Ice seeding apparatus for cryopreservation systems
AssigneeOrganogenesis, Inc.
InventorMaury Cosman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for ice seeding during cryopreservation of biological samples such as cells, harvested tissues, and cellular biological constructs such as culture tissue equivalents wherein ice seeding is performed by discharging a liquefied or chilled gas from a nozzle to the surface container containing said biological sample in cryopreservative. Inside a freezing chamber, containers are placed on racks that are located proximal to a sprayrail containing nozzles. Ice seeding is performed by discharge of liquefied or chilled gas from the nozzles to the container surface at the solid-liquid equilibrium temperature of the cryopreservative. Localized cooling of the container surface by the discharge results in ice seed formation within the container.
Claims18
Ice seeding apparatus for the cryopreservation of biological samples with a fluid held in a fluid source, the apparatus comprising:
- a freezing chamber;
- a plurality of sprayrails mounted in the chamber, each sprayrail having a number of nozzles for discharging an amount of fluid in a horizontal direction, each sprayrail having a fluid inlet for receiving fluid;
- a valving system fluidly coupling the fluid source and the plurality of sprayrails;
- a rack for use in the freezing chamber, the rack for holding containers of biological samples at a number of different vertical locations on the rack, the sprayrail and nozzles being positioned such that when the containers are held in the rack the nozzles are near the containers so that at least one nozzle is associated with each vertical location on the rack to direct the fluid close to the containers of biological samples;
- and
- a controller for controlling the amount of fluid provided from the fluid source to the sprayrails and for controlling the valving system for selecting which of the sprayrails will receive fluid from the fluid source.
Ice seeding apparatus for the cryopreservation of biological samples with a fluid from a fluid source comprising:
- a freezing chamber;
- a rack for use in the freezing chamber, the rack for holding containers of biological samples at a number of different location, the rack having a top plate, a bottom plate, a plurality of parallel rails extending perpendicular to the top and bottom plates and rigidly connected to the top and bottom plates, the rails having members for supporting containers of biological samples, and a number of trays oriented in parallel to the top and bottom plates and rigidly fastened between each location where a container is held, the trays serving as a shield to prevent excess liquid from dripping from one location to a lower location on the rack;
- and
- a sprayrail for receiving fluid from the fluid source and having a number of nozzles for discharging fluid, the sprayrail and the nozzles being positioned to be close to the containers of biological samples when the containers are held on the rack.
Ice seeding apparatus for the cryopreservation of biological samples with a fluid from a fluid source comprising:
- a freezing chamber;
- a rack for use in the freezing chamber, the rack for holding containers of biological samples at a number of different location, the rack having a top plate, a bottom plate, a plurality of parallel rails extending perpendicular to the top and bottom plates and rigidly connected to the top and bottom plates, the rails having members for supporting containers of biological samples, and a removable retaining bar that extends in parallel to the rails, such that when the bar is positioned for retaining, the bar helps to keep the containers in a desired location on the rack;
- and
- a sprayrail for receiving fluid from the fluid source and having a number of nozzles for discharging fluid, the sprayrail and the nozzles being positioned to be close to the containers of biological samples when the containers are held on the rack.
Ice seeding apparatus for the cryopreservation of biological samples with a fluid from a fluid source comprising:
- a freezing chamber;
- a rack for use in the freezing chamber, the rack for holding containers of biological samples at a number of different location, the rack having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of parallel rails extending perpendicular to the top and bottom plates and rigidly connected to the top and bottom plates, the rails having members for supporting containers of biological samples, wherein the top plate and the bottom plates of the rack have interengaging positioning members for allowing one rack to be stacked on top of another and positioned with respect to that other rack:
- and
- a sprayrail for receiving fluid from the fluid source and having a number of nozzles for discharging fluid, the sprayrail and the nozzles being positioned to be close to the containers of biological samples when the containers are held on the rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.