Multi-functional cryogenic storage vessel

A method for storing a liquid in a vessel including:

• a first shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the first shell part defining a first major surface area, the first major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the first shell part having a first swept rim profile extending therefrom and a first flange that is parallel to the first major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the first swept rim profile of the perimeter of the first shell part, wherein the third dimension of the first shell defines a distance from a first major surface of the first major surface area to the first flange;
• a second shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the second shell part defining a second major surface area, the second major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the second shell part having a second swept rim profile extending therefrom and a second flange that is parallel to the second major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the second swept rim profile of the perimeter of the second shell part, wherein the third dimension of the second shell defines a distance from a second major surface of the second major surface area to the second flange;
• an enclosed volume defined by a space interposed between an inner surface of the first shell part and an inner surface of the second shell part when a face surface of the first flange is joined together with a face surface of the second flange, wherein the first swept rim profile comprises a changeable curvature having a length extendable to permit an increase or contractable to permit a decrease in a distance between the first major surface area of the first shell part and the second major surface area of the second shell part, such that the enclosed volume is increased or decreased, while allowing the first and second major surface areas to remain planar through the increase or decrease, said method comprising:
• locating a corner of the vessel, the corner having a depression;
• elevating the corner to a position that is higher than any remaining corner of the vessel;
• puncturing the depression;
• accessing the enclosed volume of the vessel through the punctured depression;
• inserting a filling needle into the punctured depression;
• introducing a liquid into the enclosed volume via a first portion of the filling needle while simultaneously removing displaced gas from the enclosed volume via a second portion of the filling needle;
• withdrawing the filling needle from the enclosed volume and punctured depression;
• and
• occluding the punctured depression.

A method for withdrawing a liquid from a vessel containing the liquid, the vessel including:

• a first shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the first shell part defining a first major surface area, the first major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the first shell part having a first swept rim profile extending therefrom and a first flange that is parallel to the first major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the first swept rim profile of the perimeter of the first shell part, wherein the third dimension of the first shell defines a distance from a first major surface of the first major surface area to the first flange;
• a second shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the second shell part defining a second major surface area, the second major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the second shell part having a second swept rim profile extending therefrom and a second flange that is parallel to the second major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the second swept rim profile of the perimeter of the second shell part, wherein the third dimension of the second shell defines a distance from a second major surface of the second major surface area to the second flange;
• and an enclosed volume defined by a space interposed between an inner surface of the first shell part and an inner surface of the second shell part when a face surface of the first flange is joined together with a face surface of the second flange, wherein the first swept rim profile comprises a changeable curvature having a length extendable to permit an increase or contractable to permit a decrease in a distance between the first major surface area of the first shell part and the second major surface area of the second shell part, such that the enclosed volume is increased or decreased, while allowing the first and second major surface areas to remain planar through the increase or decrease, said method comprising:
• locating a first corner of the vessel, the first corner having a first depression;
• elevating the first corner to a position that is higher than any remaining corner of the vessel;
• puncturing the depression with a venting tool;
• locating a second depression on a second corner of the vessel that is positioned opposite the first corner of the vessel;
• puncturing the second depression with an extraction tool;
• and
• withdrawing the liquid from the vessel.

A method for thawing solidified contents of a vessel including a first shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the first shell part defining a first major surface area, the first major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the first shell part having a first swept rim profile extending therefrom and a first flange that is parallel to the first major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the first swept rim profile of the perimeter of the first shell part, wherein the third dimension of the first shell defines a distance from first major surface of the first major surface area to the first flange;

• a second shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the second shell part defining a second major surface area, the second major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the second shell part having a second swept rim profile extending therefrom and a second flange that is parallel to the second major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the second swept rim profile of the perimeter of the second shell part, wherein the third dimension of the second shell defines a distance from a second major surface to the second major surface area to the second flange;
• an enclosed volume defined by a space interposed between an inner surface of the first shell part and an inner surface of the second shell part when a face surface of the first flange is joined together with a face surface of the second flange;
• and including an element disposed within the enclosed volume, wherein the element is in contact with an interior surface of the first shell part that corresponds to the first major surface area, wherein the first swept rim profile comprises a changeable curvature having a length extendable to permit an increase or contractable to permit a decrease in a distance between the first major surface area of the first shell part and the second major surface area of the second shell part, such that the enclosed volume is increased or decreased, while allowing the first and second major surface areas to remain planar through the increase or decrease, the method comprising:
• clamping the vessel between a first heater block and a second heater block, wherein the first heater block is in contact with the first major surface area, and the second heater block is in contact with the second major surface area, the second heater block further comprising a magnetic source;
• increasing a temperature of the first and second heater blocks;
• activating the magnetic source;
• magnetically attracting the element to an interior surface of the second shell part that corresponds to the second major surface area;
• and
• biasing the solidified contents against the interior surface of the second shell part via the element and the magnetic source.

A method for transferring cells from a cryoprotectant media to a recovery media using a vessel including a first shell part having first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the first shell part defining a first major surface area, the first major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the first shell part having a first swept rim profile extending therefrom and a first flange that is parallel to the first major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the first swept rim profile of the perimeter of the first shell part, wherein the third dimension of the first shell defines a distance from a first major surface of the first major surface area to the first flange;

• a second shell part having a first dimension, a second dimension and a third dimension, the first and second dimensions of the second shell part defining a second major surface area, the second major surface area comprising rounded corners, and a perimeter of the second shell part having a second swept rim profile extending therefrom and a second flange that is parallel to the second major surface area, connected to and extending outwardly from an edge of the second swept rim profile of the perimeter of the second shell part, wherein the third dimension of the second shell defines a distance from a second major surface of the second major surface area to the second flange;
• an enclosed volume defined by a space interposed between an inner surface of the first shell part and an inner surface of the second shell part when a face surface of the first flange is joined together with a face surface of the second flange, wherein the enclosed volume comprises a plurality of chambers;
• wherein the first swept rim profile comprises a changeable curvature having a length extendable to permit an increase or contractable to permit a decrease in a distance between the first major surface area of the first shell part and the second major surface area of the second shell part, such that the enclosed volume is increased or decreased, while allowing the first and second major surface areas to remain planar through the increase or decrease, said method comprising:
• filling a first chamber of the vessel with a cell suspension;
• filling a second chamber of the vessel with a media selected from the group consisting of a recovery media and an injection media;
• interconnecting the first and second chambers by a first pathway having a gate comprising a closed state and an open state, wherein the closed state is changed to the open state by subjecting the vessel to a centrifugal force;
• interconnecting the first and second chambers by a second pathway comprising a valve configured to permit passage of gas in response to the centrifugal force;
• and
• subjecting the vessel to the centrifugal force, whereupon the cell suspension from the first chamber passes into the second chamber via the gate, and gas within the second chamber passes into the first chamber via the valve.