Patent Publication Number: US-2020281191-A1

Title: Cryogenic vial sleeve and related systems and methods

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/815,590, filed on Mar. 8, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to cryogenic vials and, more particularly, to devices, systems, and methods for labeling or relabeling cryogenic vials. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various biological products, samples, or aliquots such as those containing living human cells including, for example, allogeneic and autologous biopharmaceutical products, must often be maintained at cryogenic temperatures (e.g., between −195° C. and −150° C.) or “cryopreserved” in order to maintain their integrity. Cryogenic containers or vials, such as those sold commercially by Aseptic Technologies, are typically used to store and/or transport such products in a cryogenic environment(s). Such vials may be available in a variety of sizes, such as having 1 mL, 2 mL, 6 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, and 50 mL capacities, for example. While cryogenic vials may be provided in various sizes and configurations, a typical vial includes a hollow cylindrical body constructed of a transparent material capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures. 
     In many cases, a visual inspection by a user, such as a technician, of the contents of the vial through the transparent cylindrical body may be insufficient to allow the user to identify the particular product or type of product contained in the vial. Thus, a label containing indicia indicating the particular product or type of product contained in the vial, as well as other necessary indicia, may be adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall of the cylindrical body. 
     Typically, a cryogenic vial is labeled at ambient temperature prior to filling the vial with the desired products at a cryogenic temperature. For example, a paper label may be printed with a set of indicia indicating the particular product or type of product to be contained in the cryogenic vial, and the label may be adhered to the vial with a pressure sensitive adhesive at ambient temperature (e.g., between 18° C. and 25° C.). After the adhesive has fully cured, the vial may be filled with the desired product in a cryogenic environment and subsequently maintained at a cryogenic temperature in a cryogenic freezer, for example. 
     In some cases, a cryogenic vial may be mislabeled with inaccurate indicia for the product contained therein or other incorrect indicia. In order to hypothetically adhere a new, corrected paper label over the incorrect paper label, the mislabeled vial would need to first be thawed. However, because the vial must be maintained at a cryogenic temperature to preserve the product contained therein, the vial cannot be thawed to perform such relabeling without spoiling or otherwise destroying the product itself. Thus, the vial may remain mislabeled throughout its entire useful life, such that accurately identifying the actual contents of the vial may become difficult or impossible. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide improved devices, systems, and methods for labeling or relabeling cryogenic vials which address these and other problems associated with conventional cryogenic vials and labeling techniques. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a vial sleeve for a cryogenic vial includes a cover portion including a side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the vial, and a locking feature configured to operatively engage at least a portion of the vial for resisting movement of the vial relative to the vial sleeve. The vial sleeve may further include a first label adhered to an exterior surface of the side wall and including a first set of indicia. The first set of indicia may be different from a second set of indicia included on a second label adhered to an exterior surface of the vial. In addition or alternatively, the vial sleeve may further include a window formed in the side wall of the cover portion. In one embodiment, the vial sleeve includes a base portion including a central bore configured to receive an annular projection of the vial, wherein the locking feature includes an annular detent extending radially inwardly from the central bore for frictionally engaging the annular projection of the vial. The locking feature may include a plurality of arcuate tabs extending radially inwardly from an upper portion of the side wall for confronting a portion of the vial. Alternatively, the locking feature may include an annular detent extending radially inwardly from a lower portion of the side wall for frictionally engaging a portion of the vial. In one embodiment, the vial sleeve includes a machine-readable coding configured to communicate information identifying one or more contents of the cryogenic vial to a machine. 
     In another embodiment, an assembly includes a cryogenic vial, and a vial sleeve including a cover portion including a side wall defining a cavity, and a locking feature. At least a portion of the vial is received by the cavity, and the locking feature operatively engages at least a portion of the vial for resisting movement of the vial relative to the vial sleeve. The assembly may further include a first label adhered to an exterior surface of the side wall and including a first set of indicia. In one embodiment, the cryogenic vial further includes a second label adhered to an exterior surface of the vial and including a second set of indicia different from the first set of indicia. In addition or alternatively, the assembly may include a window formed in the side wall of the cover portion. In one embodiment, the cryogenic vial includes an annular projection, the vial sleeve includes a base portion having a central bore receiving the annular projection, and the locking feature includes an annular detent extending radially inwardly from the central bore and frictionally engaging the annular projection. 
