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US 6,302,327 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for cryogenic storage of thermolabile products
AssigneeThermoGenesis Corp.
InventorsPhilip H. Coelho, Pablo Rubinstein, Mark Buckley, Kevin Pelletier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for controlled rate freezing and storage of thermolabile substances. The system includes a storage unit for receiving product stored within a bag and an overlying protective canister associated with a robotic arm and reading device which places the canister in the preserving environment. A control system, driven by a computer monitors the ingress, egress and storage location and particularized profiles of the articles being placed in storage.
Claims21
A canister for a thermolabile product which allows the thermolabile product to be contacted by a robotic arm, comprising, in combination:
- means for attaching said canister to said thermolabile product, and means for attaching said thermolabile product to said robotic arm through said canister.
A canister, comprising, in combination:
- two halves which are hinged together, one half includes a first planar wall with a peripheral bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall forming a tray like structure, said top wall and said bottom wall include first and second holes to receive a hinge;
- an other half of said canister includes a planar wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said other half top and bottom walls include holes for said hinge;
- projection receiving means to allow a projection to retain said canister;
- robotic arm receiving means to allow a robotic arm to transfer said canister;
- frictional engagement means between said halves to secure said canister in closed relationship;
- and
- temperature probe receiving means passing through said canister.
4 more elements
A canister, comprising, in combination:
- two halves which are hinged together, one half includes a first planar wall with a peripheral bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall forming a tray like structure, said top wall and said bottom wall include first and second holes to receive a hinge;
- an other half of said canister includes a planar wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said other half top and bottom walls include holes for said hinge;
- projection receiving means to allow a projection to retain said canister;
- wherein said projection receiving means includes a resilient spring catch to frictionally bear against the projection;
- wherein said projection receiving means includes a wall extension emanating from said half planar wall, a raised wall parallel to said top wall and emanating from said wall extension, a rolled edge depending from said raised wall projecting towards said canister, and a resilient spring catch depending from said raised wall to provide spring pressure on the projection.
2 more elements
A canister, comprising, in combination:
- two halves which are hinged together, one half includes a first planar wall with a peripheral bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall forming a tray like structure, said top wall and said bottom wall include first and second holes to receive a hinge;
- an other half of said canister includes a planar wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said other half top and bottom walls include holes for said hinge;
- projection receiving means to allow a projection to retain said canister;
- robotic arm receiving means to allow a robotic arm to transfer said canister;
- wherein said robotic arm receiving means includes an extension emanating from said planar wall of said other half, a raised side wall supported by said extension and a return supported by said side wall to form an open ended channel to receive the robotic arm.
2 more elements
A canister, comprising, in combination:
- two halves which are hinged together, one half includes a first planar wall with a peripheral bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall forming a tray like structure, said top wall and said bottom wall include first and second holes to receive a hinge;
- an other half of said canister includes a planar wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said other half top and bottom walls include holes for said hinge;
- projection receiving means to allow a projection to retain said canister;
- frictional engagement means between said halves to secure said canister in closed relationship;
- and
- pips located on walls of one said half oriented in registry with corresponding recesses on another half for holding said canister closed.
3 more elements
A canister, comprising, in combination:
- two halves which are hinged together, one half includes a first planar wall with a peripheral bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall forming a tray like structure, said top wall and said bottom wall include first and second holes to receive a hinge;
- an other half of said canister includes a planar wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said other half top and bottom walls include holes for said hinge;
- including a finger purchase recess located on said side wall of said one half.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.