element for cooling the internal space and at least one door or dispenser for removing vials from the internal space. The invention also relates to a cartridge suitable for use in such a refrigerator. Refrigerators for storing vials are known. German 10 utility model DE 20007889 Ul relates to an insulated case (denoted by numeral 1 in the Figures) for medication, having a thermal insulation layer (2), holders for ampoules, a heat deflection plate (4) linked to a Peltier module (5), and a fan. An electronic control block (6) has a voltage control, 15 an operating voltage control system, an overheating protection system and a thermostat. The control block (6) controls the Peltier module (5) and the fan. Further, the front wall of the case serves as a door. WO 87/07704 relates to a refrigerant cell designed 20 to receive insulin ampoules. Its size is such that it can accommodate ampoules of all European manufactures. The refrigerant cell is suitable for a refrigeration unit designed for mains and battery use. DK 468 380 relates to a device for a refrigerator 25 driven by a compressor with a cold accumulator placed against the side walls in the storing compartment of the refrigerator in order to enable the use of the refrigerator with maintained storing temperature even under long-term conditions of disruption of the power supply to the 30 compressor. The cold accumulator consists of a number of vertical tubes 17 standing tightly against each other and containing a fluid having a freezing point around 0 degrees centigrade. The tubes 17 are brought into place by means of 2 a top frame 18 resting on a flat 19 in the upper edge of the refrigerator and having a chute for the tubes. Object of the Invention 5 It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a refrigerator for storing vials containing a (bio) 10 pharmaceutical substance, comprising: a cabinet having an internal space for accommodating the vials arranged in columns, a cooling element for cooling the internal space, and a plurality of guides located inside the space and adapted to slidingly is accommodate columns of the vials, wherein each of the columns extends to a door or dispenser of the refrigerator for removing vials from the internal space, and wherein for each of the columns, the guides extend along a length of the column to a position adjacent the door or dispenser associated with that column such that a vial present in that column is retained in that 20 column until the vial is removed from the refrigerator. Preferably, each of the guides or each set of guides comprises a dispensing section where the vials can be removed from the guides. Preferably, the dispensing section is on one end of the respective guide or set of guides. 25 The guides facilitate a more systematic, safe and/or hygienic use of the refrigerator and, as will be explained below, enable the use of one or more relatively small entrances e.g. one or more relatively small doors or dispensers, such as one or more drawers or air locks. Preferably, the columns extend in a direction having a vertical component and/or 30 at least some of the guides or sets of guides are associated with a means for biasing associated vials towards a dispensing section. In such embodiments, gravity and/or a spring or the like can be employed to urge the vials towards e.g. a dispensing section at one end of the guides, thus holding the vial(s) at the said dispensing section in place and 3 pushing remaining vials towards the dispensing section when a vial in that section is removed. Preferably, the door or dispenser is located at a dispensing section of one or more 5 columns and allows access to a limited number of vials. Preferably, the door or dispenser allows access to a maximum of three columns or part of such columns. If the door(s) respectively the dispenser (s) is (are) located at the dispensing section of one or more columns and allows access to a limited number of vials or even a 10 single vial, fluctuations of temperature inside the internal space are effectively reduced. Preferably, the guides or sets of guides are part of cartridges removably mounted inside the space. Preferably, the refrigerator comprises at least one door on both ends of the guides. Preferably, the cabinet comprises at least two mutually detachable housings, and 15 the guides are disposed in a first housing having the internal space, and the cooling element is disposed in a second housing. Thus, the first housing is portable and can be taken along by e.g. a doctor or veterinarian. Especially if the first housing will be transported over relatively large distances or otherwise be separated from the second housing for prolonged periods of 20 time, it is preferred that the means of transport of the said person (s), typically a car or van, or, for instance, a second surgery or annex, is equipped with an auxiliary second housing comprising a cooling element. Preferably, a front wall of the cabinet is at least partially transparent. Preferably, said (bio) pharmaceutical substance is a vaccine for animals. 25 The present invention further provides a cartridge for use in the above-described refrigerator, the cartridge comprising guides adapted to slidingly accommodate a plurality of vials, wherein the cartridge comprises two parallel side walls connected by a rear wall and separated by a distance that is slightly greater than the width of the vials for which the cartridge is intended, and wherein the cartridge comprises two lips, inclined towards a 30 central plane of the cartridge and extending along most of the length of the side walls.

