Patent ID: 7581407

Claim:
A method of using a cryogenic shipping container, said shipping container having a first, outer shell assembly with a body defining an enclosed space and an opening, a second, inner shell assembly with a body defining an inner space and an opening, said second, inner shell assembly body opening coupled to said first, outer shell assembly body opening, thereby defining a passage from outside said container to said inner space, said second, inner shell assembly body generally disposed within, and spaced from, said first, outer shell assembly body, thereby forming a plenum within said enclosed space, having a vacuum drawn in said plenum, a removable shipper core structured to be disposed in said inner space, and an absorbent assembly having a plurality of removable absorbent assembly elements wherein said elements are sized to pass through said passage, said method comprising the steps: inserting said removable absorbent assembly elements into said inner space; inserting said shipper core into said inner space; filling said inner space with a cryogenic liquid; disposing a use material in said shipper core for a period of time; removing said use material from said shipper core; removing said shipper core; removing said absorbent assembly elements from said inner space; and sterilizing said inner space of said inner shell assembly body.