System and process for continuous addition of cryoprotectant

A cryopreservation system (100) for dispensing a cryoprotectant (102) to a biological specimen (104), said system (100) comprising:

• a) a vessel (110) for containing the biological specimen (104);
• b) a syringe pump (115) comprising a syringe (120) for containing the cryoprotectant (102), and a pushing mechanism (130) for displacing said syringe (120);
• wherein the pushing mechanism (130) comprises a moveable pusher block (132), a motor (134) operatively coupled to said pusher block (132), and a motor controller (136) for controlling the motore (134), wherein the motor controller (136) comprises a processor, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing a set of instructions that, when excuted by the processor, causes the motor (134) to move the pusher block (132) at a desired step size in the direction to displace the syringe (120) such that the cryoprotectant (102) is added to the biological specimen (104) at a desired flow rate;
• and
• c) a dispense tube (140) having a first end (142) fluidly connected to a discharge port (126) of the syringe and a second end (144) disposed inside the vessel (110) such that said second end (144) is contacting an internal surface (112) of the vessel or the biological specimen (104) when it is contained in the vessel (110);
• wherein the syringe pump (115) is configured to dispense the cryoprotectant (102) through the dispense tube (140) and into the vessel (110) upon displacement of the syringe (120) by the pushing mechanism (130),
• wherein by contacting the second end (144) of the tube with the internal surface (112) of the vessel or the biological specimen (104), droplet formation is prevented and the cryoprotectant (102) is dispensed without being dripped into the vessel (110).

A method for dispensing a cryoprotectant (102) to a biological specimen (104), said method comprising:

• a) fluidly coupling the cryoprotectant (102) to a controlled dispenser (115);
• b) adding the biological specimen (104) into a vessel (110);
• c) connecting the controlled dispenser (115) to the vessel (110) via a dispense tube (140), wherein a first end (142) of the dispense tube is fluidly connected to the controlled dispenser (115), and a second end (144) of the dispense tube is disposed inside the vessel (110) such that said second end (144) is contacting the biological specimen (104) or an internal surface (112) of the vessel;and
• d) dispensing the cryoprotectant (102) into the vessel (110) at a desired flow rate via the controlled dispenser (115), thereby adding the cryoprotectant (102) to the biological specimen (104);
• wherein by contacting the second end (144) of the dispense tube with the internal surface (112) of the vessel or the biological specimen (104), droplet formation is prevented and the cryoprotectant (102) is dispensed without being dripped into the vessel (110).