Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Assignees
Member
FreMon ScientificFreMon Scientific develops biomedical platforms focused on dry, electronically controlled thawing of blood, plasma, and cell therapy products. Its core solutions include portable thawing devices and disposable thermal sleeves for optimized, contamination-reduced, and traceable thawing workflows. The systems are validated for regulatory compliance, supported by clinical studies, and utilized in hospitals, laboratories, and production settings globally.
FreMon Scientific develops biomedical platforms focused on dry, electronically controlled thawing of blood, plasma, and cell therapy products. Its core solutions include portable thawing devices and disposable thermal sleeves for optimized, contamination-reduced, and traceable thawing workflows. The systems are validated for regulatory compliance, supported by clinical studies, and utilized in hospitals, laboratories, and production settings globally.
Publication Number
US-10816446-B2
Publication Date
2020-10-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
Dry thawing systems and devices for thawing biological substances are provided herein. Methods for thawing biological substances are also provided.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to dry thawing devices and methods for heating an enclosed biological substance using a housing or chamber. A dry thawing chamber receives the enclosed biological substance and includes one or more heating assemblies and an agitation mechanism. Heating is supplied to the enclosed biological substance without using intermediate water baths, while thermal energy is transferred through thermal coupling between heating components and a heating cushion.
In the heating assembly, a heater is mounted on a support member and configured to generate thermal energy. A deformable, fluid-filled cushion is mounted on the support member and is in thermal communication with the heater to conduct thermal energy to the enclosed biological substance. The fluid-filled cushion comprises a cushion body defining a compartment containing a fluid, and the cushion body includes a plurality of layers with functions including substantially preventing egress of the fluid and vapor and inhibiting or preventing melting of one or more layers.
The disclosed dry thawing system includes closed-loop temperature control using temperature sensors, including contact and non-contact temperature sensing, and optional weight sensing. Multi-stage thawing control is described using stage-based parameter selection, including pre-heating, ice, liquid, and standby stages. The system further includes housing features such as a chamber door and latching, removable and replaceable chamber components, and failsafe heater shutoff based on heater or cushion temperature thresholds.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims in the provided set cover a heating assembly for heating an enclosed biological substance using a support-mounted heater and a deformable, fluid-filled, multi-layer cushion. The core inventive coverage centers on the cushion body’s plurality of layers and the specified contact portions, with four inventive features captured across the claim set.
Layered fluid-filled cushion configured to substantially prevent egress and inhibit melting
A heating assembly for heating an enclosed biological substance with a support member; a heater mounted on the support member configured to generate thermal energy; and a fluid-filled cushion mounted on the support member and in thermal communication with the heater, the fluid-filled cushion comprising a cushion body defining a compartment containing a fluid therein, wherein the fluid-filled cushion is deformable and configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the heater, wherein the cushion body comprises a plurality of layers comprising a first layer configured to substantially prevent egress of at least one of the fluid in the compartment and vapor generated within the compartment and a second layer configured to inhibit the first layer from melting.
Portioned multi-layer cushion contacting heater and enclosed biological substance
A heating assembly for heating an enclosed biological substance with a support member; a heater mounted on the support member configured to generate thermal energy; and a fluid-filled cushion mounted on the support member and in thermal communication with the heater, the fluid-filled cushion comprising a cushion body defining a compartment containing a fluid therein, wherein the fluid-filled cushion is deformable and configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the heater, wherein the cushion body comprises a first layer configured to substantially prevent egress of at least one of the fluid in the compartment and vapor generated within the compartment and a second layer comprising a first portion contacting the heater and a second portion configured to contact the enclosed biological substance to be heated.
Cushion body with opposing outer-surface layers forming compartment
A heating assembly for heating an enclosed biological substance with a support member; a heater mounted on the support member configured to generate thermal energy; and a fluid-filled cushion mounted on the support member and in thermal communication with the heater, the fluid-filled cushion comprising a cushion body defining a compartment containing a fluid therein, wherein the fluid-filled cushion is deformable and configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the heater, wherein the cushion body comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein the plurality of layers comprises first and second layers forming the compartment, and third and fourth layers forming opposing outer surfaces of the cushion body.
Multi-layer cushion including egress prevention, melting inhibition, and thermal-contact portions
A heating assembly for heating an enclosed biological substance with a support member; a heater mounted on the support member configured to generate thermal energy; and a fluid-filled cushion mounted on the support member and in thermal communication with the heater, the fluid-filled cushion comprising a cushion body defining a compartment containing a fluid therein, wherein the fluid-filled cushion is deformable and configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the heater, and wherein the cushion body comprises a plurality of layers comprising a first layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface defines a first side of the compartment; a second layer configured to substantially prevent egress of at least one of the fluid disposed in the compartment and vapor generated within the compartment, wherein the second layer is disposed about at least a portion of the first layer; and a third layer configured to inhibit at least one of the first and second layers from melting, wherein a first portion of the third layer contacts the heater and a second portion of the third layer is configured to contact the enclosed biological substance to be heated.
Across the independent claims, the main inventive coverage is directed to a heating assembly that heats an enclosed biological substance using a heater mounted on a support member and a deformable, fluid-filled cushion in thermal communication with the heater. The claims emphasize the cushion body’s plurality of layers, including layers configured to substantially prevent fluid and vapor egress and layers configured to inhibit melting, with specified portions for contact with the heater and the enclosed biological substance.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?