PL74251Y1 - Container for safe transport of biological material - Google Patents

Description

Description of the design The subject of the utility model is a container for the safe transport of test tubes containing biological material, in particular for the safe transport of infectious material, including the transport of test tubes with swabs containing biological material collected from patients suspected of having an infection or infected with a pathogen, such as microorganisms or viruses.

One of the essential steps in the medical diagnosis of infections is determining the presence and identification of the pathogen. For some infections, testing material includes swabs from the upper respiratory tract (e.g., nose, mouth, nasopharynx, etc.) or fluid samples (e.g., lavage fluid, sputum, etc.).

Swabs are collected using special sterile swabs enclosed in a plastic casing, which is a type of tube filled with a transport medium, which is usually in liquid form.

If such a tube is damaged, there is a risk of releasing the pathogen into the environment.

In cases where a large number of tubes containing potentially hazardous biological material must be transported within a short timeframe, the availability of appropriate transport containers becomes crucial. These containers ensure the safety of the collected material and optimal temperature conditions during transport. The availability of such transport containers becomes particularly important in epidemic conditions. For example, during the COVID-19 epidemic, laboratory diagnosticians frequently complained about the lack of transport of swabs containing patient samples in secure containers. The methods used to transport samples often did not allow for the safe opening or extraction of swabs from the often improvised transport containers. According to data from the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, "approximately 5% of samples submitted to diagnostic laboratories are prepared and sent in a way that makes their diagnosis impossible" (source: https://www.pzh.gov.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Komunikat-ws-pakowania-i-transportu-probek-do- badan-COVID-19-143020-gjrg.pdf).

From the above, it is clear that there is a need to provide a solution that will enable safe transport of samples with biological material, ensuring appropriate and flexible temperature conditions for sample transport, while at the same time ensuring physical protection against sample damage.

The solution to the mentioned problems of the prior art is provided by a transport container having the features mentioned in the independent protective claim of the present disclosure, with preferred embodiments of the solution according to the utility model being defined in the attached dependent claims.

The subject of the utility model is therefore a container for the safe transport of test tubes with biological material, comprising a double-walled container body open at a first end and a container closing means coupleable to the body, adapted to tightly close the container at said first end of the body, wherein the container body according to the utility model has a peripheral inner wall and a peripheral outer wall surrounding it, wherein both the inner and outer walls run coaxially, the inner wall of the body at the other end of the body is circumferentially connected in a tight manner to the bottom wall of the body, forming a transport chamber open at the first end of the body intended for receiving a test tube with biological material, the outer wall of the container at the other end of the body is also circumferentially connected in in a sealed manner with the bottom wall and is also sealed over its entire extent between the first and second ends of the body to the inner wall and the bottom wall by at least two partition walls, thereby forming at least two insulating chambers sealed from each other by said partition wall, which surround said transport chamber disposed therebetween and which are open at the first end of the body, wherein at its first end the body is provided with engaging means adapted to engage with corresponding engaging means provided in said container closing means, the engagement of said engaging means ensuring the sealing of said transport chamber and preferably also of said insulating chambers.

In a preferred aspect of the container according to the utility model, the outer wall of the body in cross-section has the outline of a regular polygon. In such a preferred aspect, the number of said partition walls connecting the peripheral outer wall of the body with its peripheral inner wall corresponds to the number of angles of said polygon. In another preferred aspect of the solution according to the utility model, the peripheral outer wall of the body in cross-section has the outline of an equilateral triangle, a square, or a regular pentagon, and most preferably has the shape of a regular hexagon in cross-section.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the container according to the utility model, the container closing means is additionally equipped with a sealing means for closing said insulating chambers and the transport chamber. In a particularly preferred embodiment, said sealing means is in the form of a ring equipped with projections with a shape corresponding to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers and/or the transport chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the insulating chambers is filled with a coolant or a substance neutralizing biological contamination, and particularly preferably each of the insulating chambers in the body contains one of the said fillings, wherein the opening of each of the insulating chambers located at the first end of the body is closed with the said sealing means.

