Safe transport of donor material?

ETB-BISLIFE about the answer and partnering with HSV

Particle foams, including EPS and EPP, have for years played an important role in the transport of donor organs, donor tissue and medical preparations.

ETB-BISLIFE, a non-profit tissue organisation, has chosen in favour of thermoboxes produced from particle foam. A deliberate choice according to Antoon van den Bogaerdt, Head of the Cornea, Skin and Heart Valve Departments at ETB-BISLIFE.

‘As long as I can remember, the Heart Valve Donor Bank, established at the end of the 1980s, has been using this solution for the safe and refrigerated transport of organs. These boxes offer numerous benefits and guarantee that the quality of tissue and organs is maintained. This in turn enables us to correctly supply tissue and organs to the treating physician, for example for a life-saving surgical intervention. We can say in all honesty that particle foam thermoboxes truly add value to the organ donation and transplantation supply chain.

Photography: ETB-BISLIFE

Organs and tissues are packed according to a standardised procedure, with fixed quantities of dry ice or ice in water. Using validated methods, it has been calculated how long a constant temperature is maintained in the box, thereby guaranteeing the quality of the donor material throughout the transport period,’ explained Van den Bogaerdt.

‘Standardised methods and the combination of particle foams and tissue transport result in a high level of reliability and ease of use. This makes the processes both simpler and more efficient for everyone involved.’

Antoon van den Bogaerdt
Head of the Cornea, Skin and Heart Valve Departments
   

Focus on safety and quality

‘The focus is clearly on the safety and quality of the tissue, which is of crucial importance within our sector. ETB-BISLIFE works with a large number of hospitals and medical specialists, and together we constantly strive to optimise and improve the transport methods. The thermobox has been shown to be the perfect match for the transport of these delicate medical materials,’ continued Antoon, adding, ‘They are lightweight, easy to handle and offer excellent insulating properties.

For the users, including thoracic, corneal and specialist burns surgeons, as well as plastic surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons, this not only means less physically demanding lifting but also maximum clarity and consistency in terms of procedures.

Standardised methods and the combination of particle foams and tissue transport result in a high level of reliability and ease of use. This makes the processes both simpler and more efficient for everyone involved.’

Photography: ETB-BISLIFE

ETB-BISLIFE about partnering with HSV

‘We are delighted with the partnership with HSV, the manufacturer of the boxes. The employees are flexible, and are always willing to contribute ideas in identifying appropriate solutions.

It is good to be able to share knowledge and experience with the particle foam engineers. By combining our skill sets, we achieve excellent results. This is beneficial both to ETB-BISLIFE and our medical partners. Thanks to the use of these thermoboxes, donor material can be transported safely and in the ideal conditions. The product also satisfies the requirements on delivery reliability and transport procedures that apply within the medical sector,’ concluded Antoon.

Particle foams, a special set of properties

Particle foams offer a special set of properties. Boxes manufactured using this material are therefore perfectly suited for the refrigerated transport of organs and medical preparations, right into the operating theatre. The material offers a number of advantages. It is:

  • robust
  • shock-absorbing
  • insulating
  • lightweight

Thanks to their cellular structure, the boxes offer excellent thermal and shock-absorbent properties. The temperature inside the box remains stable for a long period of time, and the donor material enjoys optimum protection. Moreover, the boxes are hygienic, chemically resistant and dimensionally stable.

About ETB-BISLIFE

The foundation ETB-BISLIFE was established on 1 January 2018 following the merger between BISLIFE in Leiden and Euro Tissue Bank based in Beverwijk. This non-profit organisation specialises in the reliable gathering and supply of human tissue and organs to treating physicians for use in transplant surgery in the Netherlands and Europe. For more information, visit ETB-BISLIFE.

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