US20060260328A1 - Cryogenic biological preservation unit with active cooling and positive atmospheric seal lid - Google Patents

Cryogenic biological preservation unit with active cooling and positive atmospheric seal lid Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060260328A1
US20060260328A1 US11/130,132 US13013205A US2006260328A1 US 20060260328 A1 US20060260328 A1 US 20060260328A1 US 13013205 A US13013205 A US 13013205A US 2006260328 A1 US2006260328 A1 US 2006260328A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
vessel
interior
pressure
lid
preservation unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/130,132
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English (en)
Inventor
Bryce Rampersad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Praxair Technology Inc
Original Assignee
Praxair Technology Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Praxair Technology Inc filed Critical Praxair Technology Inc
Priority to US11/130,132 priority Critical patent/US20060260328A1/en
Assigned to PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC. reassignment PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RAMPERSAD, BRYCE MARK
Priority to TW095117346A priority patent/TW200718356A/zh
Priority to PCT/US2006/019192 priority patent/WO2006125060A2/fr
Publication of US20060260328A1 publication Critical patent/US20060260328A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N1/00—Preservation of bodies of humans or animals, or parts thereof
    • A01N1/02—Preservation of living parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N1/00—Preservation of bodies of humans or animals, or parts thereof
    • A01N1/02—Preservation of living parts
    • A01N1/0236—Mechanical aspects
    • A01N1/0242—Apparatuses, i.e. devices used in the process of preservation of living parts, such as pumps, refrigeration devices or any other devices featuring moving parts and/or temperature controlling components
    • A01N1/0252—Temperature controlling refrigerating apparatus, i.e. devices used to actively control the temperature of a designated internal volume, e.g. refrigerators, freeze-drying apparatus or liquid nitrogen baths
    • A01N1/0257—Stationary or portable vessels generating cryogenic temperatures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/05—Applications for industrial use
    • F17C2270/0509—"Dewar" vessels

