Apparatus and method for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units
Inventors
Van Bokkelen, Gil Bradford • Ramachandran, Rakesh • Bruns, Christopher Robert • Hayes, Christopher John • Corey, John A. • Coolidge, Troy M. • Frohman, Bruce E. • Gordon, Joseph • RUTH, Thomas R. • Williams, Jacob T. • Kramer, Gregory E. • Abel, Nathan A. • Copeland, David J. • Gill, Matthew R. • Shane, Steven F.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11566834-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units. The apparatus includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port, where the cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder located inside the cryochamber holds a plurality of container units, the unit holder being a carousel that selectively positions container units for access by a motive grasper.
The apparatus further includes a user access area for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper selectively removes the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port and selectively places the chosen container unit into the user access area. The plurality of container units is removably held within the cryochamber via at least one cartridge that is rotatably mounted within the cryochamber via the carousel, with operative alignment relative to the motive grasper.
An actuator revolver is inserted into the cryo-access port to interface with a feature of the unit holder and thereby rotate the carousel only during the active retrieval of the chosen container unit from the cryochamber. The system optionally includes temperature and humidity sensing and control, and a network interface communicating real-time and/or historical information to an outside monitor about cryochamber conditions and related container-unit and security/inventory/access data.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines an apparatus with six inventive features that together enable cryostorage, authenticated user access, robotic removal into a user access area, and controlled carousel/cartridge alignment during active retrieval. Dependent claims add warming-chamber movement, exclusively electrically powered cryogenic cooling, selective access control for technicians versus users, and networked monitoring of cryogenic conditions and security/inventory/access data, as well as particular container-unit treatment contents.
Electrically cooled cryochamber with cryo-access port
A cryochamber including a cryo-access port, the cryochamber being electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures.
Carousel unit holder inside the cryochamber
A unit holder located inside the cryochamber and being configured to hold a plurality of container units, the unit holder being a carousel.
Authenticated user access to a chosen container unit
A user access area for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus.
Motive grasper retrieval through cryo-access port into user access area
A motive grasper for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.
Removably held cartridges rotatably mounted within the carousel
The plurality of container units is removably held within the cryochamber via at least one cartridge, at least one cartridge being rotatably mounted within the cryochamber via the carousel, the carousel being configured to selectively position the at least one cartridge with the chosen container unit, carried by the at least one cartridge, in operative alignment with the motive grasper.
Actuator revolver rotates the carousel only during active retrieval
An actuator revolver is inserted into the cryo-access port to interface with a feature of the unit holder and thereby rotate the carousel only during the active retrieval of the chosen container unit from the cryochamber.
Warming chamber movement to a thawed condition
A warming chamber that warms a chosen container unit toward a thawed condition, with the motive grasper selectively moving the chosen container unit between the cryochamber, the warming chamber, and a user access area.
Exclusively electrically powered cryogenic cooling with no non-electrical coolant working fluid
Maintaining the interior of a cryochamber at cryogenic temperatures using exclusively electrically powered cooling, with no non-electrical-cooling working fluid supplied as coolant to the cryochamber.
Selective blocking of user access while permitting technician access
A housing around the cryochamber and other components that selectively blocks user access to part of the housing interior while allowing technician access to other parts of the interior excluding the user access area.
Network interface for real-time and/or historical monitoring of cryogenic and security data
A network interface which communicates real-time and/or historical information to an outside monitor about cryochamber conditions, operating/status and related container-unit and security/inventory/access data.
Container units holding cell and/or gene therapy based treatments
A selected container unit that holds at least one of cell therapy based treatments, gene therapy based treatments, or gene modified cell therapy based treatments.
Overall, the claim set covers an electrically cooled cryochamber apparatus that uses a carousel/cartridge arrangement and a motive grasper to retrieve a chosen container unit through a cryo-access port into an authenticated user access area, with an actuator revolver controlling carousel rotation only during active retrieval. Additional dependent claim features include warming toward a thawed condition, exclusive electrically powered cooling without non-electrical coolant working fluid, selective user versus technician access within a housing, and networked real-time/historical monitoring of cryogenic conditions and security/inventory/access information.
Stated Advantages
Enables selective cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units using carousel/cartridge alignment and a motive grasper through a cryo-access port into a user access area.
Permits access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus.
Rotates the carousel only during the active retrieval of the chosen container unit from the cryochamber by using an actuator revolver interfacing with the unit holder.
Provides optional warming of a chosen container unit toward a thawed condition and movement between cryochamber, warming chamber, and user access area.
Restricts cryogenic maintenance to exclusively electrically powered cooling and excludes other coolant working fluid supplied to the cryochamber.
Provides selective blocking of user access while allowing technician access to other parts of the interior excluding the user access area.
Communicates real-time and/or historical information to an outside monitor about cryochamber conditions, operating/status, and related container-unit and security/inventory/access data.
Documented Applications
Cryostorage and authenticated retrieval of a chosen container unit from a cryochamber into a user access area, with optional movement through a warming chamber toward a thawed condition.
Cryogenic storage and handling of container units that hold at least one of cell therapy based treatments, gene therapy based treatments, or gene modified cell therapy based treatments.
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