For the purposes of the utility model, a double-walled container body according to the utility model is understood as a body having two walls, i.e. a peripheral inner wall and a peripheral outer wall surrounding it, wherein both walls are circumferentially and tightly connected to the bottom wall at the second end of the body, and at the first end of the body remain open, providing access to the spaces bounded by the said walls. As a result, the circumferential inner wall together with the bottom wall tightly connected thereto defines the space of the first chamber of the container, open at the first end of the body and constituting a transport chamber in the container according to the utility model, intended to accommodate the transported test tube, wherein the shape and dimensions of the transport chamber are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the transported test tube.

The peripheral outer wall, together with the bottom wall tightly connected thereto, defines a space surrounding the transport chamber, said space also being open at the first end of the body, and, according to the utility model, said space is divided by at least two partition walls into at least two separated spaces constituting insulating chambers. For the purposes of the utility model, said partition wall is a wall connecting the peripheral inner wall with the peripheral outer wall along the entire length of the outer wall between the first and second ends of the body and also tightly connecting with the bottom wall. The placement of two partition walls tightly connecting the inner, outer, and bottom walls results in the creation of two mutually sealed and separated spaces, which in the solution according to the utility model act as isolation chambers.

Accordingly, three partition walls provide the separation of three chambers, four walls provide four chambers, etc.

As mentioned above, the isolation chambers are open at the first end of the body, providing access to the spaces surrounding the transport chamber, separated by partition walls.

Depending on needs, by opening the insulating chambers, these chambers can be filled with a coolant or insulating agent. The solution according to the utility model provides full flexibility in preparing the transport container depending on the type of material being transported. Thus, the chambers can be alternately filled with: a gel or a coolant fluid (maintaining a specific temperature after cooling), or activated carbon or another neutralizing agent, depending on the intended use of the transporter according to the utility model.

Engagement means are provided at a first end of the body, which are adapted to engage with the engagement means provided in the container closure means corresponding to the body's engagement means. An example of a container closure means may be a cap, adapted in shape and size to enable the transport chamber opening to be closed and preferably also the insulating chambers to be opened. Such a cap is provided with engaging means that are engageable with corresponding engaging means provided at the first end of the container body, whereby engagement of said closing means ensures tight sealing of at least said transport chamber, and preferably also of the insulating chambers, if they are filled with the above-mentioned means. An example of engaging means provided at the first end of the body that are adapted to engage with engaging means provided in the container closure could be an external thread provided on the surface of the body that is engageable with an internal thread provided in the cap. The mutual engagement of the engaging means, i.e., in this embodiment, screwing the cap onto the body, ensures a tight closure of the container. In a preferred embodiment of the utility model, the cap is made of a material identical to the material from which the container body is made. In another preferred embodiment, the cap is also equipped with a means to additionally seal the closure.

If the insulating chambers are not used as reservoirs for insulating/neutralizing agents, it is sufficient to provide a tight closure of the transport chamber. If the insulating chambers are filled, the opening of each filled insulating chamber located at the first end of the body may be closed with a sealing agent. For the purposes of the utility model, a sealing agent should be understood as a seal adapted in size and shape to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers. The sealing agent may be, for example, plugs made of chlorobutyl-isoprene rubber or another material with similar properties, corresponding in shape to the shape of the chamber opening and intended to close said opening, for example, by being pressed into the opening, ensuring a tight seal of the chamber. Additional sealing in this solution can be provided by a cap closing the transport chamber, which, when screwed onto the thread provided at the first end of the body, can simultaneously provide pressure on the said plug, further securing the closure of the insulating chambers and ensuring the tightness of the system. In the most advantageous embodiment of the utility model, the sealing means can also be in the form of a circumferential O-ring seal with an internal diameter corresponding to the diameter of the transport chamber opening, additionally equipped with projections adapted in size and shape to the size and shape of the insulating chamber opening. The projections close the openings of the insulating chambers through a positive fit, and the circumferential seal can also be pressed by the said cap. Alternatively, instead of the aforementioned O-ring shape, the sealing means may also take the form of a disc, with the aforementioned protrusions on the edge adapted in size and shape to the size and shape of the openings of the insulating chambers. In this variant, the protrusions form a positive fit to close the openings of the insulating chambers, and additionally, after tightening the cap, the circumferential seal simultaneously further seals the transport chamber.

