Cryopreservation of biological cells and tissues
AssigneeGenea Limited
InventorTomas Stojanov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method involves placing an oocyte cell in a cell holder (1), securing the cell holder in a treatment station, applying a treatment solution to the cell by washing the cell with the solution, and rapidly cooling the cell holder and cell to a predetermined cryopreservation temperature for cryopreservation of the cell. The cell is cooled at a high rate sufficient to permit vitrification of the cell and any surrounding treatment solution to occur. The cell is then maintained at or below a predetermined storage temperature for storage. The method allows multiple cells to be treated simultaneously each secured within a respective cell holder.
Claims21
An organic cell cryopreservation apparatus for use in the vitrification of at least one organic cell, said apparatus including:
- a plurality of cell holders, each having a filter to retain one of the at least one organic cell while allowing for fluid to pass from the cell holder;
- a securing frame for securing each cell holder in a predetermined orientation, the securing frame comprising:
- an array of cell holder receiving portions, each configured to receive one of the cell holders;
- and
- at least one securing formation for securing the cell holders in the cell holder receiving portions;
- and
- a treatment station for washing said at least one organic cell, said treatment station including:
- a temperature controller;
- at least one pipette to dispense a predetermined measure of treatment solution into each cell holder;
- and
- a docking formation for engaging a corresponding docking formation on the securing frame thereby aligning said securing frame into a predetermined orientation with said treatment station.
An apparatus for vitrification of organic cells, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of cell holders, each cell holder comprising a cup-shaped vessel with converging sidewalls and a filter for retaining an organic cell in the cell holder while allowing for fluid to pass from the cell holder;
- a securing frame defining an array of cell holder receiving portions and comprising at least one securing formation for securing the cell holders in the cell holder receiving portions;
- and
- a treatment station comprising a docking formation configured to hold the securing frame in a predetermined orientation relative to the treatment station, and at least one pipette for dispensing a predetermined measure of treatment solution into each cell holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.