     The locking feature may include a plurality of arcuate tabs extending radially inwardly from an upper portion of the side wall and confronting a portion of the vial. Alternatively, the locking feature may include an annular detent extending radially inwardly from a lower portion of the side wall and frictionally engaging a portion of the vial. In one embodiment, the vial sleeve further includes a machine-readable coding configured to communicate information identifying one or more contents of the cryogenic vial to a machine. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of labeling a cryogenic vial is provided. The method includes adhering a first label including a first set of indicia to a vial sleeve at an ambient temperature, the vial sleeve having a cover portion including a side wall defining a cavity and a locking feature. The method also includes positioning the cryogenic vial in a cryogenic environment, positioning the vial sleeve in the cryogenic environment, and inserting the cryogenic vial into the vial sleeve such that the cavity of the vial sleeve receives at least a portion of the vial and the locking feature operatively engages at least a portion of the vial for resisting movement of the vial relative to the vial sleeve. The method may further include removing the cryogenic vial from a removable base prior to inserting the cryogenic vial into the vial sleeve. In one embodiment, the cryogenic environment includes a cryocart. The first set of indicia may be different from a second set of indicia included on a second label adhered to an exterior surface of the vial. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary cryogenic vial seated on a removable base. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of the cryogenic vial seated on the removable base of  FIG. 1 , taken along section line  2 - 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is a disassembled perspective view showing the base being removed from the cryogenic vial of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a disassembled perspective view showing the cryogenic vial of  FIG. 1  being inserted into an exemplary vial sleeve in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cryogenic vial of  FIG. 1  seated in the vial sleeve of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of the cryogenic vial seated in the vial sleeve of  FIG. 5 , taken along section line  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a disassembled partial cross sectional view showing the base being removed from the cryogenic vial of  FIG. 1  and the cryogenic vial being inserted into the vial sleeve of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a disassembled perspective view of another exemplary cryogenic vial being inserted into another exemplary vial sleeve in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the cryogenic vial seated in the vial sleeve of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cross sectional view of the cryogenic vial seated in the vial sleeve of  FIG. 9 , taken along section line  10 - 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a disassembled partial cross sectional view showing the cryogenic vial being inserted into the vial sleeve of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary cryogenic vial  10  includes a generally cylindrical body  12  having a side wall  14  and a bottom wall  16  collectively defining an interior space  18  for receiving the contents of the vial  10 . An annular projection  20  extends from the exterior surface of the bottom wall  16  such that the portion of the bottom wall  16  radially outward of the annular projection  20  defines a ledge  22 . The purposes of the annular projection  20  and the ledge  22  are described below. In any event, the cylindrical body  12  is constructed of a material capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures. The cylindrical body  12  may also be constructed of a transparent material to allow a user to view the contents of the vial  10  in the interior space  18 , such as for visually assessing a fill level of the vial  10 . The material forming the cylindrical body  12  may be clear or amber-tinted, for example. In one embodiment, the cylindrical body  12  may be constructed of a plastic polymer such as cyclic olefin co-polymer (COC), for example. As described herein, the depicted exemplary vials are manufactured and sold commercially by Aseptic Technologies of Belgium. 
     In the embodiment shown, a first label  24  printed with a first set of indicia  26  is adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  14  of the cylindrical body  12 . The first set of indicia  26  includes user-discernable text and/or images for visually communicating to a user a certain product or type of product, as well as machine-readable coding such as a quick response (QR) code for optically communicating similar information to a machine via a reader or scanner. The first label  24  may be adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  14  with a pressure sensitive adhesive at ambient temperature prior to filling of the vial  10  with the desired product in a cryogenic environment. As shown, the first label  24  may wrap around a substantial portion of the side wall and may leave an unobstructed longitudinal gap  28  on the exterior surface of the side wall  14  between lateral ends of the first label  24  to avoid interfering with a user&#39;s ability to visually assess a fill level of the vial  10  through the transparent material of the cylindrical body  12 , for example. 
     The illustrated cryogenic vial also includes a closure member  30  fixed over the cylindrical body  12  opposite the bottom wall  16  for closing off the interior space  18  in a sealed manner. The closure member  30  may include a pierceable plug or stopper member (not shown) which may be constructed of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), for example, such that a syringe may pierce the stopper member from an exterior of the vial  10  for dispensing the product into or extracting the product from the interior space  18  of the vial  10 . The illustrated cryogenic vial  10  includes a cap  32  which is removably snap-fit to the closure member  30  over the stopper member to prevent inadvertent piercing of the stopper member. 