The outer circumferential wall can be circular or have a regular polygon cross-section, such as an equilateral triangle, square, or regular pentagon. However, the designers unexpectedly discovered that shaping the outer wall of the container body in the form of a regular hexagon not only provides the best ergonomics for transport and operator handling, but also ensures a longer period of maintaining the lower temperature.

The container body, the closing means, and the sealing means can be manufactured by known methods, such as injection molding or 3D printing. Particularly preferred materials for manufacturing the container according to the utility model are known in the art and include metal, curable resins, or other materials known to those skilled in the art (e.g., aluminum, composite materials).

The dimensions of the container body are preferably selected so that the tube protrudes from the container and fits into the cap, ensuring easy removal of the tube from the container. In this variant, the sealing agent used is in the shape of the aforementioned O-ring. It should be emphasized that by changing the dimensions of the container body during production (primarily the length and diameter of the transport chamber), the container can be adapted to the target transport type of tubes.

The utility model ensures the safe transport of biological material, including infectious material, collected in appropriate tubes (particularly tubes containing swabs), in a manner that prevents the release of the pathogen into the environment in the event of tube damage. This objective is achieved through the design of the container as defined in the utility model.

Test tubes placed in containers according to the utility model may be transported collectively in any other collective packaging (such as cardboard boxes, baskets) provided they are transported in a vertical position, in accordance with the recommendations for transporting biological material to the laboratory.

The most advantageous body, in the shape of a regular hexagonal prism, equipped with six insulating chambers surrounding the transport chamber, enables the efficient use of bulk packaging and – importantly when using a coolant – the arrangement of multiple containers so that their walls are adjacent to each other, further reducing heat exchange with the environment, ensuring that the temperature inside the containers remains lower than the ambient temperature for a longer period of time. This is particularly important when transporting certain samples, e.g., samples from which genetic material in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) is to be isolated. This solution is simple to manufacture and use. It should be emphasized that the container according to the utility model can constitute secondary packaging as well as outer packaging, which are connected together but separated from each other. Therefore, the container according to the utility model can be used to transport samples in accordance with the general packaging principle required for biological agents causing human diseases (source: http://www.wsse.gda.pl/aktualnosci-i-komunikaty/aktualnosci/1037- wymagania-dotyczace-pobrania-i-transportu-materialu-do-badan-metoda-rt-pcr-w-kierunku-zakazen- -ukladu-oddechowego-powodowanych-przez-koronawirusy-sars-mers-2019ncov-wuhan-chiny).

Further features and advantages of the utility model will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, which are presented solely for illustrative purposes and do not in any way limit the scope of protection defined by the attached patent claims.

The subject of the utility model is shown in embodiment examples in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows a container having an outer wall with an outline in the shape of a regular hexagon, Fig. 2 schematically shows the container according to Fig. 1 in a cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the container, Fig. 3 schematically shows the body of the container according to Fig. 1 in a cross-section in a top view, Fig. 4 schematically shows a container having an outer wall with an outline in the shape of a circle, Fig. 5 schematically shows the container according to Fig. 4 in a cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the container, Fig. 6 schematically shows the body of the container according to Fig. 4 in a cross-section in a top view, Fig. 7 schematically shows a container having a wall outer wall with a triangular outline, Fig. 8 schematically shows the container of Fig. 7 in cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the container, Fig. 9 schematically shows the body of the container of Fig. 7 in cross-section in a top view, Fig. 10 schematically shows a container with an outer wall with a square outline, Fig. 11 schematically shows the container of Fig. 10 in cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the container, Fig. 12 schematically shows the body of the container of Fig. 10 in cross-section in a top view, Fig. 13 schematically shows a container with an outer wall with a regular pentagonal outline, Fig. 14 schematically shows the container of Fig. 13 in cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the container, Fig. 15 schematically shows the container body of Fig. 13 in cross-section in a top view, Fig. 16 schematically shows an example of an embodiment of the sealing means in the form of a circumferential ring with projections corresponding in shape and size to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers in the container body shown in Figs. 1-3 in a bottom view.

