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OwnerRobert Cassou, Maurice Cassou +1inventors
InventorsRobert Cassou, Maurice Cassou, Bertrand Cassou
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The tube, known as a straw, according to the invention, is conventional in its form, and is constituted by a rectilinear length of transparent tubular envelope. In the vicinity of a first end, the straw contains a sliding stopper with a quantity of powder gellable by hydration between two porous pads. The tubular envelope is extruded from an ionomer resin marketed under the brand name of Surlyn 8921. Ionomer resins have, above and below a transition zone extending from 45.degree. C. to 60.degree. C. approximately, states that are respectively thermofusible and crosslinked. Thus, the straw can be closed by fusion of the ends clamped by heated jaws, while presenting suitable properties of rigidity at ambient temperature. Furthermore, the ionomer resin used does not have an embrittlement temperature, so that it can be manipulated at cryogenic temperatures (77 K) without the need for taking any particular precautions. The filling and sealing of the straws can be automated, to ensure the safety of the operators.
A tube for cryogenic preservation of biological specimens, in particular viral cultures, comprising a tubular envelope of predetermined length having opposed ends, said tubular envelope being made of a biologically neutral, substantially transparent polymer material, a seal being defined at each end of said tubular envelope, a sliding stopper being located axially inwardly of and proximate to one of said ends and comprising aqueous gel disposed between two pads of porous elastic, said polymer material being an ionomer resin having an embrittlement temperature less than or equal to 77 K, and the end seals comprising autogenic welds.
A tube for cryogenic preservation of biological specimens, in particular viral cultures, comprising a tubular envelope of predetermined length having opposed ends, said tubular envelope being made of a biologically neutral, substantially transparent polymer material, a seal being defined at each end of said tubular envelope, a sliding stopper being located axially inwardly of and proximate to one of said ends and comprising aqueous gel disposed between two pads of porous elastic, said polymer material being an ionomer resin having an embrittlement temperature less than or equal to 77 K, a melting temperature of 85.degree. C. and a solidification temperature of 52.degree. C., and the end seals comprising autogenic welds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.