     As shown, the cryogenic vial  10  is seated on a removable base  34  to assist in stabilizing the vial  10  on a surface, such as a shelf-top of a cryogenic freezer, and thereby prevent the vial  10  from inadvertently toppling over. In this regard, the removable base  34  includes an annular body  36  having a central bore  38  configured to receive the annular projection  20  of the vial  10  when the ledge  22  of the vial  10  is seated on the annular body  36 . A locking feature is provided on the annular body  36  including a pair of semi-annular protrusions or raised detents  40  extending radially inwardly from the central bore  38  for frictionally engaging the annular projection  20  of the vial  10 . In this regard, the semi-annular detents  40  and the annular projection  20  may be relatively sized to provide an interference fit therebetween in order to assist in retaining the vial  10  on the removable base  34 . 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, in the event the first label  24  is determined to be printed with an incorrect first set of indicia  26  for a particular vial  10 , the vial  10  may be selectively separated or unseated from the removable base  34  by applying a threshold force to the removable base  34  in the direction indicated by the arrow A 1  sufficient to overcome the frictional engagement between the semi-annular detents  40  and the annular projection  20  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the vial  10  may be seated in an exemplary vial sleeve  50  according to one embodiment of the present invention, as indicated by the arrow A 2  in  FIG. 4 . 
     The illustrated vial sleeve  50  includes a generally cylindrical cover portion  52  extending axially away from a generally annular base portion  54 . The cylindrical cover portion  52  includes a side wall  56  defining a cavity  58  for receiving at least a portion of the cylindrical body  12  of the vial  10 . The cavity  58  of the vial sleeve  50  and the cylindrical body  12  of the vial  10  may be relatively sized to provide a close fit therebetween. For example, the cavity  58  of the vial sleeve  50  and the cylindrical body  12  of the vial  10  may be relatively sized such that the exterior surface of the side wall  14  of the cylindrical body  12  may be slidable along the interior surface of the side wall  56  of the cover portion  52 . In any event, the cover portion  52  is constructed of a material capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures. The cover portion  52  may also be constructed of an opaque material to prevent a user from viewing the exterior surface of the cylindrical body  12  of the vial  10  in the cavity  58  and, more particularly, from viewing the first set of indicia  26  printed on the first label  24  adhered thereto. In one embodiment, the cover portion  52  may be constructed of a plastic polymer such as cyclic olefin co-polymer (COC), for example, and/or of a metal alloy. 
     The illustrated cover portion  52  includes a cutout or aperture  60  extending longitudinally along the side wall  56 . The aperture  60  may overlap the unobstructed longitudinal gap  28  on the exterior surface of the cylindrical body  12  of the vial  10 , such that a user may be able to visually assess a fill level of the vial  10  through the aperture  60  and the transparent material of the cylindrical body  12 . In one embodiment, an alignment feature such as a raised embossment (not shown) may be provided on the exterior surface of the cylindrical body  12  of the vial along the unobstructed longitudinal gap  28  and may be sized and configured to be received by the open end of the aperture  60  and slid along the aperture  60  toward the closed end thereof when the cylindrical body  12  is inserted into the cavity  58  to assist in ensuring that the aperture  60  overlaps the unobstructed longitudinal gap  28 . While the illustrated aperture  60  is open-ended, the aperture  60  may alternatively be closed-ended. 
     In the embodiment shown, a second label  62  printed with a correct second set of indicia  64  different from the mislabeled first set of indicia  26  is adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  56  of the cover portion  52 . The second set of indicia  64  includes user-discernable text and/or images for visually communicating to a user a certain product or type of product, as well as machine-readable coding such as a QR code for optically communicating similar information to a machine via a reader or scanner. The second label  62  may be adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  56  with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is allowed to cure at ambient temperature prior to inserting the vial  10  into the sleeve  50  in a cryogenic environment. 
     The annular base portion  54  of the vial sleeve  50  includes an annular body  66  having a central bore  68  configured to receive the annular projection  20  of the vial  10  when the ledge  22  of the vial  10  is seated on the annular body  66  to assist in stabilizing the vial  10  on a surface, such as a shelf-top of a cryogenic freezer, and thereby prevent the vial  10  from inadvertently toppling over. In the embodiment shown, the cover portion  52  and the base portion  54  are integrally formed together as a unitary piece. A locking feature is provided on the annular body  66  including an annular protrusion or raised detent  70  extending radially inwardly from the central bore  68  for frictionally engaging the annular projection  20  of the vial  10 . In this regard, the annular detent  70  and the annular projection  20  may be relatively sized to provide an interference fit therebetween in order to assist in retaining the vial  10  in the sleeve  50 . More particularly, the annular projection  20  and the annular detent  70  may interact with each other to resist movement of the vial  10  relative to the sleeve  50  to prevent inadvertent removal of the vial  10  from the sleeve  50 . As shown, the annular detent  70  is rounded to assist in insertion of the annular projection  20  into the central bore  68 . For example, operative engagement of the annular projection  20  with the rounded surface of the annular detent  70  as the annular projection  20  is inserted into the central bore  68  may urge the annular detent  70  slightly radially outward to accommodate the annular projection  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the annular detent  70  and the annular projection  20  may be relatively sized such that the interference fit provided therebetween is greater or stronger than that provided between the semi-annular detents  40  of the base  34  and the annular projection  20  of the vial  10 , such that a greater threshold force may be required to remove the sleeve  50  from the vial  10  than that required to remove the base  34  from the vial  10 . In other words, the sleeve  50  may be less removable from the vial  10  than the base  34 . In one embodiment, the sleeve  50  may not be readily removable from the vial  10  such that the sleeve  50  may not be removed without substantially damaging the vial  10  and/or the sleeve  50 , and thus may be considered irremovable. While the illustrated locking feature includes the annular detent  70 , it will be appreciated that various other locking features capable of interacting with one or more features of the vial  10  to resist movement of the vial  10  relative to the sleeve  50  may be used. For example, a locking feature similar to the semi-annular detents  40  of the base  34  may be used. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a method of labeling or relabeling the cryogenic vial  10  includes removing the base  34  from the vial  10  as indicated by the arrow A 1  and inserting the vial  10  into the sleeve  50  (with the second label  62  adhered thereto) as indicated by the arrow A 2  until the ledge  22  of the vial  10  rests on the base portion  54  of the sleeve  50  and the annular projection  20  of the vial  10  frictionally engages the annular detent  70  of the base portion  54  to lock the vial  10  in the sleeve  50 . The steps of removing the base  34  from the vial  10  and/or inserting the vial  10  into the sleeve  50  may be performed in a cryogenic environment with the vial  10  filled, in order to prevent spoilage of the contents of the vial  10 . In one embodiment, one or both of these steps may be performed in a cryocart. For example, the filled vial  10  may be initially retrieved from a cryogenic freezer and placed in the cryocart, where the vial  10  may be separated from the base  34 . The sleeve  50  may be introduced to the cryocart and allowed to cool to cryogenic temperature. The vial  10  may then be inserted into the sleeve  50  while in the cryocart. The vial  10  seated in the sleeve  50  may then be returned to the cryogenic freezer for continued storage, and may be readily retrieved by a user and/or machine by recognizing the second indicia  64  on the sleeve  50 . 
     Thus, in cases where the first indicia  26  printed on the first label  24  do not properly identify the contents of the vial  10  or are otherwise inaccurate or undesirable, the vial  10  may be readily relabeled with the second indicia  64 , which properly identify the contents of the vial  10  and/or provide other desirable information, via the sleeve  50  while remaining at a cryogenic temperature necessary to preserve the contents of the vial  10 . Alternatively, the sleeve  50  may be used to initially label the vial  10  in cases where the vial  10  has not been previously labeled. In one embodiment, the irremovability of the sleeve  50  from the vial  10  may provide tamper evidence in the event that a user attempts to remove the vial  10  from the sleeve  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , another exemplary cryogenic vial  110  includes a generally cylindrical body  112  having a side wall  114  and a bottom wall  116 , and a generally frustoconical and/or cylindrical neck  120 , which collectively define an interior space (not shown) for receiving the contents of the vial  10 . As shown, a rounded ledge  122  extends between the side wall  114  and the neck  120 . 
     In the embodiment shown, a first label  124  printed with a first set of indicia  126  is adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  114  of the cylindrical body  112 . As shown, the first label  124  may wrap around a substantial portion of the side wall  114  and may leave an unobstructed longitudinal gap  128  on the exterior surface of the side wall  114  between lateral ends of the first label  124  to avoid interfering with a user&#39;s ability to visually assess a fill level of the vial  110  through the transparent material of the cylindrical body  112 , for example. 