Fig. 17 schematically shows an example of an embodiment of a sealing means in the form of a circumferential ring with projections corresponding in shape and size to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers in the body of the container shown in Figs. 1-3 in a side view.

In the drawings described above, the same technical features are marked with the same numerical references.

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a container (100) for the safe transport of test tubes with biological material, comprising a container body (1) and a container closing means (2). As better shown in Fig. 2, which shows the container (100) in cross-section along the longitudinal axis (A), the container body (1) is open at a first end (1') of the body and closed at a second end (1") of the body and has a double-walled structure, i.e., it has a peripheral inner wall (5), a peripheral outer wall (6) and a bottom wall (7) tightly connected to the inner (5) and outer (6) walls. The peripheral inner (5) and outer (6) walls extend coaxially along the longitudinal axis (A). At the first end (1') of the body (1), the peripheral outer wall (6) of the body is provided with a coupling means (4), and the container closing means (2) is equipped with a coupling means (4') corresponding to and coupleable with the coupling means (4).

In the embodiment shown, said coupling means (4, 4') are provided in the form of a thread that allows the container closing means (2) to be screwed onto the body (1), providing a tightly closed container (100). In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3 (and analogously in the following embodiments), the container closing means (2) is provided with a sealing means (3) disposed therein, which in this embodiment is in the form of a disc mounted inside the closing means (2). The sealing means (3) is provided of an elastic material that, after screwing the closing means (2) onto the body (1), seals the closure of the transport chamber (5') and the insulating chambers (6'). As described later, the sealing means (3) may also be in the form of an O-ring with projections corresponding to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers.

As better shown in Fig. 3, which shows the body (1) in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the body (1), the peripheral inner wall (5) and the peripheral outer wall (6) are tightly connected in six places by partition walls (8), said partition walls connecting the peripheral inner wall (5) with the peripheral outer wall (6) and the bottom wall over the entire length of the external wall (5). In this way, the partition walls (8) define six tightly separated insulating chambers (6') between the inner wall (5) and the outer wall (6), wherein, as can be seen in Fig. 3, the insulating chambers (6') surround the transport chamber (5') located between them and defined by the peripheral inner wall (5) (open at the first end (1') of the body (1) and closed at the second end (1") of the body, as shown in the cross-section shown in Fig. 2). In the presented embodiment, the transport chamber (5') has the form of a cylinder, the dimensions of which are selected according to the size of the test tube that the transport chamber (5') is to accommodate. As the insulating chambers surrounding the transport chamber (5') (6') are open at the first end of the body (1), these chambers can be filled with a liquid-absorbing or neutralizing substance (e.g. activated carbon) and/or a coolant, providing protection in the event of damage to the container and the transported test tube and/or maintaining a temperature lower than the ambient temperature.

After placing the test tube in the transport chamber (5'), the isolation chamber (6') and the transport chamber (5') can be closed by engaging the coupling means (4, 4') of the body (1) and the container closure means (2), respectively, which ensures a tight closure of the container (100), enabling safe transport of the test tubes containing biological material. As best seen in Fig. 3, the peripheral outer wall (6) in the shown embodiment has a cross-section in the shape of a regular hexagon, and consequently, the body (1) of the container (100) has the external shape of a regular hexagonal prism. This solution constitutes the most advantageous variant of the container according to the utility model. Since the partition walls (8) define as many as six insulating chambers (6'), it is possible to fill the aforementioned chambers with the above-mentioned substances in various combinations, e.g. by filling every other space with a neutralizing substance alternating with a coolant.

Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a container (100) for the safe transport of test tubes containing biological material, the body of which is cylindrical. Thus, similarly to the previous embodiment, the container (100) comprises a container body (1) and a container closure means (2). As better shown in Fig. 4, which shows the container (100) in cross-section along the longitudinal axis (A), the container body (1) is open at a first end (1') of the body and closed at a second end (1") of the body and has a double-walled structure, i.e. it has a circumferential inner wall (5), a circumferential outer wall (6) and a bottom wall (7) tightly connected to the inner (5) and outer (6) walls. The circumferential inner (5) and outer (6) walls extend coaxially along the longitudinal axis (A). At the first end (1') of the body (1), the circumferential outer wall (6) of the body is provided with a coupling means (4), and the container closing means (2) is equipped with a coupling means (4') corresponding to and coupleable with the coupling means (4).

