Cold Chain Technologies, LLC

Dawn E Smith

Geoffrey Kaiser

James Nilsen

John Newport

Henry R Melchor

Juan Lopez, Iii

Heather M Conway

Raymond A McCarthy

Method and system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system is designed for use as a dry ice shipper and includes an outer box, a vacuum insulated panel (VIP) base assembly, a VIP lid assembly, and a gas flow director. The VIP base assembly is positioned within the outer box and includes five VIPs arranged to form a container having a bottom, four sides, and an open top. The VIP lid assembly, which may be coupled to a top closure flap of the outer box, includes a VIP dimensioned to close the open top of the VIP base assembly. The gas flow director, which may comprise a bag having an opening at its top end, may be positioned within the outer box and may be used to receive the VIP base assembly. The gas flow director inhibits convective gas flow that promotes excessive dry ice sublimation.

Method and system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials

A gel composition possessing good cohesive properties. In one embodiment, the gel composition includes a phase-change material. The phase-change material is preferably an aqueous salt solution. The gel composition also includes a cross-linkable thickener. The cross-linkable thickener preferably is compatible with an aqueous salt solution and preferably includes one or more cross-linkable hydroxyl groups. The gel composition additionally includes a boron-containing cross-linker that is present in an amount that is sufficient to gel the formulation. The weight ratio in the gel composition of boron to thickener is preferably in the range of about 1:250 to 1:50. When packaged in a container, the gel composition resists flowing when the container is torn or punctured. The present invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel composition, at a thermal exchange implement including the gel composition, and at methods of preparing and using the thermal exchange implement.

Gel composition comprising a phase-change material

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Hopkinton, MA, United States of America

Dawn E Smith