3a Preferably, said vials contain a pharmaceutical substance. Preferably, said pharmaceutical substance is a vaccine for animals. Within the framework of the present invention, the word 'cartridge' includes 5 cassettes, clips, and indeed any entity suitable for slidingly holding a column of vials. Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: to Figure 1 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the present invention, with a top door and a bottom door opened. Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views of respectively an empty and a filled cartridge suitable for use in a refrigerator. It is noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that details, which are is not required for understanding the present invention, may have been omitted. The terms "upper", "lower", "vertical", "horizontal", "front", "rear", "side", and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the figures. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an WO 2006/128897 PCT/EP2006/062819 4 at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral. Figure 1 shows a refrigerator 1 according to the present invention for storing vials containing a 5 pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical substance, in particular vaccines for animals. The refrigerator 1 comprises a cabinet 2 having a rear housing 3 to be mounted on a wall or inside a vehicle and a front housing 4 detachably mounted, e.g. by means of hooks and slots, magnets or Velcro, on the front 10 side of the rear housing 3. The rear housing 3 contains a cooling element (not shown), preferably a Peltier element sandwiched between two thermally conductive plates, e.g. two aluminium plates, the front one of which extends over a substantial section of the 15 front wall of the rear housing 3. Ventilation grids 5 are included in the bottom and top surfaces. Further, the rear housing 3 comprises a ventilator for cooling the hot side of the cooling element, a control unit connected to the cooling element and the ventilator, as well as to a connector 20 provided in the front wall of the rear housing 3, and a battery pack or a transformer to be connected to the mains or a battery of a vehicle. The front housing 4 corresponds in width and height to the rear housing 3 and comprises three sets of doors 6, 25 7, 8, all providing access to an internal space 9 accommodating a large number of vials 10 arranged in substantially vertical columns along guides, as will be explained below. The lowermost doors 8 extend substantially vertically and the upper rim of each of these doors 6 is 30 pivotally connected to the front housing 4. By pivoting one of these doors 8 forwards and upwards, the lowermost vials 10 in a group of e.g. three adjacent columns is exposed, thus allowing removal of the vials 10 from the respective columns.

WO 2006/128897 PCT/EP2006/062819 5 The uppermost doors 6 extend substantially horizontally and are pivotally mounted in the upper wall of the front housing 4. By pivoting one of these doors 6 upwards and backwards, again a group of e.g. three adjacent 5 columns of vials 10 is exposed. When the front housing 4 is mounted on the rear housing 3, the rear wall of the front housing 4 abuts the Peltier element. Although permanent guides, such as vertical ducts 10 or partition walls, extending along the columns inside the internal space 9 will provide an effective means for slidingly accommodating the vials 10, it is preferred that elongated cartridges 11 are removably mounted side-by-side in the space 9. 15 An example of a preferred cartridge 11, intended for use in the present refrigerator 1, is shown in Figures 2A and 2B. This preferred cartridge 11 comprises two parallel side walls 12 connected by a rear wall 13 and a bottom wall 14. The side walls 12 are separated by a 20 distance that is slightly larger than the width of the vials 10. In this preferred embodiment, the bottom wall 14 has been adapted to the shape of the vials 10, i.e. has a semi circular cross-section. Two retaining strips 15, inclined towards the plane of symmetry of the cartridge 11, extend 25 along almost the entire length of the side walls 12, i.e. to a distance above the bottom wall 14 that corresponds to the width of the vials 10. Together with the side walls 12, the retaining strips 15 form effective guides for slidingly holding a column of vials 10 and define a dispensing 30 position at the bottom end of the cartridge 11, i.e. the lowermost vial 10 can be pulled out of the cartridge 11 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the column of remaining vials. Although the dispensing position can in principle 35 also be employed to fill the cartridge 11 with vials, it is WO 2006/128897 PCT/EP2006/062819 6 preferred that the cartridge 11 further comprise a filling section, preferably on the other end of the cartridge 11 as shown in Figures 2A and 2B. I.e., the cartridge 11 can be filled by entering vials into a top opening of the cartridge 5 11 with the necks of the vials 10 sliding in between the retaining strips 15. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the front wall of the front housing 4 further comprises one or more e.g. two relatively large doors 7 providing access to the 10 internal space 9 for maintenance or cleaning. Alternatively, the front wall is fixedly attached to or forms an integral whole with the front housing 4. The front wall further comprises a switch to turn the Peltier element on or off and a warning light to 15 indicate that a selected threshold value, stored in the control unit, for minimum temperature has been reached. Alternatively or additionally, the cabinet can be provided with e.g. a regulator for setting the required temperature, a small display showing the set and/or actual temperature 20 (measured e.g. by means of thermocouples located in the internal space), and/or a speaker for sounding an alarm when the selected threshold has been reached. The rear wall of the front housing is provided with a connector-counterpart, which is detachably connected to the connector on the front 25 wall of the rear housing and which thus connects the said switch, warning light, regulator, display and other elements for operating the refrigerator to the control unit. The walls of the rear and front sections are preferably made of an injection moulded thermoplastic 30 polymer, such as ABS, PC or a fibre-filled PP. The walls of at least the front housing are thermally insulated by means of e.g. a layer of an expanded polyurethane or polyester foam and, optionally, a reflective film of aluminium, sandwiched between inner and outer walls of the said 35 injection moulded thermoplastic polymer. Insulated sections WO 2006/128897 PCT/EP2006/062819 7 on the doors are preferably surrounded by seals (16), such as rubber rings. Further, it is preferred that part of the front wall, e.g. the lower sections of the relatively large doors 5 7, are made of a transparent material, such as a clear double-skinned PS or PC, so as to allow personnel using the cabinet to see which vials, and hence which pharmaceutical substance, is in which row. The cartridges are also preferably made of an 10 injection moulded thermoplastic polymer, in particular a clear PC. During use, the refrigerator is mounted on e.g. a wall of a surgery of a veterinarian, the Peltier element is switched on and, when a sufficiently low temperature has 15 been reached, the top doors are opened and cartridges, each containing a plurality of vials, are loaded into the internal space. The vials in each cartridges or group of cartridges contain a different vaccine and include, for instance, cartridges containing freeze-dried pellets 20 (lyophilisates or "cakes") of PPi, Parvo-C, Corona, KC, DHPPI, and Puppy DP (as denoted in the Intervet product catalogue 2005). When a specific vaccine is to be administered, the corresponding lower door is opened and a vial is taken from the appropriate column and a diluent, 25 typically water, a water-in-oil emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion is injected into the vial to obtain an injectable substance. From the above description, it will be clear that the refrigerator according to the present invention 30 facilitates or even imposes a more systematic, safe and/or hygienic use and that only a limited amount of the cooled air inside the refrigerator will escape during the removal of a vial, substantially avoiding a significant reduction of the temperature inside.

WO 2006/128897 PCT/EP2006/062819 8 Although the cartridges can be filled with individual vials by personnel using the present refrigerator, e.g. by a veterinary or an assistant, it is preferred to distribute, through existing channels, pre 5 filled cartridges or even pre-filled (front) housings containing columns of vials. The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiments, which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. For instance, the 10 cabinet preferably comprises an additional compartment for storing pre-filled syringes or a diluent. To prevent the injectable substance from being too cold, it is preferred that the cooling (Peltier) element does not extend over the compartment for storing the diluent or that this compartment 15 is isolated from the cooling element.

Claims

1. A refrigerator for storing vials containing a (bio) pharmaceutical substance, comprising: 5 a cabinet having an internal space for accommodating the vials arranged in columns, a cooling element for cooling the internal space, and a plurality of guides located inside the space and adapted to slidingly accommodate columns of the vials, to wherein each of the columns extends to a door or dispenser of the refrigerator for removing vials from the internal space, and wherein for each of the columns, the guides extend along a length of the column to a position adjacent the door or dispenser associated with that column such that a vial present in that column is retained in that column until the vial is removed from the refrigerator. 15

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the guides or each set of guides comprises a dispensing section where the vials can be removed from the guides.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing section is on one end of the respective guide or set of guides. 20

4. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the columns extend in a direction having a vertical component and/or at least some of the guides or sets of guides are associated with a means for biasing associated vials towards a dispensing section.

5. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 25 the guides or sets of guides are part of cartridges removably mounted inside the space.

6. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the door or dispenser is located at a dispensing section of one or more columns and allows access to a limited number of vials.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the door or dispenser 30 allows access to a maximum of three columns or part of such columns.

8. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one door on both ends of the guides. 10

9. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cabinet comprises at least two mutually detachable housings, and wherein the guides are disposed in a first housing having the internal space, and the cooling element is 5 disposed in a second housing.

10. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a front wall of the cabinet is at least partially transparent.

11. A refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said (bio) pharmaceutical substance is a vaccine for animals. to

12. A cartridge for use in a refrigerator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the cartridge comprising guides adapted to slidingly accommodate a plurality of vials, wherein the cartridge comprises two parallel side walls connected by a rear wall and separated by a distance that is slightly greater than the width of the vials for which the cartridge is intended, and wherein the cartridge comprises two lips, inclined is towards a central plane of the cartridge and extending along most of the length of the side walls.

13. The cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said vials contain a pharmaceutical substance.

14. The cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said pharmaceutical 20 substance is a vaccine for animals.

15. A refrigerator for storing vials containing a (bio) pharmaceutical substance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A cartridge for use in a refrigerator substantially as hereinbefore 25 described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 9 September, 2010 Intervet International B.V. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON 30