In the embodiment shown, said engaging means (4, 4') are provided in the form of a thread that allows the container closing means (2) to be screwed onto the body (1), providing a tightly closed container (100). As in the previous embodiment (Figs. 1-3), in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4-6, the container closing means (2) is provided with a sealing means (3) disposed therein. As better shown in Fig. 6, which shows the body (1) in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the body (1), the inner circumferential wall (5) and the outer circumferential wall (6) are tightly connected in four places by partition walls (8), wherein said partition walls connect the inner circumferential wall (5) with the outer circumferential wall (6) and the bottom wall along the entire length of the outer wall (5). In this way, the partition walls (8) define four tightly separated insulating chambers (6') between the inner wall (5) and the outer wall (6), wherein, as can be seen in Fig. 6, the insulating chambers (6') surround a transport chamber (5') located between them, defined by the peripheral inner wall (5) (open at the first end (1') of the body (1) and closed at the second end (1") of the body, as shown in the cross-section shown in Fig. 5). In the presented embodiment, the transport chamber (5') has the form of a cylinder, the dimensions of which are selected in accordance with the size of the test tube which the transport chamber (5') is to accommodate. As the chambers surrounding the transport chamber (5') insulating chambers (6') are open at the first end of the body (1), said chambers can be filled with a liquid-absorbing or neutralizing substance (e.g., activated carbon) and/or a coolant, respectively, providing protection against damage to the container and the transported test tube and/or maintaining a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. After placing the test tube in the transport chamber (5'), the insulating chambers (6') and the transport chamber (5') can be closed by engaging the closing means (4, 4') of the body (1) and the container closing means (2), respectively, which ensures tight closure of the container (100), enabling safe transport of test tubes with biological material. As best seen in Fig. 6, the peripheral outer wall (6) in the shown embodiment has a round the cross-section and consequently the body (1) of the container (100) has the external shape of a cylinder.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a container (100) for the safe transport of test tubes containing biological material, the body of which is in the form of a regular triangular prism. Thus, similarly to the previous embodiments, the container (100) comprises a container body (1) and a container closure means (2). As better shown in Fig. 8, showing the container (100) in cross-section along the longitudinal axis (A), the container body (1) is open at a first end (1') of the body and closed at a second end (1") of the body and has a double-walled structure, i.e., it has a circumferential inner wall (5), a circumferential outer wall (6) and a bottom wall (7) tightly connected to the inner (5) and outer (6) walls. The circumferential inner (5) and outer (6) walls extend coaxially along the longitudinal axis (A). At the first end (1') of the body (1), the circumferential outer wall (6) of the body is provided with a coupling means (4), and the container closing means (2) is provided with an engaging means (4') corresponding to and engageable with the closing means (4). In the embodiment shown, said engaging means (4, 4') are provided in the form of a thread which enables the container closing means (2) to be screwed onto the body (1), providing a tightly closed container (100). In the embodiment shown in figures 7-9, the container closing means (2) is provided with a sealing means (3) arranged therein. As is better shown in figure 9, which shows the body (1) in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the body (1), the circumferential inner wall (5) and the circumferential wall The outer wall (6) is tightly connected in three places by partition walls (8), wherein the said partition walls connect the peripheral inner wall (5) with the peripheral outer wall (6) and the bottom wall (7) along the entire extension of the outer wall (5). In this way, the partition walls (8) define between the inner wall (5) and the outer wall (6) three tightly separated insulating chambers (6'), wherein, as can be seen in Fig. 9, the insulating chambers (6') surround a transport chamber (5') located between them defined by the peripheral inner wall (5) (open at the first end (1') of the body (1) and closed at the other end (1") of the body, as shown in the cross-section shown in Fig. 8). The transport chamber (5') in the shown embodiment has the form of a cylinder, the dimensions of which are selected according to the size of the test tube that the transport chamber (5') is to accept. Since the insulating chambers (6') surrounding the transport chamber (5') are open at the first end of the body (1), said chambers can be filled with a liquid-absorbing or neutralizing substance (e.g., activated carbon) and/or a coolant, respectively, providing protection in the event of damage to the container and the transported test tube and/or maintaining a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. After placing the test tube in the transport chamber (5'), the isolation chamber (6') and the transport chamber (5') can be closed by engaging the coupling means (4, 4') of the body (1) and the container closure means (2), respectively, which ensures a tight seal of the container (100), enabling the safe transport of test tubes containing biological material. As best seen in Fig. 9, in the shown embodiment, the peripheral outer wall (6) has a cross-section of an isosceles triangle, and consequently, the body (1) of the container (100) has the external shape of a regular triangular prism.

