Bio-specimen refrigeration system
Inventors
Paulovich, Amanda G. • Ivey, Richard • Kennedy, Jacob • Lorentzen, Travis • Woodcock, Amanda • Thielman, Scott C. • Hooper, Elijah E.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12151245-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices and methods for bio-specimen refrigeration are provided. In an embodiment, the bio-specimen refrigeration devices of the present disclosure include a housing having a lid and a base portion, wherein the lid is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position; a coolant cartridge chamber disposed in the housing and configured to fluidically couple with a coolant cartridge disposed in the coolant cartridge chamber; and a cooling chamber disposed in the housing and configured to receive a fluid coolant from the coolant cartridge, wherein in the closed position, the lid seals the cooling chamber.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a bio-specimen refrigeration device with a housing that includes a lid selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the lid seals a cooling chamber when positioned in the closed position. The device further includes a coolant cartridge chamber disposed in the housing and configured to receive a coolant cartridge via a fluid inlet port for coupling the expelled coolant to the cooling chamber.
A fluid inlet port includes a restriction configured to meter the fluid coolant as it is expelled from the coolant cartridge into the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is configured to receive the metered fluid coolant from the coolant cartridge, so that the cooling chamber is cooled through the metered expelled coolant.
An activation mechanism selectively places the coolant cartridge in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port by pushing on an end of the coolant cartridge. The activation mechanism includes a member disposed in the lid that moves from a deactivated position to an activated position and is operably coupled with a plunger, and the plunger pushes an actuator against the coolant cartridge when the lid is in the closed position and the member is moved to the activated position.
The described embodiments include cooling modalities based on expansion and evaporation of a pressurized aerosol coolant, with chemical and pressurized coolant gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, dimethyl ether, propane, tetrafluoroethene, butane, and mixtures. The document additionally describes structural components associated with receiving bio-specimens in a cryovial and routing cooling fluid, including an excess fluid chamber and an exhaust port, and experimental results comparing device cooling using selected coolants to liquid nitrogen snap-freezing.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim is identified. Its coverage centers on a sealed lid that controls coolant delivery from a cartridge into a cooling chamber through a metering restriction, combined with a member/plunger/lock activation mechanism that enables cartridge-to-inlet fluid coupling only when the lid is closed.
Lid-sealed housing cooling chamber with coolant cartridge chamber
A housing comprising a lid selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position; a coolant cartridge chamber disposed in the housing and comprising a fluid inlet port configured to fluidically couple with a coolant cartridge disposed in the coolant cartridge chamber; and a cooling chamber disposed in the housing and configured to receive a fluid coolant from the coolant cartridge, wherein in the closed position, the lid seals the cooling chamber.
Metered coolant via restriction in fluid inlet port
The fluid inlet port comprises a restriction configured to meter the fluid coolant as it is expelled from the coolant cartridge.
Member/plunger/lock activation to push cartridge into fluid communication
An activation mechanism configured to selectively place the coolant cartridge in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port by pushing on an end of the coolant cartridge, wherein the activation mechanism comprises a member disposed in the lid and movable from a deactivated position to an activated position, wherein the member is operably coupled with a plunger configured to push an actuator against the coolant cartridge when the lid is in the closed position and the member is moved to the activated position, wherein the activation mechanism comprises a lock that retains the member in the activated position.
The independent claim set is focused on metered delivery of expelled coolant from a cartridge into a lid-sealed cooling chamber, with a lid-triggered member/plunger/lock activation mechanism that places the cartridge into fluid communication with the fluid inlet port.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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