Microwave thawing package and method

• US 6,707,018 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Fathi, Zakaryae, Lauf, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang T.
• Application Number:
  US10/120,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 219/703, 219/729, 219/733, 219/704, 219/706, 219/709, 219/736, 219/756, 219/710, 219/728, 219/687, 219/697, 219/754, 219/762, 219/730, 374/149, 426/234, 426/107, 426/241, 588/11, 524/424
• US Class Current: 219/703
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/05 for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids multiple bags systems for separating or storing blood components A61M1/0209; Infusion or perfusion containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0281 Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to transfusion, e.g. washing, filtering or thawing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3435 Package specially adapted for defrosting the contents by microwave heating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3491 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3493 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3497 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A package for containing frozen liquids during an electromagnetic thawing process includes: a first section adapted for containing a frozen material and exposing the frozen material to electromagnetic energy; a second section adapted for receiving thawed liquid material and shielding the thawed liquid material from further exposure to electromagnetic energy; and a fluid communication means for allowing fluid flow between the first section and the second section.

Claims

1. A package for containing frozen liquids during an electromagnetic thawing process comprising:

a first section adapted for containing a frozen material and exposing the frozen material to electromagnetic energy,

a second section adapted for receiving thawed liquid material and shielding the thawed liquid material from further exposure to electromagnetic energy;

a fluid communication means for allowing fluid flow between said first section and said second section; and

,

a clog preventing means for preventing clogging of said fluid communication means.

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second section further comprises a coating of shielding material.

3. A package in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coating further comprises aluminum.

4. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second section further comprises a discrete component of shielding material.

5. A package in accordance with claim 4 wherein said component further comprises aluminum.

6. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second section further comprises an integral shielding material.

7. A package in accordance with claim 6 wherein said integral shielding material further comprises aluminum.

8. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first section further comprises a coating of lossy material for enhancing the thawing process.

9. A package in accordance with claim 8 wherein said coating further comprises carbon.

10. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first section further comprises a discrete component of lossy material for enhancing the thawing process.

11. A package in accordance with claim 10 wherein said component further comprises carbon.

12. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first section further comprises an integral lossy material for enhancing the thawing process.

13. A package in accordance with claim 12 wherein said integral lossy material further comprises carbon.

14. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first section and said second section further comprise polymer bags having openings and wherein said fluid communication means further comprises a coupling which interconnects said openings.

16. A package in accordance with claim 8 wherein said lossy material further comprises a coating.

17. A package in accordance with claim 16 wherein said coating further comprises carbon.

15. A package for containing frozen liquids during a microwave thawing process comprising:

a first section adapted for containing a frozen material and exposing the frozen material to electromagnetic energy, said first section including a lossy material for enhancing the thawing process;

a second section adapted for receiving thawed liquid material;

a fluid communication means for allowing fluid flow between said first section and said second section; and

,

a clog preventing means for preventing clogging of said fluid communication means.

18. A package in accordance with claim 15 wherein said lossy material further comprises a discrete component.

19. A package in accordance with claim 18 wherein said component further comprises carbon.

20. A package in accordance with claim 15 wherein said lossy material further comprises a material that is integral with said first section.

21. A package in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first section further comprises carbon.

22. A package in accordance with claim 15 wherein said first section and said second section further comprise polymer bags having openings and wherein said fluid communication means further comprises a coupling which interconnects said openings.

23. A method of thawing a selected material comprising the steps of:

a. providing a package for containing frozen liquids during an electromagnetic thawing process comprising;

a first section adapted for containing a frozen material and exposing the frozen material to electromagnetic energy;

a second section adapted for receiving thawed liquid material and shielding the thawed liquid material from further exposure to electromagnetic energy;

a fluid communication means for allowing fluid flow between said first section and said second section; and

a means for preventing clogging of said fluid communication means;

b. placing a material to be thawed into said first section; and

c. exposing said first section to electromagnetic energy to thaw said material so that thawed liquid flows from said first section into said second section.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said second section further comprises a coating of shielding material.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein said coating further comprises aluminum.

26. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said second section further comprises a discrete component of shielding material.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein said component further comprises aluminum.

28. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said second section further comprises an integral shielding material.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein said integral shielding material further comprises aluminum.

30. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said first section further comprises a coating of lossy material for enhancing the thawing process.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said coating further comprises carbon.

32. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said first section further comprises a discrete component of lossy material for enhancing the thawing process.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein said component further comprises carbon.

34. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said first section further comprises an integral lossy material for enhancing the thawing process.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34 wherein said integral lossy material further comprises carbon.

36. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said first section and said second section further comprise polymer bags having openings and wherein said fluid communication means further comprises a coupling which interconnects said openings.

37. A method of thawing a selected material comprising the steps of:

a. providing a package for containing frozen liquids during an electromagnetic thawing process comprising;

a first section adapted for containing a frozen material and exposing the frozen material to electromagnetic energy, said first section including a lossy material for enhancing the thawing process;

a second section adapted for receiving thawed liquid material;

a fluid communication means for allowing fluid flow between said first section and said second section; and

a means for preventing clogging of said fluid communication means;

b. placing a material to be thawed into said first section; and

c. exposing said first section to electromagnetic energy to thaw said material so that thawed liquid flows from said first section into said second section.

38. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein said lossy material further comprises coating.

39. A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein said coating further comprises carbon.

40. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein said lossy material further comprises a discrete component.

41. A method in accordance with claim 40 wherein said component further comprises carbon.

42. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein said lossy material further comprises a material that is integral with said first section.

43. A method in accordance with claim 42 wherein said first section further comprises carbon.

44. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein said first section and said second section further comprise polymer bags having openings and wherein said fluid communication means further comprises a coupling which interconnects said openings.