Fig. 10 schematically shows an example of an embodiment of a container (100) for the safe transport of test tubes containing biological material, the body of which is in the form of a regular quadrangular prism. Thus, similarly to the previous embodiments, the container (100) comprises a container body (1) and a container closure means (2). As better illustrated in Fig. 11, showing the container (100) in cross-section along the longitudinal axis (A), the container body (1) is open at a first end (1') of the body and closed at a second end (1") of the body and has a double-walled structure, i.e., it has a circumferential inner wall (5), a circumferential outer wall (6), and a bottom wall (7) tightly connected to the inner (5) and outer (6) walls. The circumferential inner (5) and outer (6) walls extend coaxially along the longitudinal axis (A). At the first end (1') of the body (1), the circumferential outer wall (6) of the body is provided with a coupling means (4), and the container closing means (2) is provided with a corresponding and engageable engaging means (4') to the engaging means (4). In the embodiment shown, said engaging means (4, 4') are provided in the form of a thread which enables the container closing means (2) to be screwed onto the body (1), providing a tightly closed container (100). Analogously to the previous examples, in the embodiment shown in figures 10-12, the container closing means (2) is provided with a sealing means (3) disposed therein. As is better shown in Fig. 12, which shows the body (1) in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the body (1), the circumferential The inner wall (5) and the peripheral outer wall (6) are tightly connected in four places by partition walls (8), wherein said partition walls connect the peripheral inner wall (5) with the peripheral outer wall (6) and the bottom wall along the entire length of the outer wall (5). In this way, the partition walls (8) define four tightly separated insulating chambers (6') between the inner wall (5) and the outer wall (6). As can be seen in Fig. 12, the insulating chambers (6') surround a transport chamber (5') located between them, defined by the peripheral inner wall (5) (open at the first end (1') of the body). (1) and closed at the other end (1") of the body, as shown in the cross-section shown in Fig. 11). The transport chamber (5') in the shown embodiment is in the form of a cylinder, the dimensions of which are selected according to the size of the test tube that the transport chamber (5') is to accommodate. Since the insulating chambers (6') surrounding the transport chamber (5') are open at the first end of the body (1), said chambers can be filled with a liquid-absorbing or neutralizing substance (e.g., activated carbon) and/or a coolant, respectively, providing protection in the event of damage to the container and the transported test tube, and/or maintaining a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. After placing the tube in the transport chamber (5'), the isolation chamber (6') and the transport chamber (5') can be closed by engaging the coupling means (4, 4') of the body (1) and the container closing means (2), respectively, which ensures a tight closure of the container (100), enabling safe transport of the tubes with biological material. As best seen in Fig. 12, the peripheral outer wall (6) in the shown embodiment has a square cross-section, and consequently the body (1) of the container (100) has the external shape of a regular quadrangular prism.

