Device and method for freeze drying biological samples
AssigneeFertileSafe Ltd
InventorAmir ARAV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for freeze-drying a biological sample of mammalian cells or tissue including placing a biological sample on or in a structure to increase a temperature of the biological sample and with the biological sample in a closed chamber applying a vacuum to the chamber to lower a pressure within the chamber, cooling the chamber to lower a temperature within the chamber and applying heat to the biological sample within the chamber. The biological sample can include one or more of stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, sperm, oocytes, embryos, ovarian tissue, uterine tissue or testicular tissue.
Claims25
A method for freeze-drying a biological sample of mammalian cells or tissue, the method comprising placing one or more of a droplet, or a slice of the biological sample on or in a structure to decrease a temperature of the biological sample and with the biological sample in a closed chamber applying a vacuum to the chamber to lower a pressure within the chamber, cooling to lower a temperature within the chamber and applying heat to the biological sample within the chamber.
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-12. (canceled)
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-21. (canceled)
A method for freeze-drying and rehydrating of a biological sample comprising comprising:
- a) inserting a carrier comprising said biological sample into a first LYO solution;
- b) removing the carrier from the first LYO solution and placing the carrier in a second LYO solution, the second LYO solution being different than the first LYO solution;
- c) placing the carrier in a chamber, the chamber having a container for holding the biological sample and a condenser for lowering the temperature within the chamber;
- d) removing the carrier from the device and inserting the carfrier into a third solution and subsequently removing the carrier from the third solution and inserting the carrier into a fourth solution to rehydrate the at least one biological sample;
- and
- e) freeze drying the biological sample by applying a vacuum to the chamber to lower the pressure within the chamber, lowering the temperature within the chamber, and heating the at least one biological sample.
-43. (canceled)
A device for freeze drying a biological sample, comprising:
- a) a first container having a first internal space, the first container configured for storing the biological sample exposed to an internal environment of the first internal space, wherein the first container is configured to facilitate sublimation of ice crystals from the biological sample;
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- b) a condenser configured to be subjected to a cool environment to facilitate phase transition of water vapors into a solid, the condenser having a second internal space in communication with the first internal space, the first and second internal spaces forming a closed chamber such that the biological sample and the condenser are in the same chamber and the chamber couplable to a vacuum pump;
- c) wherein the first container and the condenser are configured to prevent exchange of particles between the closed internal space and an external environment.
-58. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.