Cryogenic workstation using nitrogen
Inventors
Assignees
Broadoak Fund Iii • Broadoak Fund Iii LLC • Biolife Solutions Inc
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Publication Number
US-10531656-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
Cryogenic devices are provided in which liquid nitrogen is used to maintain ultra-low temperatures in which samples can be manipulated.
Core Innovation
The system comprises an insulated container with an open-top surface forming an interior chamber and a liquid-tight metal tank mounted on or near an interior side wall. The metal tank exhausts gas directly into the chamber, where the resulting gas circulation promotes lower and more uniform working-zone temperatures than a floor-pan configuration. The system further includes a laser mounting system featuring a removable laser carriage and a mounting plate with aligned magnetic and electrical connections.
The method creates an open-top container cavity containing low-temperature gas, including gas below minus 80 degrees Celsius, by evaporating liquid nitrogen in a metal tank affixed to a container wall and exhausting the nitrogen vapor directly into the cavity. The arrangement addresses temperature uniformity and frost-related visibility impairment in an open-top cryogenic workstation. Regulation of the liquid-nitrogen level controls gas temperature within the cavity.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims comprise claim 1, directed to a system, and claim 29, directed to a method, reciting three inventive features.
Container with wall-mounted liquid-tight metal tank
Claim 1 recites a container with an open-top surface forming an interior chamber and a liquid-tight metal tank mounted on or in close proximity to an interior side wall, with at least one tank opening capable of exhausting gas directly into the chamber.
Laser mounting system with aligned magnetic and electrical connections
Claim 1 and claim 29 recite a laser carriage and mounting plate with magnets and electrical terminals positioned to align when coupled, together with a harness adapter interposed between the sensor harness and mounting plate and a lead wire coupled to the second electrical terminal.
Method for creating a low-temperature gas-filled cavity
Claim 29 recites providing a laser mounting system on the container and evaporating liquid nitrogen within a metal tank affixed to a container wall to form nitrogen vapor, exhausting the vapor directly into an open-top container cavity containing a portion of gas below minus 80 degrees Celsius.
Together, the independent claims cover a container and laser mounting system combining a wall-mounted gas-exhausting metal tank with magnetically and electrically aligned coupling components, and a method utilizing a wall-affixed metal tank to create a low-temperature gas-filled cavity.
Stated Advantages
The wall-mounted tank promotes gas circulation and lower, more uniform working-zone temperatures than a floor-pan configuration.
The configuration reduces frost-related visibility impairment.
Disclosed tests report temperature reductions of about 25 to 40 degrees Celsius compared with a floor-pan configuration.
Documented Applications
Manipulation, transfer, and packaging of temperature-sensitive materials.
Creating an open-top container cavity containing low-temperature gas, including gas below minus 80 degrees Celsius, by exhausting nitrogen vapor from liquid nitrogen evaporated in a metal tank affixed to a container wall.
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