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to preservation of biological samples and, more particularly, to preservation of biological samples at cryogenic temperatures.
  • cryogenic biological sample preservation units that store biological samples at temperatures below 140 K use liquid nitrogen to keep the biological samples cold. These units typically store the samples within a vacuum insulated space above a pool of liquid nitrogen or immersed within the pool of liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen needs to be periodically replenished due to loss of nitrogen vapor from the unit. This is costly, not only because of the cost of the nitrogen, but also because of the complicated procedures required to handle the liquid nitrogen. Moreover, there is another problem caused by contaminant gas migration into the unit.
  • One aspect of the invention is:
  • a cryogenic biological preservation unit comprising:
  • A an insulated vessel having a vessel interior, a lid positioned within an opening allowing access to the vessel interior, and a seal comprising pliable polymeric material in contact with the lid;
  • Another aspect of the invention is:
  • a method for operating a cryogenic biological preservation unit comprising:
  • cryocooler means a refrigerator which can produce refrigeration below 193 K for the purpose of cooling biological samples.
  • cry head means the portion of the cryocooler containing the cold heat exchanger, aftercooler and regenerator.
  • cold finger means a portion of a cold head that is configured such that the cold heat exchanger is located at one end of the cold head.
  • the cold finger refers to the portion of the cold head with this configuration that, in operation, is at a temperature below that of the aftercooler.
  • biological sample means an organic material.
  • biological samples are proteins, blood platelets, cartilage and heart valves.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross sectional representation of one preferred embodiment of the cryogenic biological preservation unit of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a representation of one preferred sealing system which may be used in the practice of the cryogenic biological preservation unit of this invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a cryogenic biological preservation unit comprising an insulated vessel having a vessel wall 1 and having insulation, typically vacuum insulation, 3 adjacent the inside of vessel wall 1 .
  • Vessel wall 1 and insulation 3 define the vessel interior or storage space 2 .
  • a pool of liquid nitrogen 4 In the lower portion of vessel interior 2 is a pool of liquid nitrogen 4 .
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated in representational form a plurality of biological samples 5 on a rack system.
  • the cryogenic biological preservation unit of this invention will have a diameter within the range of from 30 to 60 inches and a height within the range of from 45 to 75 inches.
  • the cryogenic biological preservation unit of this invention can accommodate or store up to 15,000 to 80,000 biological samples in 1-2 ml plastic vials. Large items such as blood bags and organs can also be stored.
  • the cryogenic biological preservation unit of this invention has an opening 25 which allows access to the vessel interior 2 from outside the vessel and through which biological samples are put into and removed from the vessel interior.
  • opening 25 there is positioned sealed lid 7 which is typically insulated using a closed cell foam such as expanded polystyrene, and which is positioned in opening 25 when access to vessel interior 2 is not desired. Sealed lid 7 will be described in greater detail below.
  • cryocooler Any suitable cryocooler may be used in the practice of this invention.
  • cryocoolers one can name Stirling cryocoolers, Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers and pulse tube refrigerators.
  • a pulse tube refrigerator is a closed refrigeration system that oscillates a working gas in a closed cycle and in so doing transfers a heat load from a cold section to a hot section. The frequency and phasing of the oscillations is determined by the configuration of the system.
  • the driver or pressure wave generator may be a piston or some other mechanical compression device, or an acoustic or thermoacoustic wave generation device, or any other suitable device for providing a pulse or compression wave to a working gas.
  • the pressure wave generator delivers energy to the working gas within the pulse tube causing pressure and velocity oscillations.
  • Helium is the preferred working gas; however any effective working gas may be used in the pulse tube refrigerator and among such one can name nitrogen, oxygen, argon and neon or mixtures containing one or more thereof such as air.
  • the oscillating working gas is preferably cooled in an aftercooler and then in a regenerator as it moves toward the cold end.
  • the geometry and pulsing configuration of the pulse tube refrigeration system is such that the oscillating working gas in the cold head expands for some fraction of the pulsing cycle and heat is absorbed by the working gas by indirect heat exchange which provides refrigeration to the vessel interior.
  • the pulse tube refrigeration system employs an inertance tube and reservoir to maintain the gas displacement and pressure pulses in appropriate phases.
  • the size of the reservoir is sufficiently large so that essentially very little pressure oscillation occurs in it during the oscillating flow.
  • the cryocooler components 10 include the mechanical compression equipment (pressure wave generator), the inertance tube and reservoir, the final heat rejection system and the electrical components required to drive and control the cryocooler. Electrical energy is primarily converted into acoustic energy in the pressure wave generator. This acoustic energy is transferred by the oscillating working gas to the cold head 8 via the transfer tube 9 .
  • the transfer tube 9 connects the pressure wave generator to the aftercooler located at the warm end of the cold head 8 , where heat is removed as previously described.
