Systems and methods for freezing and storing biopharmaceutical material

A system for freezing, thawing, and storing biopharmaceutical materials comprising:

• a flexible container adapted to receive a biopharmaceutical material therein for freezing, thawing, and storing, said container being formed of a first substantially flat sheet of flexible material joined together by a seam with a second substantially flat sheet of flexible material, so as to lie substantially flat when empty, said container fully enclosing an interior portion for receiving the biopharmaceutical material;
• said container being configured to form a three dimensional shape when filled with the biopharmaceutical material, said three dimensional shape having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
• a conduit connected to said flexible container, the outside of said container being in fluid communication with said interior portion via said conduit;
• and
• a temperature control unit comprising a first surface and a second surface facing said first surface, wherein at least one of said first surface and second surface comprises a heat transfer surface, said temperature control unit configured to receive said flexible container therein, wherein said container conforms to the shape of said interior of said temperature control unit, when said container is filled with the biopharmaceutical material, and said first side and said second side of said container contact said first surface and said second surface of said temperature control unit.

A method for freezing, thawing, and storing a biopharmaceutical material, the method comprising:

• providing a container adapted to contain the biopharmaceutical material for freezing;
• adapting the container to conform to a shape of an interior of a temperature control unit;
• and
• compressing the container, when the container is received in the interior of the temperature control unit, to inhibit a clearance between the container and at least one heat transfer surface of the temperature control unit.

A method for freezing, thawing, and storing a biopharmaceutical material, the method comprising:

• joining a first substantially flat sheet of flexible material by a seam with a second substantially flat sheet of flexible material to form a flexible container adapted to receive a biopharmaceutical material therein for freezing, thawing, and storing;
• fully enclosing an interior portion of said container for receiving the biopharmaceutical material by the joining of the first substantially flat sheet of flexible material with the second substantially flat sheet of flexible material;
• forming a three dimensional shape with the container by filling the container with the biopharmaceutical material wherein the three dimensional shape has a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
• connecting a conduit to the flexible container wherein the outside of the container is in fluid communication with the interior portion via the conduit;
• and
• receiving the container in a temperature control unit having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, conforming the shape of the container to an interior of the temperature control unit, and contacting the first surface and the second surface of the temperature control unit with the first side and the second side of the container, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprises a heat transfer surface.