Apparatus and methods for labeling vials or ampoules stored at temperatures as low as -200 °C
AssigneeMerial Limited
InventorsAndy Brehm, Julie Campbell, Ed Schindler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying writings and other markings to a frozen vial or ampoule, which is filled with biological material, and which is held at temperatures between about −70° C. and about −196° C. More particularly, the invention relates to a laser marking method that allows frozen vials to be labeled, while maintaining the integrity of the biological material contained therein.
Claims18
A method for applying writings, graphics and/or other markings to frozen vials or ampoules, while maintaining the integrity of the biological material contained therein, comprising the following steps:
- a. providing a plurality of biological material-filled vials, which are held at about −70° C. to about −196° C., and to which blank laser-ablatable labels had previously been applied;
- b. loading the plurality of vials into a temperature-controlled marking enclosure, which is substantially filled with dry nitrogen gas to reduce or eliminate the presence of moisture inside the enclosure;
- c. conveying the vials beneath marking lasers;
- d. applying laser light to the laser-ablatable labels;
- e. determining whether the vials have been marked to within required specifications, thereby applying writings, graphics and/or other markings to frozen vials, while maintaining the integrity of the biological material contained therein.
A method for applying writings, graphics and/or other markings to vials held at a temperature from about −70° C. to about −196° C., while maintaining the integrity of the biological material contained therein, comprising the following steps:
- a. applying blank laser-ablatable labels to a plurality of cryogenic storage vials;
- b. depyrogenating/sterilizing the vials;
- c. filling the vials with biological material;
- d. placing the filled vials into a storage means;
- e. transferring the vials to a means for marking the vials with lasers;
- f. using a laser to apply writings, graphics and/or other markings to the vials, thereby applying writings, graphics and/or other markings to the frozen vials, while maintaining the integrity of the biological material contained within the vials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.