  • the cryocooler can be controlled to provide varying amounts of refrigeration to the cold end of the cold finger 6 depending on the conditions in the cryogenic biological preservation unit vessel interior 2 . This is accomplished by modulating the acoustic power output from the pressure wave generator by varying the voltage and thus the electrical power supplied.
  • the cryocooler would preferably be controlled based on the temperature of the vessel interior 2 of the cryogenic biological preservation unit.
  • cold finger 6 penetrates into vessel interior 2 and provides refrigeration directly to the vessel interior.
  • the refrigeration cools and condenses nitrogen vapor within the upper portion of the vessel interior 2 as will be more fully described below, thus eliminating the need to replenish the liquid nitrogen from outside the unit and thereby minimizing costly and complicated liquid nitrogen handling procedures and systems.
  • the condensed nitrogen falls by gravity to the liquid nitrogen pool 4 in the lower portion of the vessel interior.
  • the temperature at the lowest level of the sample storage within the vessel interior may be as low as 77 K and is generally within the range of from 80 to 95 K. However, the normal temperature at the upper levels of the sample storage may be within the range of from 95 to 140 K without the use of the integrated cryocooler of this invention. Samples in the top racks of conventional cryogenic biological preservation units could exceed the glass transition temperature of the biological samples when the lid is removed for access to the interior. For this reason, storage of biological samples in the upper portion of conventional cryogenic biological preservation units is often avoided. However, with the cryogenic biological preservation unit of this invention which provides cryocooler refrigeration to the upper portion of the vessel interior, biological samples may be stored in the upper portion of the vessel interior without fear of degradation due to elevated temperature.
  • cryocooler will continuously recondense all or most of the nitrogen vaporized due to heat leak caused by opening and closing the vessel and by the integration of the cryocooler with the vessel itself.
  • the pressure within the interior of the insulated vessel is maintained within 2 pounds per square inch (psi) of the pressure outside of the insulated vessel.
  • psi pounds per square inch
  • One way for achieving the required pressure differential limit is by varying the amount of refrigeration provided to the vessel interior by the cryocooler. As more liquid nitrogen is vaporized and the pressure within the vessel interior increases, the delivered refrigeration is increased to increase the nitrogen condensation rate and thus reduce the pressure. If the amount of nitrogen condensed increases to the point where the pressure within the vessel interior falls to below ambient pressure, the delivered refrigeration is decreased to allow the pressure within the vessel interior to approximate the ambient pressure.
  • Pressure relief conduit 26 has pressure relief valve 20 and communicates with the vessel interior. In the event the pressure within the vessel interior increases at a rate which cannot be addressed by the cryocooler operation described above, the pressure relief valve will open to reduce the pressure to the requisite level.
  • the changes in the pressure relief valve opening, as well as changes in the cryocooler operation, can be controlled by reference to a pressure transducer such as differential pressure transducer 21 on conduit 26 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • the differential pressure transducer monitors the pressure difference between the vessel interior and the outside of the insulted vessel.
  • equalizing valve 19 on pressure relief conduit 26 serves to equalize the pressure between the vessel interior and the outside when access to the vessel interior is desired by the removal of sealed lid 7 .
  • Sealed lid 7 has pliable polymeric material in contact with the lid which serves to keep gas or vapor from flowing passed the lid, into or out of the vessel interior, when the pressure differential between the vessel interior and the outside of the vessel is within 2 psi.
  • the polymeric material is maintained in compression while the lid 7 is positioned within opening 25 . That is, the polymeric material is squeezed between two or more surfaces and is deformed so that it conforms to the space enclosing it.
  • silicone polytetrafluoroethylene
  • ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene ethylene propylene.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a sealed lid which may be used in the practice of this invention.
  • vacuum insulated neck 30 of the vessel with a screw thread ring 31 attached and sealed by polymeric thread ring seal 32 .
  • the lid foam insulation 33 is also shown which extends several inches below lid 7 .
  • the vessel thread ring may alternately be rolled into the inner wall of the vessel neck.
  • the lid 7 is shown with a mating screw thread 34 and a polymeric lid seal gasket 35 on the inside wall.
  • the threads may alternately be positioned on the outside wall.
  • the lid seal gasket 35 prevents vapors from flowing past this seal within the pressure holding limits of the seal. The seal is kept in compression when the lid is closed by the force provided by the mating screw threads.
  • This type of screw thread sealing system would preferably require only a quarter or half turn from the unengaged to the fully engaged positions.
  • the thread is provided to produce the required compression for sealing of the lid gasket; however other compression techniques can be used. Of these other compression techniques, one can name clamping, tapered cork compression, magnetic compression or weighted compression systems.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
US11/130,132 2005-05-17 2005-05-17 Cryogenic biological preservation unit with active cooling and positive atmospheric seal lid Abandoned US20060260328A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/130,132 US20060260328A1 (en) 2005-05-17 2005-05-17 Cryogenic biological preservation unit with active cooling and positive atmospheric seal lid
TW095117346A TW200718356A (en) 2005-05-17 2006-05-16 Cryogenic biological preservation unit with active cooling
PCT/US2006/019192 WO2006125060A2 (fr) 2005-05-17 2006-05-17 Module de conservation biologique cryogenique a refroidissement actif