     The illustrated cryogenic vial  110  also includes a closure member  130  fixed over the neck  120  for closing off the interior space in a sealed manner and a cap  132  which is removably snap-fit to the closure member  130 . 
     Various other features of the cryogenic vial  110  may be generally similar to those described above with respect to the cryogenic vial  10 , and are not repeated for the sake of brevity. 
     As shown, the vial  110  may be seated in another exemplary vial sleeve  150  according to another embodiment of the present invention, as indicated by the arrow A 3  in  FIG. 8 . 
     The illustrated vial sleeve  150  includes a generally cylindrical cover portion  152  extending axially away from a generally annular base portion  154 . The cylindrical cover portion  152  includes a side wall  156  defining a cavity  158  for receiving the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  110 . The cavity  158  of the vial sleeve  150  and the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  110  may be relatively sized to provide a close fit therebetween. For example, the cavity  158  of the vial sleeve  150  and the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  110  may be relatively sized such that the exterior surface of the side wall  114  of the cylindrical body  112  may be slidable along the interior surface of the side wall  156  of the cover portion  152 . In any event, the cover portion  152  is constructed of a material capable of withstanding cryogenic temperatures. The cover portion  152  may also be constructed of an opaque material to prevent a user from viewing the exterior surface of the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  10  in the cavity  158  and, more particularly, from viewing the first set of indicia  126  printed on the first label  124  adhered thereto. In one embodiment, the cover portion  152  may be constructed of a plastic polymer such as cyclic olefin co-polymer (COC), for example, and/or of a metal alloy. 
     The illustrated cover portion  152  includes a cutout or aperture  160  extending longitudinally along the side wall  156 . The aperture  160  may overlap the unobstructed longitudinal gap  128  on the exterior surface of the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  10 , such that a user may be able to visually assess a fill level of the vial  10  through the aperture  160  and the transparent material of the cylindrical body  112 . While the illustrated aperture  160  is closed-ended, the aperture  160  may alternatively be open-ended. 
     In the embodiment shown, a second label  162  printed with a correct second set of indicia  164  different from the mislabeled first set of indicia  126  is adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  156  of the cover portion  152 . The second set of indicia  164  includes user-discernable text and/or images for visually communicating to a user a certain product or type of product, as well as machine-readable coding such as a QR code for optically communicating similar information to a machine via a reader or scanner. The second label  162  may be adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  156  with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is allowed to cure at ambient temperature prior to inserting the vial  110  into the sleeve  150  in a cryogenic environment. 
     The annular base portion  154  of the vial sleeve  150  includes an annular body  166  having a central bore  168 . In the embodiment shown, the cover portion  152  and the base portion  154  are integrally formed together as a unitary piece. A lower locking feature is provided at or near the interface between the annular body  166  of the base portion  154  and the side wall  156  of the cover portion  152  including an annular protrusion or raised detent  170  extending radially inwardly from the side wall  156  for frictionally engaging the exterior surface of the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  110 . In this regard, the annular detent  170  and the cylindrical body  112  may be relatively sized to provide an interference fit therebetween in order to assist in retaining the vial  110  in the sleeve  150 . More particularly, the cylindrical body  112  and the annular detent  170  may interact with each other to resist movement of the vial  110  relative to the sleeve  150  to prevent inadvertent removal of the vial  110  from the sleeve  150 . As shown, the annular detent  170  is rounded to assist in advancement of the cylindrical body  112  within the cavity  158  toward the annular body  166 . For example, operative engagement of the cylindrical body  112  with the rounded surface of the annular detent  170  as the cylindrical body  112  is advanced toward the annular body  166  may urge the annular detent  170  slightly radially outward to accommodate the cylindrical body  112 . 
     An upper locking feature is provided at or near an upper end of the cover portion  152  including a plurality of arcuate tabs  172  extending radially inwardly from the side wall  156  and opposing the annular base portion  154  for confronting and/or mechanically engaging the rounded ledge  122  of the vial  110  when the cylindrical body  112  is seated in the cavity  158 . In this regard, the arcuate tabs  172  and the cylindrical body  112  may be relatively sized to allow at least a portion of each arcuate tab  172  to extend over at least a portion of the rounded ledge  122  and thereby sandwich the cylindrical body  112  between the arcuate tabs  172  and the annular base portion  154  in order to assist in retaining the vial  110  in the sleeve  150 . More particularly, the rounded ledge  122  and the arcuate tabs  172  may interact with each other to resist movement of the vial  110  relative to the sleeve  150  to prevent inadvertent removal of the vial  110  from the sleeve  150 . As shown, at least the upper surfaces of the arcuate tabs  172  are angled downwardly toward the annular base portion  154  to assist in insertion of the cylindrical body  112  into the cavity  158 . For example, operative engagement of the cylindrical body  112  with the downwardly angled upper surfaces of the arcuate tabs  172  as the cylindrical body  112  is inserted into the cavity  158  may urge the arcuate tabs slightly radially outward to allow the cylindrical body  112  to pass therebetween. 
