# US 7,608,224 B2 · Stack of supports, in particular for cryopreservation of biological samples > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,224 B2 - Document ID: US7608224B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/564,491 - Filed: 2004-07-16 - Published: 2006-07-13 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-07-16 - Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. - Inventors: Christian Degel; Heiko Zimmermann; Günter R. Fuhr; Thomas Trautmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608224B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates} - A01N 1/10: Preservation of living parts - A01N 1/146: Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving - A01N 1/147: Carriers for immersion in cryogenic fluid for slow freezing or vitrification - B01L 9/523: {for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates} - B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - F25D 25/00: Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled - Y10S 436/807: Apparatus included in process claim, e.g. physical support structures - Y10S 436/809: Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - 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 - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Substrates (100) are described for receiving a plurality of samples, especially for the preservation of biological samples at cryotemperatures comprising a plurality of substrate plates (11, 12, 13) arranged on top of one another as a stack (10) and comprising an anchoring axis (20) to which the substrate plates (11, 12, 13) are connected. Processes for the preservation of biological samples at cryotemperatures are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A substrate for receiving and cryopreserving a plurality of samples, said substrate comprising: a plurality of substrate plates arranged on top of one another as a stack, and an anchoring axis, to which the substrate plates are connected, wherein: (a) each substrate plate has a compartmental arrangement with a plurality of sample reservoirs and a bearing bore through which the anchoring axis passes, (b) in an assembled state of the substrate the substrate plates can pivot out of the stack about the anchoring axis, and (c) at least one of the substrate plates is adapted to be laterally removed from the anchoring axis without removing all of the remaining substrate plates connected to the anchoring axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate plates have a rectangular shape and the bearing bore is in each case provided in a corner of the substrate plates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the bearing bore of at least one of the substrate plates has an insertion opening on an edge for the lateral insertion of the anchoring axis into the bearing bore. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The substrate according to claim 3, wherein the insertion opening forms a collar opening with a lesser width, relative to a diameter of the bearing bore, and the anchoring axis has a thickness at least in partial sections of its length that is smaller than or equal to the width of the collar opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring axis has a projection on its upper end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring axis is rotatably arranged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the stack contains at least one of a data storage device, a base plate and a cover plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The substrate according to claim 7, wherein the base plate contains a data memory. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The substrate according to claim 7, wherein the anchoring axis is detachably connected to a lowest substrate plate or to the base plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein at least one substrate plate in the stack can be shifted vertically to the anchoring axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate plates comprise engagement means that block a lateral shifting of the substrate plates at least in a direction vertically to a stack direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The substrate according to claim 11, wherein the engagement means comprise at least one profile on a lateral surface of a substrate plate that cooperates with a complementary profile on a lateral surface of an adjacent substrate plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The substrate according to claim 11, wherein the anchoring axis can be transferred by a rotation from a lowered fix position, in which all substrate plates in the stack are mutually fixed, into a rotary position, in which the substrate plates can be moved in accordance with a play in a direction of the stack and pivot about the anchoring axis, and/or be transferred into a release position in which at least one substrate plate can be separated from the stack. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The substrate according to claim 11, wherein the engagement means are formed by a positive-fit slide guide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring axis comprises a one-piece rod extending over a height of the stack. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The substrate according to claim 4, wherein the anchoring axis comprises a one-piece rod extending over a height of the stack, and the rod has key surfaces that form the partial sections with the thickness that is smaller than or equal to the width of the collar opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring axis comprises a plurality of axis segments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The substrate according to claim 17, wherein the axis segments each comprise a cylindrical body with a height corresponding substantially to a thickness of the substrate plates and with a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the bearing bores, complementary recesses and protrusions being provided on the top and bottom sides of the axis segments that engage into each other in the assembled stack of substrate plates. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein at least one substrate plate contains a data memory. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate plates comprise plastic. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate plates have side lengths less than 10 cm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A process for the cryopreservation of samples with a substrate according to claim 1, with the steps: storage of the samples on the substrate plates, and freezing of the substrate plates in the stack. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The process according to claim 22, wherein the stack of substrate plates is formed before the storage of the samples. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The process according to claim 22, wherein the stack of substrate plates is formed after the storage of the samples. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The process according to claim 22, wherein individual substrate plates are pivoted or pushed out of the stack in a frozen or thawed state. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The process of claim 22, wherein the samples are liquids or particulates. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The process of claim 22, wherein the samples are biological samples.