What Is the Organ Transport Box RE9?
The organ transport box RE9 is a specialized medical container engineered to preserve human organs during transit between donor sites and transplant centers. Designed to maintain precise temperature conditions and protect delicate biological material, it represents a critical component in the organ transplantation supply chain.
Unlike standard medical coolers, the RE9 is built to comply with strict regulatory and clinical requirements. It combines thermal insulation, structural durability, and hygienic design to ensure that organs remain viable throughout the transport process, which can span several hours depending on the distance between facilities.
Core Design Specifications
The RE9 features a double-wall construction that provides superior thermal retention. Its interior is typically lined with medical-grade materials that are easy to clean and resistant to contamination. The outer shell is made from high-impact-resistant materials capable of withstanding mechanical stress during air, road, or rail transport.
Capacity and dimensions are optimized to accommodate standard organ preservation bags and ice media, while remaining compact enough for single-person handling and aircraft carry-on compliance in many jurisdictions.
Key Features and Technical Capabilities
The organ transport box RE9 integrates several technical features that distinguish it from earlier-generation transport systems.
Temperature Stability and Insulation
One of the most critical functions of any organ transport container is maintaining the required cold chain. The RE9 achieves this through high-density insulation panels combined with phase-change materials or wet ice compartments. Organs such as kidneys, livers, and hearts each have specific preservation temperature ranges, and the RE9 is designed to sustain those ranges for extended periods.
In cold static preservation — the most commonly used method globally — organs are packed in a preservation solution and maintained at 0°C to 4°C. The RE9's insulation properties ensure minimal thermal drift, even when exposed to varying ambient temperatures during transport.
Tamper-Evidence and Chain-of-Custody Features
Medical transport containers must support strict documentation and traceability standards. The RE9 typically includes tamper-evident seals and labeling surfaces compatible with regulatory tracking systems used by organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Some configurations also support RFID or barcode labeling to integrate with digital logistics platforms.
Compliance and Certification
The RE9 is developed to meet international standards applicable to medical device transport containers. These may include ISO standards related to packaging performance and temperature-controlled logistics, as well as regional regulatory frameworks such as EU medical device regulations or FDA guidance in the United States. Compliance documentation is essential for use in certified transplant programs.
Applications in Organ Transplantation Logistics
The organ transport box RE9 serves multiple organ types and transplant scenarios, making it a versatile tool for transplant coordinators and procurement teams.
Multi-Organ and Single-Organ Transport
Depending on the configuration and size of the unit, the RE9 can be used for single-organ retrieval missions or adapted to carry multiple organs in separate sterile compartments. Multi-organ transport is common in cases where a single donor provides several viable organs that are allocated to different recipients, sometimes across different hospitals or regions.
Integration with Machine Perfusion Systems
While the RE9 itself functions as a static cold storage solution, its design may be compatible with portable machine perfusion devices, which actively circulate oxygenated preservation solutions through the organ. The container can be used in conjunction with these devices during transit or as a complementary backup storage unit.
Air and Ground Transport Scenarios
Organ transport boxes must perform reliably across different transport modes. The RE9 is designed to meet aviation safety requirements for carry-on medical cargo, including restrictions on dry ice quantities and pressure-resistant packaging. It is equally effective in ambulance or ground vehicle transport, where vibration resistance is a priority.
Importance of Reliable Organ Transport Containers
The quality and reliability of an organ transport box directly influence transplant outcomes. Ischemic time — the period during which an organ is deprived of blood flow — must be minimized, and maintaining optimal preservation conditions throughout transit is essential to achieving this.
The RE9 addresses these needs through consistent engineering standards, and its adoption by transplant programs reflects the broader industry shift toward purpose-built, validated transport solutions. As organ donation rates and cross-border transplant coordination continue to grow, the role of specialized containers like the RE9 becomes increasingly significant in global healthcare logistics.
Continued investment in transport technology, including advanced insulation, digital monitoring, and integration with organ perfusion systems, is expected to further enhance the effectiveness of solutions in this category.
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