Systems and methods for remotely monitoring the cryogenic processing of samples
Inventors
Nancekievill, Alexander • RUTLEDGE, RUPERT
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11650006-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers, transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.
Core Innovation
The remote cryogenic processing monitoring system uses at least one cryogenic freezer freezing a sample in accordance with sample freezing profile data. The at least one freezer comprises at least one sensor configured to detect freezer sensor data relating to the freezing of the sample in accordance with the same sample freezing profile data. A remote server located remote from the freezer transmits and/or receives the detected freezer sensor data to or from the at least one freezer, and transmits the same sample freezing profile data to the at least one cryogenic freezer.
The described system supports remotely monitoring cryogenic processing by coordinating freezing-cycle sensor detection with server-distributed profile data, and by using server-side generation of an actual freezing graph from detected data. The server compares sample freezing profile data to detected data and can provide a freezing consistency report, a thawing consistency report, and transportation graph/logs with annotated observations. The server detects anomalies by identifying deviations between profile/expected behavior and detected data, including energy consumption/power curves and differences.
The described remote monitoring is applied to an end-to-end biological sample workflow in which sample identifiers and alerts are associated with transmitted and received profile and sensor data, and in which rules/tasks are generated based on the monitoring. The system also supports additional quality control using differential thermal analysis using transmitted power/temperature data, and it can generate freezing graphs and transportation/transportation consistency reporting with annotations and observations.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims covering: (1) a remote monitoring system, (2) a method for remotely monitoring cryogenic processing, and (3) a cryogenic freezer configured for remote profile delivery and sensor-data reporting. The main inventive features include remote transmission of sample freezing profile data, detection of freezer sensor data relating to freezing according to the profile, and receipt/return of detected sensor data to/from the remote server, with additional server-side graphing/comparison concepts reflected in the method claim.
Remote server distributing sample freezing profile data and receiving freezer sensor data
A remote server located remote from the freezer configured to transmit the same sample freezing profile data to at least one cryogenic freezer and transmit and/or receive the detected freezer sensor data to or from the at least one freezer.
Cryogenic freezer freezing in accordance with sample freezing profile data and detecting profile-related sensor data
At least one cryogenic freezer freezing the sample in accordance with sample freezing profile data, wherein the at least one freezer comprises at least one sensor configured to detect freezer sensor data relating to the freezing of the sample in accordance with the same sample freezing profile data.
Method of remotely monitoring by transmitting profile data, freezing accordingly, detecting freezer sensor data, and receiving detected data at the remote server
Transmitting sample freezing profile data from a remote server to at least one cryogenic freezer; freezing the sample at the at least one cryogenic freezer in accordance with the same sample freezing profile data; detecting at the at least one cryogenic freezer, freezer sensor data relating to the freezing of the sample in accordance with the same sample freezing profile data; and receiving at a remote server the detected freezer sensor data from the at least one freezer.
Cryogenic freezer with communication module receiving profile data and transmitting detected freezer sensor data to the remote server
A cryogenic freezer comprising a communication module configured to receive the same sample freezing profile data from a remote server, at least one sensor configured to detect freezer sensor data relating to the freezing of the sample in accordance with the same sample freezing profile data, wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit the detected freezer sensor data to the remote server.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is remote coordination of cryogenic processing: the remote server transmits sample freezing profile data to cryogenic freezers, the freezer detects freezer sensor data relating to freezing according to that profile, and the detected freezer sensor data is transmitted back to and/or received by the remote server. The method claim further anchors the monitoring workflow by transmitting the profile, freezing according to it, detecting profile-related sensor data, and receiving the detected sensor data at the remote server.
Stated Advantages
Remote monitoring of cryogenic processing of a sample using transmission of sample freezing profile data and receipt of detected freezer sensor data.
Server-side generation of an actual freezing graph and comparison of the sample freezing profile to detected data.
Detection of deviations/anomalies using differences such as energy/power differences between profile/expected behavior and detected data.
Provision of freezing consistency report, thawing consistency report, and transportation graph/logs with annotated observations.
Additional quality control using differential thermal analysis using transmitted power/temperature data.
Documented Applications
Use in an end-to-end biological sample workflow with sample IDs, alerts, and generation of rules/tasks based on monitoring.
Remote cryogenic processing monitoring/control of an end-to-end biological sample workflow including freezing, transportation, and thawing monitoring/consistency reporting.
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