摘要：
Packaging for preservation of biological material, wherein, in use, the packaging is filled with biological material and placed in an apparatus for preserving the biological material such that a heat exchange fluid flows around the packaging, the packaging including: one or more packaging walls configured to define an internal compartment for receiving the biological material; and one or more thermal contours defined across at least one of the packaging walls, wherein, in use, the flow of the heat exchange fluid is at least partially directed by the one or more thermal contours to improve heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the biological material contained in the packaging.
权利要求：
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THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1) Packaging for preservation of biological material, wherein, in use, the packaging is filled with biological material and placed in an apparatus for preserving the biological material such that a heat exchange fluid flows around the packaging, the packaging including: a) one or more packaging walls configured to define an internal compartment for receiving the biological material; and b) one or more thermal contours defined across at least one of the packaging walls, wherein, in use, the flow of the heat exchange fluid is at least partially directed by the one or more thermal contours to improve heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the biological material contained in the packaging.
2) Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the thermal contours are arranged to substantially align with the flow of the heat exchange fluid in use.
3) Packaging according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the packaging includes a plurality of thermal contours that are arranged to be parallel to one another.
4) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the thermal contours is defined across a respective one of the packaging walls as one of: a) an elongate depression in the respective packaging wall; and b) an elongate protrusion in the respective packaging wall.
5) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the packaging walls include opposing first and second walls, the first and second walls being connected together around a substantial portion of their respective perimeters to define the internal compartment.
6) Packaging according to claim 5, wherein the one or more thermal contours are defined by the first and second walls being connected together along one or more connection lines, the connection lines being configured to divide the internal compartment into subcompartments with fluid communication allowed therebetween.
7) Packaging according to claim 6, wherein, in use, the packaging is filled with biological material so that the biological material is distributed between the sub-compartments, and the flow of the heat exchange fluid is at least partially directed by the one or more thermal contours to facilitate substantially even heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the biological material contained in each of the sub-compartments.
) Packaging according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the connection lines are configured to ensure that the biological material is distributed substantially evenly between each of the sub-compartments . ) Packaging according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first and second walls are connected together along a plurality of edges including a leading edge that faces the flow of heat transfer fluid in use, and an opposing trailing edge, the plurality of thermal contours extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. 0) Packaging according to claim 9, wherein the trailing edge is substantially parallel to the leading edge. 1) Packaging according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein at least some of the connection lines interconnect with the leading edge. 2) Packaging according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the thermal contours are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to a direction perpendicular from the leading edge. 3)Packaging according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined angle is selected according to the flow of heat exchange fluid in the apparatus for preserving the biological material. 4) Packaging according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the predetermined angle is at least one of: a) between 0° and 30°; b) between 5° and 15°; and c) about 10°. 5)Packaging according to any one of claims 5 to 14, wherein adjacent thermal contours are spaced apart by a predetermined spacing distance. 6) Packaging according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined spacing distance is between 15mm and 20mm. 7) Packaging according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the predetermined spacing distance is selected to restrict separation of the first and second walls. 8) Packaging according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined spacing distance is selected to restrict separation of the first and second walls to a predetermined separation distance. 9) Packaging according to any one of claims 5 to 18, wherein a packaging depth measured between the first and second walls is at least one of:
a) less than 10mm; b) less than 5mm; c) between 1mm and 4mm; and d) less than 1mm. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 5 to 19, wherein the packaging is configured so that the first and second walls remain substantially parallel to one another when the packaging is filled with the biological material in use. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 5 to 20, wherein the first and second walls are formed from sheets of a packaging material. ) Packaging according to claim 21, wherein the packaging material is selected from one of: a) polymers; b) polypropylene; c) polyvinyl chloride; d) polyethylene terephthalate; e) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer; f) copolymers; g) ethylene and vinyl acetate; h) metals; i) high alloy; and j) stainless steel. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the packaging includes one or more openings for facilitating filling and emptying of the packaging. ) Packaging according to claim 23, wherein the one or more openings include one or more ports extending through an edge of the packaging. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the packaging is configured for preservation of biological material that is selected from one of: a) whole blood; b) blood platelets; c) red blood cells; d) white blood cells; e) plasma;
f) blood products; g) sperm; h) cells; i) stem cells; j) organs or parts thereof; and k) tissue. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the packaging is configured for preservation of biological material to be used for therapeutic treatments. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the packaging is configured for at least one of: a) cryopreservation of biological material; b) cryostorage of biological material; and c) thawing of biological material. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the packaging is configured for use with a heat transfer rate selected from one of: a) between 0°C and 10°C per minute; b) between 10°C and 50°C per minute; c) between 50°C and 100°C per minute; and d) greater than 100°C per minute . ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the packaging is configured as a bag. ) Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the packaging is configured as one of: a) a straw; and b) a vial. ) Packaging for preservation of biological material, wherein, in use, the packaging is filled with biological material and placed in an apparatus for preserving the biological material such that a heat exchange fluid flows around the packaging, the packaging including: a) opposing first and second walls, the first and second walls being connected together around a substantial portion of their respective perimeters to define an internal compartment; and
- 31 - b) a plurality of thermal contours defined by the first and second walls being connected together along connection lines, the connection lines being configured to divide the internal compartment into sub-compartments with fluid communication allowed therebetween, wherein, in use, the biological material is distributed between the subcompartments, and the flow of heat exchange fluid is at least partially directed by the thermal contours to improve heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the biological material contained in the sub-compartments of the packaging. ) A method for use in designing packaging for preservation of biological material, wherein, in use, the packaging is filled with biological material and placed in an apparatus for preserving the biological material such that a heat exchange fluid flows around the packaging, the method including: a) determining a packaging geometry including one or more packaging walls configured to define an internal compartment to allow the packaging to be filled with a desired volume of the biological material; b) determining thermal properties of: i) the biological material; ii) packaging material for forming the one or more packaging walls; and iii) the heat exchange fluid; c) determining operating conditions of the apparatus including: i) velocity of the heat exchange fluid; ii) temperature of the heat exchange fluid; and iii) flow direction of the heat exchange fluid; d) perform analysis on the flow of the heat exchange fluid within the apparatus around the filled packaging, in accordance with the determined packaging geometry, thermal properties and operating conditions, to determine expected temperature gradients in the biological material in use; e) using the expected temperature gradients to select a configuration of one or more thermal contours defined across at least one of the packaging walls to improve heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the biological material contained in the packaging; and
- 32 - f) performing further analysis on the flow of the heat exchange fluid within the apparatus around the fdled packaging, including the of one or more thermal contours, in accordance with the determined packaging geometry, the selected configuration of the one or more thermal contours, thermal properties and operating conditions, to determine expected temperature gradients in the biological material in use. ) A method according to claim 32, wherein the method includes repeating steps e) and f) until desirable expected temperature gradients are determined. ) A method according to claim 33, wherein the packaging geometry includes opposing first and second walls, the first and second walls being connected together around a substantial portion of their respective perimeters to define the internal compartment, and a plurality of thermal contours defined by the first and second walls being connected together along connection lines, the connection lines being configured to divide the internal compartment into sub-compartments with fluid communication allowed therebetween, the method including: a) performing the analysis on the flow of the heat exchange fluid within the apparatus around the filled packaging; and b) using the expected temperature gradients to select a configuration of the thermal contours to provide substantially even heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the biological material contained in each of the sub-compartments.