Sheathing for packaging a predetermined volume of a biological substance designed to be immersed in a liquid cryogenic agent
Inventors
Clairaz, Philippe • Van Kappel, Anne-Linda • Lesieur, Francis
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10149748-B2
Publication Date
2018-12-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sheathing for packaging a predetermined volume of a biological substance designed to be immersed in a liquid cryogenic agent, the sheathing including a thin tube and a ballast associated with the thin tube.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a cryogenic packaging sheathing for a predetermined biological substance volume. The sheathing includes a thin tube sealed at both ends and configured to be immersed in a cryogenic agent, where the predetermined volume can be received, including when the predetermined volume is a drop. A support having a zone for receiving the predetermined volume is introduced into the thin tube with a maximum transverse dimension less than the inside diameter of the thin tube.
The sheathing further includes a ballast weight associated with the thin tube only at one end of the sheathing. The thin tube, the ballast weight and the support are configured so that, after the thin tube is sealed at both ends and assembled with the support introduced inside the thin tube, the sheathing self-immerses in the cryogenic agent without surface floating. The ballast weight is fabricated to have a given cross-sectional configuration and has a weight that causes the sheathing, in the cryogenic agent, to assume a vertical orientation by the effect of the ballast weight.
The one end of the sheathing is vertically below the other end thereof. The self-immersion prevents residual air from causing the sheathing to float, and variants described include ballast disposed inside the tube, such as a slug with round or oval cross-sections, a metal ball, or a metallic ring threaded around or deforming the tube, as well as ballast at one end.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage provided includes one inventive feature centered on a cryogenic packaging kit with a thin tube, a support sized to fit inside the tube, and a ballast weight associated only at one end so the assembled sheathing self-immerses without surface floating.
Cryogenic packaging kit with one-end ballast self-immersion without floating
A kit for packaging a predetermined volume of a biological substance comprises a sheathing configured to be immersed in a cryogenic agent, including a thin tube having two opposed ends and an inside diameter, and a support including a zone for receiving the predetermined volume, the support configured to be introduced into the thin tube and having a maximum transverse dimension less than the inside diameter of the thin tube; wherein the sheathing further includes a ballast weight associated with the thin tube only at one end of the sheathing; wherein the thin tube, the ballast weight and the support are configured so that, after the kit is assembled and after the thin tube is sealed at both ends, with the support introduced inside the thin tube and with the volume of substance received in the support, the sheathing self-immerses in the cryogenic agent without surface floating, including when the predetermined volume is a drop; wherein the ballast weight has a weight that causes the sheathing, when in the cryogenic agent, to assume a vertical orientation by the effect of the ballast weight, with the one end of the sheathing vertically below the other end thereof, thus preventing residual air contained in the sheathing from causing the sheathing to float on the surface of the cryogenic agent; and wherein the ballast weight is fabricated to have a given cross-sectional configuration.
The claimed inventive concept combines a thin tube sealed at both ends with a support inside the tube and a ballast weight associated only at one end, so the assembled sheathing assumes a vertical orientation and self-immerses without surface floating.
Stated Advantages
Self-immersion in the cryogenic agent without surface floating.
Assumption of a vertical orientation in the cryogenic agent that prevents residual air contained in the sheathing from causing the sheathing to float on the surface of the cryogenic agent.
Documented Applications
Cryogenic packaging of a predetermined volume of a biological substance, including packaging where the predetermined volume is a drop.
Interested in licensing this patent?