Fig. 13 schematically shows an example of a container (100) for the safe transport of test tubes containing biological material, the body of which is in the form of a regular pentagonal prism. Thus, similarly to the previous embodiments, the container (100) comprises a container body (1) and a container closure means (2). As better illustrated in Fig. 14, showing the container (100) in cross-section along the longitudinal axis (A), the container body (1) is open at a first end (1') of the body and closed at a second end (1") of the body and has a double-walled structure, i.e., it has a circumferential inner wall (5), a circumferential outer wall (6), and a bottom wall (7) tightly connected to the inner (5) and outer (6) walls. The circumferential inner (5) and outer (6) walls extend coaxially along the longitudinal axis (A). At the first end (1') of the body (1), the circumferential outer wall (6) of the body is provided with a coupling means (4), and the container closing means (2) is provided with a corresponding engaging means (4') that is engageable with the engaging means (4). In the embodiment shown, said engaging means (4, 4') are provided in the form of a thread that allows the container closing means (2) to be screwed onto the body (1), providing a tightly closed container (100). In the embodiment shown in Figures 13-15, the container closing means (2) is provided with a sealing means (3) arranged therein. As is better illustrated in Figure 15, which shows the body (1) in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the body (1), the circumferential inner wall (5) and the circumferential The outer wall (6) is tightly connected in five places by partition walls (8), wherein the said partition walls connect the peripheral inner wall (5) with the peripheral outer wall (6) and the bottom wall along the entire length of the outer wall (5). In this way, the partition walls (8) define five tightly separated insulating chambers (6') between the inner wall (5) and the outer wall (6), wherein, as can be seen in Fig. 15, the insulating chambers (6') surround the transport chamber (5') located between them and defined by the peripheral inner wall (5) (open at the first end (1') of the body). (1) and closed at the other end (1") of the body (1), as shown in the cross-section shown in Fig. 14). The transport chamber (5') in the shown embodiment has the form of a cylinder, the dimensions of which are selected according to the size of the test tube that the transport chamber (5') is to accommodate. Since the insulating chambers (6') surrounding the transport chamber (5') are open at the first end of the body (1), said chambers can be filled with a liquid-absorbing or neutralizing substance (e.g., activated carbon) and/or a coolant, providing protection in the event of damage to the container and the transported test tube and/or maintaining a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. After placing the test tube in the transport chamber (5'), the isolation chamber (6') and the transport chamber (5') can be closed by engaging the coupling means (4, 4') of the body (1) and the container closing means (2), respectively, which ensures tight closure of the container (100), enabling safe transport of the test tubes with biological material. As best seen in Fig. 15, in the shown embodiment, the peripheral outer wall (6) has the cross-section of an isosceles pentagon, and consequently, the body (1) of the container (100) has the external shape of a regular pentagonal prism.

Fig. 16 schematically shows an embodiment of a sealing means (3) intended to seal the insulating chambers (6') of the container (100) shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 in a bottom view, and Fig. 17 schematically shows an embodiment of a sealing means (3) intended to seal the container (100) shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 in a side view. The sealing means (3) is in the form of a circumferential seal (9') in the form of an O-ring equipped with projections (9"), the size and shape of which are adapted to the size and shape of the opening of the insulating chambers. The sealing means made of a flexible material, combined with the shape of the projections being adapted to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers at the first end of the body, ensures that when the projections are pressed into the said chamber openings, a positive fit seals the said openings of the insulating chambers. Furthermore, the circumferential seal thus provided can also be additionally pressed by the container closing means by screwing it onto the container body (not shown in the drawing).

The presented embodiments were subjected to the tests described in the examples below.

Example 1 Comparison of the temperature properties of containers with different outer wall shapes, as shown in Fig. 1-15, made of the same material (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, ABS). Containers with different outer wall shapes made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS), filled with coolant and activated carbon, were placed at -20°C for 12 hours. After this time, temperature probes from the MEATER Block kit (four wireless probes and a temperature recording device enabling data transmission to a dedicated app) were inserted into the containers. The transporters were then sealed and left at room temperature. The MEATER Block probes transmitted the temperature readings to a dedicated smartphone app, allowing for temperature monitoring. Monitoring was planned until a temperature of 25°C was reached.

Although the study found no significant effect of the shape of the individual container body on the time it took to maintain the reduced temperature, the container with a regular hexagonal outer wall also maintained the reduced temperature for a longer time. All tested containers maintained the temperature below 25°C for approximately 4 hours, but the container with a regular hexagonal outer wall maintained the temperature below 25°C for more than 5 hours.

Example 2 Comparison of the thermal properties of containers with an external body in the form of a regular hexagonal prism made of different materials: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate with an admixture of glycol (PETG), and polylactic acid (PLA). Containers made of different materials, filled with coolant and activated carbon, were placed inside the containers for 12 hours at -20°C. After this time, a temperature probe from the MEATER Block kit (four wireless probes and a temperature recording device; data can be transmitted to a dedicated application) was inserted into the containers, after which the containers were sealed and left at room temperature. MEATER Block probes transmitted temperature readings to a dedicated smartphone app, allowing for temperature monitoring. Monitoring was planned until a temperature of 25°C was reached.

