# US 2017/0280708 A1 · Cryopreservation instrument and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280708 A1 - Document ID: US20170280708A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/509,328 - Filed: 2015-09-02 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-08 - Assignees: Research Institute At Nationwide Children's Hospital - Applicants: The Research Institute At Nationwide Children's Hospital - Inventors: Kenneth John McLaughlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280708A1 ## CPC - A01N 1/147: Carriers for immersion in cryogenic fluid for slow freezing or vitrification - A01N 1/125: Freeze protecting agents, e.g. cryoprotectants or osmolarity regulators - A01N 1/162: Temperature processes, e.g. following predefined temperature changes over time - 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 ## Abstract A cryopreservation instrument and method of using is provided. The instrument includes a substantially planar elongated member comprising a cryosafe material. The elongated member has a first end and a second end. The first end comprises a cap insert dimensioned and configured to be fit in the interior recess of a vial cap, the second end comprises a biological contact portion configured to accommodate biological material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cryopreservation instrument, comprising: a substantially planar elongated member comprising a cryosafe material, the elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a cap insert dimensioned and configured to be fit in the interior recess of a vial cap, the second end comprising a biological contact portion configured to accommodate biological material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 1, wherein the cap insert comprises parallel projections extending from the first end the elongated member, the two or more substantially parallel projections being substantially coplanar with the elongated member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 2, wherein the substantially parallel projections define a void therebetween. ### Claim 4 The cryopreservation instrument of claim l, wherein the cap insert comprises at least a portion having a width greater than an internal diameter of the vial cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 4, wherein the cap insert is deformable under pressure sufficient to allow insertion of the cap insert in the interior recess of the vial cap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 5, wherein the cap insert comprises a resilient, deformable or elastic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 1, wherein the cryosafe material is one or more material selected from the group consisting polycarbonate polystyrene, polypropylene, glass, acrylic, aluminum, beryllium copper, stainless steel, Teflon® (polytetrafluoroethylene), a polyamide, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), low-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG), ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a silicone based polymer, Diphenylmethylsilyl ether (DPMS), polychlorotrifluoroethylene PCTFE and polyimides, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 1, wherein the biological contact portion is selected from the group consisting of a thin tip, a vitrification spatula, a loop, a mesh, a net, and a straw. ### Claim 9 A cryopreservation instrument, comprising: a substantially planar elongated member comprising a cryosafe material, the substantially planar elongated member comprising a first end being dimensioned and configured to be removably receivable within a recess portion of a cap with little relative clearance; and a second end configured to receive a biological specimen, the first end and second end defining an axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 9, the first end comprising at least two spaced apart parallel projections extending from the first end, the projections being parallel to the axis and coplanar therewith, and defining a void therebetween, wherein the parallel projections engage the recess portion with an oppositely biased friction fit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cryopreservation instrument of claim 9, wherein the projections are independently yieldable and resilient, and integral with the elongated member. ### Claim 12 A method of preserving a sample, comprising: providing a cryopreservation instrument comprising a substantially planar elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a cap insert dimensioned and configured to be fit in the interior recess of a vial cap, the second end comprising a biological contact portion configured to accommodate biological material; inserting the cap insert, into an externally threaded vial cap comprising an interior recess, to produce a cryo-tool having a cap end and the biological contact portion; loading biological material onto the biological contact portion of the cryo-tool; placing the biological contact portion of the cryo-tool into liquid nitrogen to obtain cryopreserved biological material; maintaining the cryopreserved biological material on the cryo-tool and placing the cryo-tool into an internally threaded vial being threadably engagable with the vial cap; allowing cryopreserved biological material to equilibrate with the conditions in the vial; and screwing the vial cap onto the vial to obtain a sealed vial. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the biological material is exposed to a cryopreservation solution prior to being placed in liquid nitrogen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the cryopreservation solution comprises a balanced salt solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the cryopreservation solution comprises at least one cryoprotectant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the cryoprotectant is an intracellular cryoprotectant selected from the group consisting of DMSO, glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, formamide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the cryoprotectant is an extracellular cryoprotectant selected from the group consisting of sugars, proteins and carbohydrates. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the cap insert comprises parallel projections extending from the first end of the elongated member, the two or more substantially parallel projections being substantially coplanar with the elongated member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the substantially parallel projections define a void therebetween. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the cap insert comprises at least a portion having a width greater than an internal diameter of the cap. ### Claim 21 The method of claim, 12, wherein the cap insert comprises a resilient, deformable or elastic material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein inserting farther comprises inserting the cap insert under pressure into the interior recess of the vial cap such that the cap insert deforms under pressure sufficient to allow insertion of the cap insert into the interior recess of the vial cap. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising storing the sealed vial in liquid nitrogen or liquid nitrogen vapor. ### Claim 24 A cryopreservation instrument, comprising: a substantially planar elongated member comprising a cryosafe material, the elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a cap insert dimensioned and configured to be fit in the interior recess of a vial cap, the second end comprising a biological contact portion configured to accommodate biological material; and the first end further comprising substantially parallel first and second guides symmetrically spaced from said biological contact portion.