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/130,132 US20060260328A1 (en) 2005-05-17 2005-05-17 Cryogenic biological preservation unit with active cooling and positive atmospheric seal lid

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TW (1) TW200718356A (fr)
WO (1) WO2006125060A2 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060156740A1 (en) * 2005-01-19 2006-07-20 Rampersad Bryce M Cryogenic biological preservation unit
US20090255288A1 (en) * 2008-04-10 2009-10-15 Yu Jia Portable rack carrier device and the method of use
WO2019046707A1 (fr) * 2017-08-31 2019-03-07 Savsu Technologies Llc Fermeture de récipient de stockage cryogénique
US20200305417A1 (en) * 2017-12-21 2020-10-01 Asymptote Ltd. Container for Cryopreserved Samples
CN112088874A (zh) * 2020-09-24 2020-12-18 陈龙刚 一种干细胞冷存降温装置
US11352262B2 (en) 2017-12-18 2022-06-07 Praxair Technology, Inc. Methods for automatic filling, charging and dispensing carbon dioxide snow block

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108820581B (zh) * 2018-07-12 2024-03-01 山前（珠海）医疗科技有限公司 一种生物样本存储系统

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5779089A (en) * 1996-07-26 1998-07-14 Forma Scientific, Inc. Cryogenic storage apparatus with lid vent
US6430908B1 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-08-13 Deere & Company Self-leveling hitch and clevis assembly
US6539726B2 (en) * 2001-05-08 2003-04-01 R. Kevin Giesy Vapor plug for cryogenic storage vessels

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH01111183A (ja) * 1987-10-23 1989-04-27 Hitachi Ltd 液化ガス貯蔵容器
JPH01159576A (ja) * 1987-12-16 1989-06-22 Hitachi Ltd クライオスタツト
JPH0633854B2 (ja) * 1988-11-01 1994-05-02 工業技術院長 蒸発防止装置
EP0366818A1 (fr) * 1988-11-02 1990-05-09 Leybold Aktiengesellschaft Cryostat à bain d'azote liquide
US6393847B1 (en) * 2001-01-12 2002-05-28 Chart Inc. Liquid cryogen freezer
US6430938B1 (en) * 2001-10-18 2002-08-13 Praxair Technology, Inc. Cryogenic vessel system with pulse tube refrigeration
JP2004028516A (ja) * 2002-06-28 2004-01-29 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 保存装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5779089A (en) * 1996-07-26 1998-07-14 Forma Scientific, Inc. Cryogenic storage apparatus with lid vent
US6036045A (en) * 1996-07-26 2000-03-14 Forma Scientific, Inc. Cryogenic storage apparatus with lid vent
US6430908B1 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-08-13 Deere & Company Self-leveling hitch and clevis assembly
US6539726B2 (en) * 2001-05-08 2003-04-01 R. Kevin Giesy Vapor plug for cryogenic storage vessels

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060156740A1 (en) * 2005-01-19 2006-07-20 Rampersad Bryce M Cryogenic biological preservation unit
US7290396B2 (en) * 2005-01-19 2007-11-06 Praxair Technology, Inc. Cryogenic biological preservation unit
US20090255288A1 (en) * 2008-04-10 2009-10-15 Yu Jia Portable rack carrier device and the method of use
US8099967B2 (en) * 2008-04-10 2012-01-24 Yu Jia Portable rack carrier device and the method of use
WO2019046707A1 (fr) * 2017-08-31 2019-03-07 Savsu Technologies Llc Fermeture de récipient de stockage cryogénique
US11892124B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2024-02-06 Savsu Technologies Llc Cryogenic storage container closure
US11352262B2 (en) 2017-12-18 2022-06-07 Praxair Technology, Inc. Methods for automatic filling, charging and dispensing carbon dioxide snow block
US20200305417A1 (en) * 2017-12-21 2020-10-01 Asymptote Ltd. Container for Cryopreserved Samples
US11666047B2 (en) * 2017-12-21 2023-06-06 Asymptote Ltd. Container for cryopreserved samples
CN112088874A (zh) * 2020-09-24 2020-12-18 陈龙刚 一种干细胞冷存降温装置

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Publication number Publication date
WO2006125060A3 (fr) 2007-11-01
TW200718356A (en) 2007-05-16
WO2006125060A2 (fr) 2006-11-23

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AS Assignment

Owner name: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC., CONNECTICUT

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RAMPERSAD, BRYCE MARK;REEL/FRAME:016292/0423

Effective date: 20050509

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION