GB2478703A

GB2478703A - Trays with interleaved openings for the storage and transport of vials

Info

Publication number: GB2478703A
Application number: GB1004171A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helen Seebacher; Stefanie Naiser; Christina Marx; Manuela Senf; Raoul Dinter
Original assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2010-03-15
Filing date: 2010-03-15
Publication date: 2011-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-15
Also published as: GB2478703B; GB201004171D0

Abstract

A vial package 200 comprises a first tray 210 and a second tray 220, each including an array of recesses 230 to retain a portion of a vial 240. When the package 200 is closed the recesses of each tray are inward pointing, and the recesses 230 of the first tray 210 are offset from the recesses 230 of the second tray 220. Therefore each recess of each tray can hold a vial, and the vials will not contact each other when the package closes. The trays may be hinged or swivel mounted (250). The second tray may be placed on top of the first tray as a lid. The two trays may be identical with one inverted relative to the other in the closed position. The recesses are ideally arranged in a checkered pattern. The end of a vial which is not held by recess 220 preferably contacts the other tray, possibly at a further set of recesses (330). The trays may be plastic and may include a lock.

Description

INTERLEAVING VIAL PACKAGE

BACKGROUND ART

[0001] The present invention relates to a vial package, in particular for accommodating vials used in chromatography applications such as in gas chromatography (GO) or liquid chromatography (LC).

[0002] In high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), as an example for chromatography in general, a liquid has to be provided usually at a very controlled flow rate (e. g. in the range of microliters to milliliters per minute) and at high pressure (typically 20-100 MPa, 200-1000 bar, and beyond up to currently 200 MPa, 2000 bar) at which compressibility of the liquid becomes noticeable. For liquid separation in an HPLC system, a mobile phase comprising a sample fluid with compounds to be separated is driven through a stationary phase (such as a chromatographic column), thus separating different compounds of the sample fluid which may then be identified.

[0003] The mobile phase, for example a solvent, is pumped under high pressure typically through a column of packing medium (also referred to as packing material), and the sample (e.g. a chemical or bioogicaI mixture) to be analyzed is injected into the column. As the sample passes through the column with the liquid, the different compounds, each one having a different affinity for the packing medium, move through the column at different speeds. Those compounds having greater affinity for the packing medium move more slowly through the column than those having less affinity, and this speed differential results in the compounds being separated from one another as they pass through the column.

[0004] The mobile phase with the separated compounds exits the column and passes through a detector, which identifies the molecules, for example by spectrophotometric absorbance measurements. A two-dimensional plot of the detector measurements against elution time or volume, known as a chromatogram, may be made, and from the chromatogram the compounds may be identified. For each compound, the chromatogram displays a separate curve or"peak". Effective separation of the compounds by the column is advantageous because it provides for measurements yielding well defined peaks having sharp maxima inflection points and narrow base widths, allowing excellent resolution and reliable identification of the mixture constituents. Broad peaks, caused by poor column performance, so called Internal Band Broadening" or poor system performance, so called "External Band Broadening" are undesirable as they may allow minor components of the mixture to be masked by major components and go unidentified.

[0005] In such chromatography applications, smaller amounts of liquid have to be handled, e.g. by providing sample liquid into the mobile phase and by retrieving separated sample compounds. This is typically provided by so-called samplers of fraction collectors, as disclosed e.g. in US 5,424,037 A ("An apparatus for handling liquid vials in an analytical device"), US 6,148,680 A ("A sample injector for a high-pressure liquid chromatograph"), or US 7,473,399 B2 ("Dispensing volumes of liquids using a flap septum").

[0006] Vials are used in HPLC applications to transport and store such smaller amounts of liquid. Vial packages containing plural vials are disclosed e.g. in US 2007/0272587 Al ("Vial package). These vials are often made of glass and transported in boxes containing, for example, up to one hundred vials at a time. The vials might crack or break during transportation thus creating an inconvenience or in some instances, a safety hazard for the transporter during shipment and for customers when opening the package.

[0007] After transport the vials are removed from the vial package and may be inserted e.g. into a sampler or fraction collector. This is usually done by hand requiring sufficient space around each vial to grip and remove it from the vial package. Such requirement for sufficient space, however, contravenes the typical requirement to reduce transportation space.

DISCLOSURE

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved vial package, in particular chromatography applications, balancing the contravening requirements of sufficient handling space and reduce transportation space. The object is solved by the independent claim(s). Further embodiments are shown by the dependent claim(s).

[0009] According to embodiments of the present invention a vial package comprises a first tray and a second tray. Each tray has a plurality of spaced apart openings disposed therein with dimensions corresponding to a portion of a vial, such as an upper portion of the vial (with and/or without a vial closure or cap). The openings of the first tray are located interleaving to the openings of the second tray when the vial package is in a closed position. In the closed position, the second tray is located on top of the first tray, and the openings of both, the first tray and the second tray, are inside the vial package. In the closed position, the vial package thus provides a compact and dense packing of the vials. When the vial package is opened, the interleaving structure of the openings and thus of the vials located therein, allows providing sufficient space around each vial to conveniently grip and remove it from the vial package.

[0010] The term "interleaving" may be understood that in the closed position of the vial package, the openings of the first tray and the second tray are located with respect to each other in a way that, when the openings of the second tray are projected on a plane containing the openings of the first tray, the openings will not intersect.

Accordingly, the term "interleaving" may also be understood that in the closed position, the openings of the first tray and the second tray are located with respect to each other in a way that any vial located in any opening of the first tray will not touch into any opening of the second tray, and vice versa.

[00111 In one embodiment, the first tray and the second tray are hinged at one edge, allowing to open and close the vial package. Preferably, the second tray can be swivel-mounted to the first tray, for example, at one lateral side of the second tray to one lateral side of the first tray. Hinging of the trays in the vial package allows to easily and conveniently open and close the vial package. Due to the interleaving arrangement of the openings of the first tray and second tray, vials located in the openings of the first tray and the second tray will interleave, when the vial package is closed.

[0012] In one embodiment, the second tray is on top of the first tray and providing a lid thereto, when the vial package is in the closed position. In such position, the second tray is preferably upside down on the first tray.

[0013] In an open position of the vial package, the second tray is preferably side by side with the first tray, e.g. in case the trays are hinged together.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first tray is provided identical to the second tray. The first tray and the second tray are arranged with respect to each other, so that in the closed position the arrangement of the openings is mirror-image by an axis cutting the planes of the first tray and the second tray in their respective middles. Such identical shaping of the first and second trays allows to cost efficiently produce such vial package, which then only requires one type of trays rather than two. The identical trays are preferably arranged to be side by side and having the same orientation, when being in an open state. The first and second trays are then preferably hinged at the sides facing each other. In the closed position, such arrangement of the vial package thus requires the same area and space than a non-interleaving vial package (with all vials positioned with the same sense of direction in one tray and having a lid for closing the vial package), as described in the introductory part of the description. However, when opening the vial package according to the present invention, one part of the vials which has been put into the openings of the first tray are located in the first tray, while the remaining vials which have been inserted into the openings of the second tray are located in the second tray, thus leaving more space around each vial. In contrast thereto, all vials inserted into a conventional and non-interleaving vial package are located in the first tray when opening the vial package, while the lid (i.e. the second tray) remains empty. In a symmetric design of the first and second trays, each having the same number of openings, this leads to only half of the density of vials with respect to such conventional vial package.

[0015] In one embodiment, the openings in the first as well as in the second tray are arranged in lines and columns. When the number of lines as well as number of columns is even, the first and second trays might be provided identically (as illustrated above) and preferably arranged side by side in the open state. In case the number of lines as well as the number of columns is odd, the arrangement of openings in the first tray and the second tray can represent positive and negative.

[0016] In one embodiment, one or more of the openings disposed in each of the first and second trays defined a recess that extends below an upper surface of the tray.

This allows to easily insert the viais into the recesses. When the vial package is closed and one or more vials are located in the vial package, each via' may be held at its lower portion in a respective opening of one of the first and second trays and abutting at its upper side to the upper surface of the other one of the first and second trays.

[0017] In one embodiment, the dimensions of one or more of the openings disposed in the trays define a press fit or a close fit for the lower portion of the vial, so that the vials are securely held in the vial package, in particular during transport and when opening the vial package.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first tray and the second tray each have a plurality of spaced apart second openings disposed therein with dimensions corresponding to a portion of the vial. The second openings of the first tray are also located interleaving to the second openings of the second tray when the vial package is closed. Preferably, the first openings have dimensions corresponding to a lower portion of the vial, while the second openings have dimensions corresponding to an upper portion of the vial (with or without a cap of the vial). Alternatively or in addition, the dimensions of the first openings define a press-fit, and the dimensions of the second openings define a close or even loose fit, thus (securely) holding the vials in position, in particular during transport, when the vial package is in the closed position, but allows avoiding that vials may still be held and stick with their upper portion (e.g. the vial head or lid) in the second openings when opening the vial package.

