Platelet storage container

Claim 1

A method of storing platelet concentrate comprising placing the concentrate in a container, sealing the container, maintaining a temperature of 22° C., and agitating said container, with the proviso that the container is made from a copolymeric film material capable of being heat sealed at a low temperature and having an oxygen permeability of at least about 1.8×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/(m 2 .sec.Pa), a carbon dioxide permeability of from about 4.4×10 5 to about 8.0×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/(m 2 .sec.Pa), a tensile strength of at least about 8 mPa, a seal strength of at least about 1000 g/cm, a stiffness low enough that the container can be extended by liquid to a capacity of about 275 ml, a durability sufficient to provide a dart drop value of at least about 100, and a thickness of from about 0.08 to about 0.23 mm.

Claim 2

A method of storing platelet concentrate comprising placing the concentrate in a container, sealing the container, maintaining a temperature of 22° C., and agitating said container, with the proviso that the container is made from a copolymeric film material capable of being heat sealed at a low temperature and having an oxygen permeability of at least about 1.8×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/(m 2 .sec.Pa), a carbon dioxide permeability of from about 4.4×10 5 to about 8.0×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/(m 2 .sec.Pa), a tensile strength of at least about 8 mPa, a seal strength of at least about 1000 g/cm, a stiffness low enough that the container can be extended by liquid to a capacity of about 275 ml, a durability sufficient to provide a dart drop value of at least about 100, and a thickness of from about 0.08 to about 0.23 mm.

Claim 3

A method of storing platelet concentrate comprising placing the concentrate in a container, sealing the container, maintaining a temperature of 22° C., and agitating said container, with the proviso that the container is made from a copolymeric film material capable of being heat sealed at a low temperature and having an oxygen permeability of at least about 1.8×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/m 2 .sec.Pa), a carbon dioxide permeability of from about 4.4×10 5 to about 8.0×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/(m 2 .sec.Pa), a tensile strength of at least about 8 mPa, a seal strength of at least about 1000 g/cm, a stiffness low enough that the container can be extended by liquid to a capacity of about 275 ml, a durability sufficient to provide a dart drop value of at least about 100, and a thickness of from about 0.08 to about 0.23 mm; with the further proviso that the copolymeric film material is selected from the group consisting of (a) copolymers of ethylene and an α-olefin of 4-10 carbon atoms having a density of from 0.915-0.925 g/cm 3 ; (b) ionomers; and (c) laminates or coextrudates of an ionomer/polyester elastomer and a linear low density polyethylene elastomer.

Claim 4

A method of storing platelet concentrate comprising placing the concentrate in a container, sealing the container, maintaining a temperature of 22° C., and agitating said container, with the proviso that the container is made from a copolymeric film material capable of being heat sealed at a low temperature and having an oxygen permeability of at least about 1.8×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/m 2 .sec.Pa), a carbon dioxide permeability of from about 4.4×10 5 to about 8.0×10 5 μm 3 (STP)/(m 2 .sec.Pa), a tensile strength of at least about 8 mPa, a seal strength of at least about 1000 g/cm, a stiffness low enough that the container can be extended by liquid to a capacity of about 275 ml, a durability sufficient to provide a dart drop value of at least about 100, and a thickness of from about 0.08 to about 0.23 mm; with the further proviso that the copolymeric film material is selected from the group consisting of (a) copolymers of ethylene and an α-olefin of 4-10 carbon atoms having a density of from 0.915-0.925 g/cm 3 ; (b) ionomers; and (c) laminates or coextrudates of an ionomer/polyester elastomer and a linear low density polyethylene elastomer.