APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAKING, STORING, AND ADMINISTERINGFREEZE-DRIED MATERIALS SUCH AS FREEZE-DRIED PLASMA

A vessel receives a liquid material, which is freeze-dried in situ within the vessel. A gas permeable material carried by the vessel provides gas tra nsport for sublimation during drying. After freeze drying, an oxygen-free in ert gas is introduced into the vessel through the gas permeable material, to occupy the interior of the vessel with the freeze-dried material. The gas p ermeable material is covered, to trap the oxygen- free inert gas within the vessel with the freeze- dried material. The freeze-dried material is stored in the entrapped oxygen- free inert gas within the vessel for a storage peri od. The vessel receives a reconstituting liquid for mixing with the freeze-d ried material, and conveys the reconstituted freeze-dried material from the vessel for administration to an individual.