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Publication Number
US-11666047-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
Containers (100) for cryopreserved biological samples (102) may include an insulated housing including a cavity (108) for containing at least one cryopreserved biological sample; and a sealed reservoir (106) at least partly surrounding the cavity, the sealed reservoir including liquified gas (120) such as liquified air, the gas being kept largely liquified by a heat transfer engine (112) such as a Stirling cryocooler. A valve (114) may be provided to function as both a pressure relief valve and an inlet valve. The inlet valve may be coupled to a sensor (122) for sensing a volume of liquified gas within the sealed reservoir. The container may further include a heat exchanger (116) coupled to the heat engine and extending into the sealed reservoir.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a container for cryopreserved biological samples. The container comprises an insulated housing having a cavity for containing at least one cryopreserved biological sample, and a sealed reservoir at least partly surrounding the cavity, the sealed reservoir comprising liquified gas.
The container further includes a heat transfer engine for condensing gas in the sealed reservoir to provide liquified gas, or cooling the liquified gas in the sealed reservoir. The arrangement is configured to keep liquified gas largely liquified, with a heat exchanger extending into the reservoir to condense evaporated gas. A valve provides pressure relief and can act as an inlet valve, and the heat transfer engine is switched on and off based on monitoring.
An airflow mechanism comprises a chamber located between a gas inlet and an inlet valve. The container also includes features to mitigate oxygen enrichment and frost buildup when liquified air evaporates, including an oxygen scavenger chamber and a desiccant chamber associated with airflow. The invention additionally supports integrity monitoring and reporting using monitoring of liquified-gas volume, level, and/or flow and reporting of power consumption, with communication of alerts and integrity reports.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers an insulated cryogenic sample container that uses a sealed reservoir of liquified gas maintained by a heat transfer engine for condensing and/or cooling, together with an airflow mechanism having a chamber between a gas inlet and an inlet valve. Dependent claims refine the system by specifying cryocooler types and by adding control, sensing, and conditioning components such as oxygen scavenger and desiccant chambers, along with vacuum insulation and reporting aspects.
Insulated housing with cavity for cryopreserved biological samples
The container comprises an insulated housing comprising a cavity for containing at least one cryopreserved biological sample.
Sealed reservoir of liquified gas at least partly surrounding the cavity
A sealed reservoir at least partly surrounds the cavity of the housing, the sealed reservoir comprising liquified gas.
Heat transfer engine for condensing or cooling liquified gas in the sealed reservoir
A heat transfer engine for condensing gas in the sealed reservoir to provide liquified gas, or cooling the liquified gas in the sealed reservoir.
Airflow mechanism with chamber between gas inlet and inlet valve
An airflow mechanism comprising a chamber located between a gas inlet and an inlet valve.
Controller switching heat engine based on required liquified gas volume
A container system includes a controller connected to at least one sensor that determines whether the liquified gas volume in a sealed reservoir is below a required volume and, if so, sends a control signal to a heat engine to switch on and condense any evaporated liquified gas.
Heat transfer engine selected from cryocooler types
The container is configured so that its heat transfer engine is selected from one of several specified cryocooler types.
Liquified gas selected from liquified helium, liquified nitrogen, liquified air, and liquified oxygen
The container is configured such that the liquified gas is one or more of liquified helium, liquified nitrogen, liquified air, and liquified oxygen.
Oxygen scavenger chamber in the airflow mechanism
The container has a chamber that includes an oxygen scavenger.
Desiccant chamber to address frost buildup during evaporation
The container includes a desiccant chamber associated with the airflow mechanism to mitigate frost buildup when liquified air evaporates.
Vacuum insulation for the container
The container further includes vacuum insulation.
Overall, the claim set defines a cryogenic container with an insulated housing and sealed liquified-gas reservoir maintained by a heat transfer engine that condenses and/or cools, together with a defined airflow mechanism positioning a chamber between a gas inlet and an inlet valve. Refinements add controller- and sensor-based maintenance of required liquified-gas volume and include conditioning components, oxygen scavenger and desiccant chambers, plus vacuum insulation and monitoring/reporting aspects.
Stated Advantages
Maintains liquified gas largely liquified in the sealed reservoir by condensing evaporated gas using the heat transfer engine.
Mitigates oxygen enrichment when liquified air evaporates.
Mitigates frost buildup when liquified air evaporates.
Supports integrity monitoring via sensor monitoring of liquified-gas volume, level, and/or flow and via power consumption reporting, with communication of alerts and reports.
Documented Applications
Maintaining cryopreserved biological samples in a container using a sealed reservoir of liquified gas and a heat transfer engine for condensing and/or cooling, including monitoring and integrity reporting for the container.
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