Considering the materials from which the prototypes were made, all tested containers required more than 5 hours to reach room temperature (room temperature is assumed to be 25°C). Among the materials analyzed, PLA showed the longest time to reach 25°C, being the most resistant to the influence of ambient temperature.

Example 3 The effect of testing the mechanical strength of a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) carrier, created by repeatedly dropping a 2 kg steel element from a height of 1 m onto a container placed on a stable, level surface. A 2 kg steel element was repeatedly dropped from a height of 1 m onto a carrier placed on a stable, level surface. These tests were intended to verify the container's stability when stepped on with a swab. The tests were performed until mechanical damage occurred, damaging the coating and releasing the contents (activated carbon and coolant) of the carrier. Repeated dropping of a 2 kg steel element from a height of 1 m ultimately resulted (after at least several drops of the 2 kg element) in the breakage of the prototypes.

The shape of the prototype had no influence on the changes in mechanical strength.

Example 4 Result of testing the mechanical strength of a container made of polyethylene terephthalate with glycol (PETG) by repeatedly dropping it onto a hard concrete surface from a height of 2 m. The prototypes were placed at a height of 2 m and dropped onto a hard concrete surface multiple times. Each time, the integrity of the housing was verified for damage, and the contents of the individual compartments were inspected: (i) for activated carbon, (ii) for the coolant, and (iii) for the swab. These tests were intended to simulate the fall of a package containing transporters or the transporter itself from a laboratory tabletop. An analysis of the materials used to construct the transporter prototypes revealed that PETG was the least resistant, with the threaded part breaking off when the transporter was dropped from a height of 2 meters. PLA and ABS exhibited similar or greater mechanical strength than PETG. The shape of the prototype had no effect on the changes in mechanical strength.

Claims (7)

Protective Disclaimers 1. A container (100) for the safe transport of test tubes with biological material, comprising a double-walled container body (1) which is open at a first end (1') of the container body (1) and a container closing means (2) coupleable to the body, adapted to tightly close the container at said first end (1') of the body, characterized in that the body (1) has a peripheral inner wall (5) and a peripheral outer wall (6) surrounding it, wherein both the inner (5) and outer (6) walls run coaxially, the inner wall (5) of the body at the second end (1") of the body is circumferentially connected in a tight manner to the bottom wall (7) of the body, forming a transport chamber (5') open at the first end (1') of the body for receiving a test tube with biological material, the peripheral outer wall (6) of the container at the second end (1") of the body is circumferentially connected in a tight manner to the bottom wall (7) and is also, over its entire extent between the first (1') and the second (1") end of the container, connected in a tight manner to the inner wall (5) and the bottom wall (7) by at least two partition walls (8), thus forming at least two isolating chambers (6') tightly separated from each other by said partition wall (8), which surround said transport chamber (5') placed between them and which are open at the first end (1') of the body, wherein at its first end (1') the body (1) is provided with coupling means (4) adapted to be coupled to the coupling means (4') provided in said container closing means (2), wherein the engagement of said engaging means (4, 4') ensures tight closure of said transport chamber (5') and preferably of the insulating chambers (6'). 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall (6) of the body (1) has a regular polygon shape in cross-section. 3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the number of said partition walls (8) corresponds to the number of angles of said polygon. 4. A container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral outer wall (6) of the body in cross-section has the outline of an equilateral triangle, a square or a regular pentagon, and most preferably has the shape of a regular hexagon in cross-section. 5. A container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container closing means (2) is additionally provided with a closure sealing means (3). 6. A container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means (3) is in the form of a peripheral seal (9) in the form of a ring (9') provided with projections (9") with a shape corresponding to the shape of the opening of the insulating chambers. 7. A container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the insulating chambers is filled with a coolant or a substance neutralizing biological contamination, and particularly preferably each of the insulating chambers in the body contains one of the said fillings, and the opening of each of the insulating chambers (6') located at the first end (1') of the body (1) is closed with the said sealing means (3).