     In one embodiment, the sleeve  150  may not be readily removable from the vial  110  such that the sleeve  150  may not be removed without substantially damaging the vial  110  and/or the sleeve  150 , and thus may be considered irremovable. While the illustrated lower and upper locking features include the annular detent  170  and the arcuate tabs  172 , respectively, it will be appreciated that various other locking features capable of interacting with one or more features of the vial  110  to resist movement of the vial  110  relative to the sleeve  150  may be used. For example, a locking feature similar to the semi-annular detents  40  of the base  34  may be used. 
     Various other features of the vial sleeve  150  may be generally similar to those described above with respect to the vial sleeve  50 , and are not repeated for the sake of brevity. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a method of labeling or relabeling the cryogenic vial  110  includes inserting the vial  110  into the sleeve  150  (with the second label  162  adhered thereto) as indicated by the arrow A 3  until the bottom wall  116  of the vial  110  rests on the base portion  154  of the sleeve  150 , the cylindrical body  112  of the vial  110  frictionally engages the annular detent  170 , and the arcuate tabs  172  confront the rounded ledge  122  to lock the vial  110  in the sleeve  150 . The step of inserting the vial  110  into the sleeve  150  may be performed in a cryogenic environment with the vial  110  filled, in order to prevent spoilage of the contents of the vial  110 . In one embodiment, this step may be performed in a cryocart. For example, the filled vial  110  may be initially retrieved from a cryogenic freezer and placed in the cryocart. The sleeve  150  may be introduced to the cryocart and allowed to cool to cryogenic temperature. The vial  110  may then be inserted into the sleeve  150  while in the cryocart. The vial  110  seated in the sleeve  150  may then be returned to the cryogenic freezer for continued storage, and may be readily retrieved by a user and/or machine by recognizing the second indicia  164  on the sleeve  150 . 
     Thus, in cases where the first indicia  126  printed on the first label  124  do not properly identify the contents of the vial  110  or are otherwise inaccurate or undesirable, the vial  110  may be readily relabeled with the second indicia  164 , which properly identify the contents of the vial  110  and/or provide other desirable information, via the sleeve  150  while the contents of vial  110  remain at a cryogenic temperature necessary to preserve the contents of the vial  110 . Alternatively, the sleeve  150  may be used to initially label the vial  110  in cases where the vial  110  has not been previously labeled. In one embodiment, the irremovability of the sleeve  150  from the vial  110  may provide tamper evidence in the event that a user attempts to remove the vial  110  from the sleeve  150 . 
     As described above, the second set of indicia  64 ,  164  provided on the sleeve  50 ,  150  may include machine-readable coding such as the illustrated QR codes for optically communicating a certain product or type of product to a machine via a reader or scanner. Alternatively, the machine-readable coding may be provided via any other suitable automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technique(s). For example, such machine-readable coding may be provided by one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags (not shown) located on the sleeve  50 ,  150 . 
     While the illustrated QR codes are incorporated into the second set of indicia  64 ,  164  on the second label  62 ,  162  which is adhered to the exterior surface of the side wall  56 ,  156  of the sleeve  50 ,  150 , the machine-readable coding may alternatively be provided separately from the second label  62 ,  162  elsewhere on the sleeve  50 ,  150 . For example, the machine-readable coding may be located on a bottom exterior surface of the sleeve  50 ,  150 , such as on a bottom surface of the annular body  66 ,  166  of the sleeve  50 ,  150 , in order to be accessible by a reader or scanner from an underside of the sleeve  50 ,  150 . In any event, the machine-readable coding may be read or interpreted by such a reader or scanner manually controlled by a user or automatically controlled by the machine which receives the information from the coding, for example. 
     While various aspects in accordance with the principles of the invention have been illustrated by the description of various embodiments, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the invention to such detail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept.