GB2226630A

GB2226630A - Surgical transit box

Info

Publication number: GB2226630A
Application number: GB8829190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Walmsley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-14
Filing date: 1988-12-14
Publication date: 1990-07-04
Also published as: GB8829190D0

Abstract

A storage and transportation device which allows for the delivery of severed digits to a place of replantation, donor organs, bio samples etc., ensuring that the correct ambient conditions are observed. The container 10 is insulated and recessed so that the objects placed within in a sterile wrap e.g. a polythene bag are held securely in a cavity which is kept at a temperature below the level where bacterial growth may multiply, temperature being controlled by the placement of chemical bags 23 within the container which when their contents are mixed give an endothermic reaction at a pre-designed level of cooling. An integral handle 18 allows ease of movement of the container whilst moulded catches keep the whole product intact. <IMAGE>

Description

SURGICAL TRANSIT ROX This invention relates to means for transporting severed digits, donor organs or laboratory sample containers in a condition where the medium being transported is kept in a controlled temperature until required.

at the present time there is no ideal medium for the transportation of severed or partially severed limbs readily available. to the general public, although doctors or trained first aiders would protect the digit in a suitable manner providing a clean covering but ideally enclosing this with a covering of ice, such as the colilinonly used system of a polythene lined box filled with crushed ice giving the closest to the ideal cliinatic conditions necessary to protect the limb/donor organ to the place of replantation, avoiding degradation or damage caused by rough handling or depositing and transporting in liquids or containers unsuitable for the purpose.

Successful replantation of limbs or organs requires safe transportation of the Indium but at the present time the general public are unaware of the correct procedures to be observed or do not have suitable containers or systems at hand to aid them.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for the. storage and transportation of biological articles for example severed limbs or digits, donor organs, and samples, comprising:- a transportable outer container, a heat-insulating lining of expanded plastics material enclosed in said container and defining within said lining a chamber or chambers for a said article or articles, a sterilised wrap for said article(s), and self-contained heat-absorbing means arranged to extract heat from said chamber(s).

The heat-absorbing means can for example be a pouch containing a material which changes phase when triggered thereby absorbing heat, or an enclosure for a solvent and solute which absorb heat when the solute is dissolved in the solvent, or constituent materials which when mixed or triggered will react endotherlnically.

filso according to the invention there is provided a storage and transportation system for severed or partially severed limbs or digits which is so designed that the object placed within the container will he kept in ideal conditions until received at the place of replantation, comprising an expanded polyurethane or polystyrene Moulding, acting as an insulation medium, encased totally within an injection moulded container, said container having carrying facilities such as an incorporated handle and locking devices for security of lid and base during transportation, included within the container are two pouches each containing two coinpartinents, first compartment containing a salt mixture whilst the second contains a water and additive solution both compartments being separated by a Inoulded rod and sliding clip device which when removed allows the two compartment components to Inix, creating an endothermic reaction, in addition there will be a polythene bag for the placeinent of the severed part, said bag will have been sterilized to reduce the bacteria liable to coine in contact with the severed liinh or digit so aiding successful transplantation.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows in perspective, and partly cut away, the first device ebodying the invention Fig. 2 shows a device according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a cross-section of hat-absorbng unit.

Figure 1 shows a transportation container comprising an injection moulded box 10 produced from four individual parts 11, 12, 13, 14 which interlock together to form an enclosure for an expanded polystyrene inner moulding 15 coinprising a top 16 and bottom 17, the base section of the container 12 is attached to the top 11 by a hinge system 20 and closes by neans of two noulded catches 21, 22. R carrying handle 18 is part of the lid and base assetnbly.

Figure 2 shows a container generally similar to that of Fig. 1, but having the handle and catches placed on a shorter side instead of a longer side, and having the internal thermal insulation in the form of a bottom tray and a cover plate, whereas in Fig. 1 the top part of the expanded polystyrene thermal insulation is hollow, having depending side walls, Internal to the box 10 are two cooling pouches 23 containing mixtures for producing cooling effects.Each pouch has two separable compartments of which a first compartment 24 contains water plus specific additives, the second compartment 27 contains a salt endothernically soluble in water, preferably a hydrated salt, and a means of separating these components, this being the preferred method of cooling although other methods have previously been identified such as in GS Patent 1393114.The pouches can be manufactured from plastic materials such as polythene, polyethylene, P.V,C. etc. and may also contain foil, backed webs with various sealing mediums extruded to the foil whilst separation of the two mixable components is achieved by a rigid menber 25 extending across the width of the pouch held firnly in position by a sliding extrusion 26 or moulding shaped to slide across the rigid member with pouch material being nipped firmly between the two, ensuring that no transference of water or salts is made from their respective compartments until the member 25 is removed or released. Sdditionally within the confines of the moulded box is a bag to accept the severed digit or donor organ, said bag being manufactured from various materials although the preferred embodiment would he polythene. n protective fluid flay be used in the bag to reduce bacterial infection.

It is a requirement that the container and pouches have clear indentifications that the product shall be used for first aid emergency procedures and will be highlighted by the recognised international graphics.

The cooling pouches may have handle portions allowing ease of chemical mixing.

an external covering of the insulation may be produced by injection moulding, pressure forming, vacuum forming or fabrication using polypropylene, polyethylene, polysulfone, polystyrene. or copolymers of styrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene polymers, acrylics, cellulosics, polyamide polymers, acetal, polycarbonate or fluoroolefin polyiner materials.

The carrier portion of the container may be moulded directly as an integral part of the. box or attached by various known means of fixing i.e. riveting, adhesives, contact pads etc.

The container may be held closed by moulded locking tabs, toggle or magnetic catches.

Pouch retainer clips may be produced from a snap enclosure device either moulded from polyolefins or fabricated froin non corroding metals.

The container and insulation moulding can be of varying sizes to allow for alternative uses, e.g, larger limbs, donor origans, laboratory samples of serum carriers, The base ad the lid of the container may be located by means of an integral hinge, location points being placed together and held by locks or catches.

fin insert may be placed within the container, said insert having various cored areas to accept various forms of laboratory and medical bottles, vials and test tubes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. n device for the storage and transportation of biological articles for example severed limbs or digits, donor organs, and samples, comprising: a transportable outer container, a heat-insulating lining of expanded plastics material enclosed in said container and defining within said lining a chamber or chambers for a said article or articles, a sterilised wrap for said article(s), and self-contained heat-absorbing means arranged to extract heat from said chamber(s).

2. 5 storage and transportation system for severed or partially severed limbs or digits which is so designed that the object placed within the container will be kept in ideal conditions until received at the place of replantation, comprising an expanded polyurethane or polystyrene moulding, acting as an insulation mediun, encased totally within an injection Inoulded container, said container having carrying facilities such as an incorporated handle and locking devices for security of lid and base during transportation, included within the container are two pouches each containing two compartments, first compartment containing a salt mixture whilst the second contains a water and additive solution both compartments being separated by a moulded rod and sliding clip device which when removed allows the two compartment coInponents to mix, creating an endothermic reaction, in addition there will be a polythene bag for the placenent of the severed part, said bag will have been sterilized to reduce the bacteria liable to come in contact with the severed limb or digit so aiding successful transplantation.

3. 5 storage and transportation means substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.