# US 10,481,222 B2 · Fluid path insert for a cryogenic cooling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,222 B2 - Document ID: US10481222B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/658,123 - Filed: 2017-07-24 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-24 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner; Jan Henrik Ardenkjaer-Larsen; Patrick L. Padgett; Jonathan Alan Murray; Rui Chen; James Richard Trigger; Arnaud Comment; Albert Po-Fu Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481222B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/31: Temperature control thereof - F25B 19/005: {the refrigerant being a liquefied gas} - F25D 19/006: {Thermal coupling structure or interface} - F25D 21/002: {Defroster control} - F25D 29/001: {for cryogenic fluid systems} - G01N 1/42: Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation - G01R 33/282: {Means specially adapted for hyperpolarisation or for hyperpolarised contrast agents, e.g. for the generation of hyperpolarised gases using optical pumping cells, for storing hyperpolarised contrast agents or for the determination of the polarisation of a hyperpolarised contrast agent} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A cooling system is provided. The cooling system is associated with a dynamic nuclear polarization system and configured to cool a sample to a temperature suitable for dynamic nuclear polarization to be carried out on the sample while the sample is in the cooling system. The cooling system includes a cryogenic chamber that includes a cryogenic fluid. The cooling system also includes a removable sample sleeve insertable within a portion of the cryogenic chamber. The removable sample sleeve is configured to define a sample path for the sample within the cryogenic chamber that is isolated from other parts of the cooling system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cooling system associated with a dynamic nuclear polarization system, wherein the cooling system is configured to cool a sample to a temperature suitable for dynamic nuclear polarization to be carried out on the sample while the sample is in the cooling system, and wherein the cooling system comprises: a cryogenic chamber comprising a cryogenic fluid; a sample pot positioned within the cryogenic chamber, the sample pot being at least partially surrounded by the cryogenic fluid; a removable sample sleeve inserted into the sample pot such that a lower portion of the removable sample sleeve is positioned in the sample port and an upper portion of the removable sample sleeve protrudes out of the sample pot, and wherein the removable sample sleeve is configured to define a sample path for the sample within the cryogenic chamber that is isolated from other parts of the cooling system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the removable sample sleeve is configured to contain the formation of ice to within the sample path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cryogenic fluid comprises liquid helium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, comprising a thermal switch attached to the lower portion of the removable sample sleeve, wherein the thermal switch is configured to be positioned between the sample pot and a bottom surface of the lower portion of the removable sample sleeve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cooling system of claim 4, comprising a cold plate positioned in the sample pot and configured to act as a thermal interface between the thermal switch and the sample pot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the thermal switch is configured to heat the removable sample sleeve to a temperature sufficient to de-ice the sample path while the removable sample sleeve is positioned within the sample pot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The cooling system of claim 4, comprising: a plurality of sensors configured to collect data regarding the cooling system; and a controller comprising a processor and memory, wherein the controller is configured to receive the data from the plurality of sensors and cause actuation of the thermal switch based on the data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve is configured to receive a volume of cryogenic fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, comprising a positioning system configured to move the sample through the sample path defined by the removable sample sleeve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of links configured to secure the removable sample sleeve within the cooling system. ### Claim 11 A removable sample sleeve configured to be disposed within a cooling system of a dynamic nuclear polarization system, and collect ice that forms within the cooling system, wherein the removable sample sleeve comprises: an upper portion configured to be disposed within a portion of the cooling system outside of a sample pot of the cooling system; a lower portion configured to be disposed within the sample pot, wherein the lower portion comprises a thermal switch configured to warm the lower portion; and a body portion configured to be disposed both within and outside of the sample pot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The removable sample sleeve of claim 11, wherein the removable sample sleeve is made from a metal or metal alloy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The removable sample sleeve of claim 11, wherein the thermal switch is configured to prevent ice from forming within areas of the cooling system outside of the removable sample sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The removable sample sleeve of claim 11, wherein the thermal insert is configured to be removed from the bottom surface of the removable sample sleeve. ### Claim 15 A controller-executable method of de-icing a removable insert sleeve of a cooling system, the method comprising: receiving a first set of sensor data from one or more sensors configured to collect data regarding the cooling system, wherein the cooling system is configured to cool a sample, wherein the cooling system comprises a removable sample sleeve configured to collect ice that forms within the cooling system, wherein the removable sample sleeve comprises a thermal insert configured to directly heat a bottom surface of the removable sample sleeve; determining whether the first set of sensor data is indicative of ice formation in the cooling system; sending a command to actuate a thermal switch when the first set of sensor data is indicative of ice formation in the cooling system; receiving a second set of sensor data from the one or more sensors; determining whether the second set of sensor data is indicative of de-icing conditions; and sending a command to deactivate the thermal switch when the second set of sensor data is indicative of de-icing conditions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of data is associated with a detected temperature, pressure, or a status of the sample. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the thermal switch is configured to heat the bottom surface of the removable sample sleeve to at least 290 Kelvin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is positioned on a wall of the removable sample sleeve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the second set of sensor data is indicative of de-icing conditions comprises determining whether a temperature of the bottom surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value.