[0019] In one embodiment, a lock or locking mechanism is provided for locking the vial package in the closed position. This allows to securely transport the vial package and avoids an unwanted opening of the vial package. The lock might be provided by any suitable locking mechanism as readily known in the art. In one embodiment, the lock is provided by a form fit of a shape of the second tray engaging in a shape of the first tray. In other words, the first and second trays are provided with matching shapings to lock the vial package in the closed position by providing a form fit of the matching shapings of the first and second trays. Alternatively or in addition, a locking mechanism might be provided for locking the vial package in the open position, e.g., to avoid an unintended closing of the vial package.

[0020] The trays are preferably made of or comprise a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic material and/or a hard plastic material. Other suitable materials as commonly applied for vial packaging may be used accordingly, in particular such materials disclosed by the documents cited in the introductory part of the description, which teaching shall be incorporated herein by reference.

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention might be used in most conventionally available chromatography systems, such as the Agilent 1290 Series Infinity system, Agilent 1200 Series Rapid Resolution LC system, ortheAgilent 1100 HPLC series (all provided by the applicant Agilent Technologies -see wailer�^t.corn -which shall be incorporated herein by reference).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following more detailed description of embodiments in connection with the accompanied drawing(s). Features that are substantially or functionally equal or similar will be referred to by the same reference sign(s). The illustration in the drawing is schematically.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a liquid separation system 10, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, e.g. used in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

[0024] Figs. 2A-2E show different views of a vial package 200 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] Fig. 3A shows a cross sectional view through the vial package 200 in its closed position according to Fig. 2D.

[0026] Fig. 3B shows an alternative design wherein each of the first and second trays 210 and 220 further has a plurality of spaced apart second openings 330.

[0027] Figs. 4A and 4B show different designs of the openings 230.

[0028] Figs. 5A and 5B show examples of designs of the openings 230 arranged in columns 500 and rows 510.

[0029] Fig. 6 shows in cross-sectional view a preferred embodiment of a lock 600 for securely locking the vial package 200 in the closed position.

[0030] Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate in cross sectional view embodiments allowing to stack plural vial package 200.

[00311 Figs. BA and 8B illustrate in cross sectional view embodiments allowing to stack plural empty vial package 200.

[0032] Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, Fig. I depicts a general schematic of a liquid separation system 10. A pump 20 receives a mobile phase from a solvent supply 25, typically via a degasser 27, which degases and thus reduces the amount of dissolved gases in the mobile phase. The pump 20 -as a mobile phase drive -drives the mobile phase through a separating device 30 (such as a chromatographic column) comprising a stationary phase. A sampling unit 40 can be provided between the pump 20 and the separating device 30 in order to subject or add (often referred to as sample introduction) a sample fluid into the mobile phase. The stationary phase of the separating device 30 is adapted for separating compounds of the sample liquid. A detector 50 is provided for detecting separated compounds of the sample fluid. A fractionating unit 60 can be provided for outputting separated compounds of sample fluid. A data processing unit 70, which can be a conventional PC or workstation, might be coupled (as indicated by the dotted arrows) to one or more of the devices in the liquid separation system 10 in order to receive information and/or control operation.

[0033] In the liquid separation system 10 according to Fig. 1, sample liquid has to be handled and provided to, within and from the system 10. For example, different sample liquids to be analyzed have to be provided to the sampling unit 40, which then injects the sample liquid into the mobile phase. The separated compounds of the sample liquid, as provided by the fractionating unit 60, might also be retrieved and collected. In both cases, vials (in particular glass vials) are often used, which are transported in vial packages.

[0034] Figs. 2A-2E show different views of a vial package 200 according to embodiments of the present invention. Figs. 2A-2D show in three dimensional view different open and closed positions of the vial package 200, and Fig. 2E shows a two-dimensional top view of the vial package 200 corresponding to Fig. 2A.

[0035] The vial package 200 comprises a first tray 210 and a second tray 220. Each tray 210 and 220 has a plurality of spaced apart openings 230 disposed in the respective tray, as can be seen best in Fig. 2E. The dimensions of the openings 230 correspond to a lower portion of a vial 240, so that the vials 240 (when inserted) are securely held in the respective openings 230.

[0036] Fig. 2A shows the vial package 200 in an open position, wherein each of the first tray 210 and the second tray are open top sided allowing to insert and/or remove respective vials 240 into or from respective openings 230 of the vial package 200.

[0037] As can be better seen in Fig. 2E as well as in Figs. 3A and 3B, the openings 230 of the first tray 210 are located interleaving to openings 230 of the second tray 220, so that when the vial package 200 is closed, as can be seen in different steps in Figs. 2B-2D, the vials 240 inserted into the second tray 220 will interleave with the vials 240 inserted into the first tray 210 when closing the vial package 200. Fig. 2D then shows the vial package 200 in a closed position. In such closed position, the second tray 220 is located on top of the first tray 210, and all openings 230 of both the first and second trays 210 and 220 are inside the vial package 200. Due to the interleaving arrangement of the openings 230 in the first and second trays 210 and 220, any vial 240 located in any opening 230 of the first tray 210 will not touch into any opening 230 of the second tray 220, and vice versa.

[0038] Turning back to Fig. 2A, it can be seen that the first tray 210 and the second tray 220 are hinged (reference numeral 250) at one edge, allowing to open and close the vial package 200. This is also illustrated in Figs. 2B and 20. In the embodiment of Figs. 2A-2E, the second tray 220 is swivel-mounted to first tray 210 at its lateral side 260 to a lateral side 270 of the first tray 210.

[0039] In the closed position of Fig. 2D and as also shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the second tray 220 is on top of the first tray 210 and provides a lid thereto. Accordingly, the second tray 220 is upside down on the first tray 210.

[0040] Fig. 3A shows a cross sectional view through the vial package 200 in its closed position according to Fig. 2D. Each opening 230 is provided by a respective recess that extends below an upper surface 300 of the respective tray 210 and 220. It is clear that the term "extends below an upper surface" is meant with respect to the open position as depicted in Fig. 2A. In the closed position as shown Fig. 3A, each vial 240 is held at its lower portion 310 in a respective opening 230 and abutting at its upper side 320 to the upper surface 300 of the opposing tray.

[0041] Fig. 3B shows an alternative design wherein each of the first and second trays 210 and 220 further has a plurality of spaced apart second openings 330, which are also disposed therein with dimensions corresponding to the upper side 320 of the vials 240. Also, the second openings 330 of the first tray 210 are located interleaving to the second openings 330 of the second tray 220, when the vial package 200 is closed.

In the closed position, the second openings 330 are arranged opposing the first openings 230, so that each vial 240 is held with its lower portion 310 in the first opening 230 and with its upper portion 320 held in a respective second opening 330. In order to ensure that the vials 240 are securely held by the respective first openings when opening the vial package 200, the vial openings 230 are designed as press-fit, while the second openings 330 are defined as close-fit or even loose-fit.

[0042] Figs. 4A and 4B show different designs of the openings 230, which apply mutatis mutantis to the second openings 330 accordingly. Fig. 4A shows -in cross sectional view -on the left side a design, wherein the shape of the opening 230 corresponds to the shape of the lower portion 310 of the vial 240, and on the right side a design providing a spring loaded fit of the opening 230. In Fig. 4B, top views of various shapings of the opening 230 are depicted, with a circular shape on the very left, a rectangular shape on the second left, a rectangular cushion shape in the middle, a tray angular shape on the second right, and a tray angular cushion shape on the very left. The cushion type shape in Fig. B corresponds to the spring-type design on the right side of Fig. 4A.

[0043] Fig. 5A shows an example of a design of the openings 230 (depicted as circles) arranged in columns 500 and rows 510. Fig. 5A shows the top view of the open position. In the example of Fig. 5A, the second tray 220 will be positioned on top of the first tray 210 when being in the closed position, so that the opening in the top left field (denoted by an "X") will be on top of the top right field (also denoted by an "X") in the first tray 210. The top right field (denoted by the "X") in the first tray 21 does not contain a first opening 230 but may contain a second opening 330 (not shown) in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 3B. From this representation in Fig. 5A it becomes apparent that when using such design with an even number of rows and columns, the first tray 210 and the second tray 220 can be designed to have an identical arrangement of the first openings 230, and may even be fully identical.

[0044] Turning now to Fig. 5B, which shows an embodiment with an odd number of columns and rows for the arrangement of the first openings 230. Corresponding to the representation in Fig. 5A, an "X" is indicated in the corresponding fields of the trays 210 and 220, which in the closed position will be on top of each other. As apparent from Fig. 5B, the design of the first tray 210 and second tray 220 has to be positive and negative to ensure the interleaving of the vials in the closed position.

[0045] Fig. 6 shows in cross-sectional view a preferred embodiment of a lock 600 for securely locking the vial package 200 in the closed position. At least one edge 610 of the first tray 210 and a corresponding edge 620 of the second tray 220 are shaped to form-fit in the closed position. It is clear that any kind of suitable locking mechanism as readily known in the art can be applied for the lock 600.

[0046] Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate in cross sectional view embodiments allowing to stack plural vial package 200. In the embodiment of Fig. 7A, two vial package 200A and 200B (each in closed state) are stacked on top of each other. The interleaving arrangement of openings 230 into the respective upper surfaces 300 allows that the vial packages 200A and 200B can be securely stacked on each other. It is clear that the maximum number of vial packages to be stacked on top depends mainly on the firmness of the material used for the trays.

[0047] Fig. 7B illustrates an embodiment wherein plural trays are stacked on top of each other in open state, each tray with its openings 230 opening upwards and respective vials 240 placed into the openings 230. In this embodiment, the first tray 210 with is arranged at the bottom. The second tray 220 is placed on the first tray 210, and a third tray 700 is on top of the second tray 220. While the embodiment of Fig. 7B shows all openings 230 filled with respective vials 240, it is clear that not all openings 230 have to be filled but only as many as required to securely hold the tray(s) on top.

[0048] Figs. 8A and 8B illustrate in cross sectional view embodiments allowing to stack plural empty vial package 200. In the embodiment of Fig. 8A, three empty trays 800, 810 and 820 are stacked on top of each other, each with its openings 230 facing upwards. In the embodiment of Fig. 8B, three vial packages 830, 840 and 850 are stacked on top of each other, also each with its openings 230 facing upwards.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A vial package (200) comprising: a first tray (210) and a second tray (220), each having a plurality of spaced apart openings (230) disposed therein with dimensions corresponding to a portion of a vial (240), wherein the openings (230) of the first tray (210) are located interleaving to the openings (230) of the second tray (220) when the vial package (200) is a closed position, wherein the second tray (220) is located on top of the first tray (210), and the openings (230) of both the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) are inside the vial package (200).
2. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, comprising at least one of: in the closed position, the openings (230) of the first tray (210) and of the second tray (220) are located with respect to each other iii a way that when the openings (230) of the second tray (220) are projected on a piain containing the openings (230) of the first tray (210), the openings (230) will not intersect; in the closed position, the openings (230) of the first tray (210) and of the second tray (220) are located with respect to each other in a way that any vial (240) located in anyopening (230)ofthefirsttray(210)will nottouch intoanyopening (230) of the second tray (220), and vice versa.
3. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) are hinged (250) at one edge, allowing to open and close the vial package (200).
4. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, wherein the second tray (220) is swivel-mounted (250) to the first tray (210).
5. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, wherein -11 -the second tray (220) is swivel-mounted (250) at one lateral side (260) to one lateral side (270) of the first tray (210).
6. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein when the vial package (200) is in the closed position, the second tray (220) is on top of the first tray (210) and providing a lid thereto.
7. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, wherein the second tray (220) is upside down on the first tray (210).
8. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein when the vial package (200) is in an open position, the second tray (220) is side by side with the first tray (210).
9. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein the first tray (210) is identical to the second tray (220), and the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) are arranged with respect to each other, so that in the closed position, the arrangement of the openings (230) is mirror imaged by an axis cutting the planes of the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) in their middles.
10. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein the openings (230) are arranged in lines and columns.
11. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, comprising one of: the number of lines as well as the number of columns is even; the number of lines as well as the number of columns is odd, and the arrangement of openings (230) in the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) represent positive and negative.
12. The vial package (200) of claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein one or more of the openings (230) disposed in each of the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) define a recess that extends below an upper surface of the tray.
13. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, wherein when the vial package (200) is closed and one or more vials (240) are located in the vial package (200), each vial (240) is held at its lower portion (310) in a respective opening (230) of one of the first and second trays (220) and abutting at its upper side (320) to the upper surface of the other one of the first and second trays (220).
14. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein the dimensions of one or more of the openings (230) disposed in the tray define a press fit or a close fit for the lower portion of the vial (240).
1 5. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) each have a plurality of spaced apart second openings (330) disposed therein with dimensions corresponding to a portion of the vial (240), the second openings (330) of the first tray (210) are located interleaving to the second openings (330) of the second tray (220) when the vial package (200) is closed.
1 6. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, comprising at least one of: the first openings (230) have dimensions corresponding to a lower portion of the vial (240), and the second openings (330) have dimensions corresponding to an upper portion of the vial (240); the dimensions of the first openings (230) define a press fit, and the dimensions of the second openings (330) define a close fit.
17. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein one or more of the openings (230) have dimensions corresponding to a one of a lower and an upper portion of the vial (240).
18. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, further comprising a lock for locking the vial package (200) in the closed position.
19. The vial package (200) of the preceding claim, wherein the lock is provided by a form-fit of a shape of the second tray (220) engaging in a shape of the first tray (210).
20. The vial package (200) of the claim 1 or any of the above claims, wherein at least one of the first tray (210) and the second tray (220) is made of or comprises a plastic material, preferably a thermoplastic material and/or a hard plastic material. -14-