# US 11,898,801 B2 · Cryogenic intermediate temperature storage system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,801 B2 - Document ID: US11898801B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/200,196 - Filed: 2021-03-12 - Published: 2022-09-15 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-12 - Assignees: Alcor Life Extension Foundation, Inc. - Applicants: Alcor Life Extension Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Jacob Graber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898801B2 ## CPC - F28D 15/0266: {with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers (F28D15/043 takes precedence)} - F28D 15/0275: {Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores} - A01N 1/145: Stationary or portable vessels generating cryogenic temperatures, e.g. liquid nitrogen baths - A01N 1/162: Temperature processes, e.g. following predefined temperature changes over time - B65D 81/18: providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38) - F25D 3/10: using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air {(for cooling semiconductor devices H10W40/305)} - F28D 15/06: Control arrangements therefor - F28D 2021/0033: {for cryogenic applications} - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - 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) ## Abstract The present invention provides devices and methods for the cryogenic storage of biological material. Devices of the invention are useful for storing material at a predetermined cryogenic temperature. An intermediate storage chamber (ITC) set within an adiabatic Dewar container includes a set, or multiple, heat transfer pipes that passively act to maintain a set temperature or temperature range. Some embodiments utilize an inner heat pipe to transfer heat out to a heat sink and an outer heat pipe to transfer heat into the ITC from a cool sink. The heat pipes may be arranged, designed, and/or tilled to conduct heat energy only when set parameters beyond the predetermined range are experienced within the ITC. The method of maintaining a predetermined temperature range by means of a heat sink and cool sink are taught herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber within a predetermined temperature range between a low temperature threshold and a high temperature threshold, said method comprising the steps of: a. sealing the chamber to contain biological material and a working gas; b. thermo-coupling an evaporator of an inner heat pipe to the chamber; c. further thermo-coupling a condenser of the inner heat pipe to a heat sink; d. secondarily thermo-coupling a condenser of an outer heat pipe to the chamber; e. further secondarily thermo-coupling on evaporator of an outer heat pipe to as cool sink; f. whereby the inner heat pipe causes energy transfer out of the chamber when the temperature of the thermo-coupled inner heat pipe evaporator exceeds the low temperature threshold, and the outer heat pipe causes energy transfer into the chamber when the temperature of the thermo-coupled outer heat pipe condenser drops below a high temperature threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby temperature in the chamber is maintained absent the use of an electronically regulated temperature controls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the inner heat pipe goes dormant below the low temperature threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 3 whereby a working fluid in the inner heat pipe remains liquid below the low temperature threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 3 whereby the outer heat pipe goes dormant above the high temperature threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 5 whereby a working fluid in the outer heat pipe remains vaporized above the high temperature threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the inner heat pipe is coupled to a top of the chamber, and the outer heat pipe is coupled to a bottom of the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 7 whereby both the inner heat pipe and outer heat pipe are effective within the predetermined temperature range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby at least a portion of the inner heat pipe is oriented in a vertical arrangement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 9 whereby the at least portion of the inner heat pipe is set vertically between the condenser and the evaporator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the cryogenic chamber is maintained between 100K and 170K. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 10 whereby the cryogenic chamber is maintained between −136 C and −120 C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the heat sink is maintained with liquid Nitrogen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 13 whereby the heat sink is held at or below −196 C. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the inner heat pipe contains a first working fluid, and the outer heat pipe contains a second working fluid, whereby the first and second working fluids comprise the same chemical formula. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the heat sink, the inner heat pipe, and the chamber are set within an insulating capsule. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 16 whereby the cryogenic chamber is insulated from the heatsink via an insulating block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 16 whereby the capsule comprises Dewar walls. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 16 whereby the chamber and the heat sink are supported by a frame set on at least one slide track mounted along an interior side of the capsule. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 16 whereby the capsule comprises a unitary body set within, and further comprising an end wall comprising a circumferential seal adapted to complementarily mate with the capsule when the unitary body is set within the capsule. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the step of thermo-coupling comprises utilizing a working fluid of pentane and/or ethane in the inner heat pipe. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 1 whereby the step of secondarily thermo-coupling comprises utilizing a working fluid of oxygen in the outer heat pipe. ### Claim 23 A method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber within as predetermined temperature range between a low temperature threshold of no lower than 100K and a high temperature threshold of no higher than 170K, said method comprising the steps of: a. sealing the chamber to contain biological material and a working gas; b. thermo-coupling an inner heat pipe to the chamber and a heat sink; and c. secondarily thermo-coupling an outer heat pipe to the chamber and a cool sink. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 23 whereby the inner heat pipe causes energy transfer out of the chamber when the temperature of the thermo-coupled inner heat pipe evaporator exceeds the low temperature threshold, and the outer heat pipe causes energy transfer into the chamber when the temperature of the thermo-coupled outer heat pipe condenser drops below a high temperature threshold. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 23 whereby the cryogenic chamber is maintained between −136 C and −120 C. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 23 whereby the heat sink is maintained with liquid Nitrogen. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method for passively maintaining the temperature in a cryogenic chamber of claim 26 whereby the heat sink is held at or below −196 C.