Abstract: Disclosed is a biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation system, for cryopreserving a biopharmaceutical product that includes a cryopreservation compartment; a cryopreservation fluid located within the cryopreservation compartment; and a biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation vial located within the cryopreservation compartment and surrounded by the cryopreservation fluid, and the biopharmaceutical product cryopreservation vial including a body that includes an oblong cross-section defining proximal and distal ends of the body, and at least one nucleating structure, coupled to a distal end of the body, and the body including a cryogenically stable material that is compatible with biopharmaceutical products. Also disclosed are cryopreservation vials and methods of cryopreserving biopharmaceutical products.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical circulators including a first beam displacer/combiner, a first nonreciprocal rotator, a first beam angle turner, a second beam angle turner, a second nonreciprocal rotator, and a second beam displacer/combiner, together with methods of using the optical circulators and telecommunications systems including the optical circulators.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus including a housing with a handle end and a manipulation end, a rotatable manipulation mechanism guided within the housing and extendible beyond the end of the housing, an inflatable diaphragm situated on the housing and a channel for passing a gas through or along the manipulation mechanism from the handle end of the housing to the manipulation end. The invention is also directed to a method of performing laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomies using the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical circulators possessing a longitudinal axis, the optical circulator including a first and second walk-off crystals optically coupled in a substantially equivalent optical distance, cascaded walk-off configuration, together with systems including such circulators, and methods of circulating optical signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are bulk lyophilization containers including aseptic closure portions or heat flux equalization portions that promote improved bulk lyophilization. Also disclosed are methods of using the bulk lyophilization containers and improved lyophilization stoppers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal transfer method for heating or cooling a biopharmaceutical medium. A structure is positioned in the container. A heat exchange member is coupled to an interior surface of the container wherein a distal end of the heat exchange member is placed in close proximity to the structure to allow formation of a thermal transfer bridge that conducts heat into or out of the medium.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for freeze granulation of a medium such as a biopharmeceutical product. The medium is put into a chamber and mixed using a pair of counter rotating agitators. The agitators have angled blades or paddles on them in order to induce motion in the medium parallel to the axis of the agitator shafts. A set of liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide nozzles are attached to the chamber. The liquid nitrogen nozzles spray a mist of liquid nitrogen into the medium. The liquid carbon dioxide nozzles spray carbon dioxide snow into the chamber. The liquid nitrogen and the carbon dioxide can be sprayed into the chamber at the same time or alternately.