Abstract: The invention relates to the freezing of biological products contained in straws and more particularly to the initiation of the crystallization phase. A series of straws is disposed in such manner that the straws are arranged in parallel side-by-side relation and a crystallization bar (10) is mounted by springs (20) on two arms (11 and 12) connected to a rotary shaft (13). The arms shift the bar between a waiting position in a receiver-cradle (16) which is deeply cooled by a pipe (17-18) and an operative position in which is bears against the straws. Application in the freezing of blood cells, human and animal sperm, fragments of biological tissues and embryos, etc.

Abstract: A cold storage body that comprises a hermetically sealed vessel made of aluminum alloy in which a cold storage medium in an appropriate amount is enclosed with a space remaining within the vessel filled with a compressed inert gas at an appropriate pressure. The vessel may comprise a can type trunk portion of a thin aluminum sheet having an open end with a cover member closing the open end of the trunk member. The thus formed cold storage body has sufficient strength regardless of temperature variation for cooling the cold storage body as well as a long durability and a high corrosion resisting property.

Abstract: In order to freeze articles in containers, the side of the containers against which the material to be frozen would normally contact is provided with a frozen coating consisting of a lining material having a lower melting temperature than the material to be frozen. The article, after being frozen in the container, may be easily removed from the container by heating the container to a temperature between the melting point of the lining material forming the coating and the material of the article such that the article will be loosened with respect to the container without any melting (or distortion) thereof.

Abstract: A system for injecting liquid ice into a stack of individual produce holding cartons (12) having openings (14) therein, comprising a plurality of side walls (20, 25, 27) positioned to enclose the carton stack in a position over a holding tank (18). The side walls include channels (31) into which liquid ice is pumped by a pump (36) through hoses (35) to a pair of manifolds (34) connecting with the channels. The carton stack on a pallet (11) is placed on a pallet tray (15) and shifted to a position between the side walls, the side walls are moved into close contact with the carton stack and liquid ice is pumped into the cartons to ice the produce.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided for organs during transplant surgery. A disposable receptacle (10) has a sterilizable interior and is formed of a material that is sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape normally without collapsing but sufficiently flexible to be squeezable manually. A disposable flexible container (16) is located inside the receptacle. The flexible container (16) contains a liquid solution that is adapted to be chilled in a freezer. The flexible container (16) and its contents are sterilizable and useful for providing cooling for organs during surgical transplants. The disposable receptacle (10) has a peelable lid (14) that is sealed to a tray portion (12) to enable the sterilizable container (16) to be aseptically removed from the receptacle (10).

Abstract: A transportable self-contained life support apparatus steadily reduces in temperature whole blood collected from donors to a predetermined temperature range. The whole blood is kept live by maintaining the temperature of the blood within such range through conductive heat transfer to an adjacent coolant. The coolant, in a frozen state and having a freezing temperature just below the predetermined range, absorbs heat commensurate to/with its latent heat of fusion and precludes temperature excursion of the blood until all of the coolant has become liquid. Similarly, platelets, extracted from the blood, can be maintained at the predetermined temperature range during storage and transport. Over chilling is precluded by limiting the low temperature of the coolant to its freezing temperature and a life destroying temperature rise is self-evident by and can only occur after a complete change in the state of the coolant.

Abstract: A package for a cryogenically frozen liquid material which includes an enclosed flat pouch formed by two layers of a cryogenically durable, transparent, thermoplastic polymer film having heat-sealed inner edges with laminated fins extending outwardly along at least about 15% of the pouch periphery, the fins being extensions of the 2 film layers and having a heat-sealed area along their inner edges, and also at least in a marginal area adjacent their outermost peripheral edge. The invention also includes a protective supporting package to enclose and securely hold the pouch and its contents.

Abstract: At least two incompatible solutions are simultaneously charged into a container maintained at a temperature substantially below the freezing temperature of each solution in such predetermined amounts that the separate charges of solution freeze on the walls and are then lyophilized.

Abstract: A mixture of at least two liquid compositions, each having a material which is incompatible in the presence of moisture with a material in the other liquid composition, is cooled to a temperature slightly above its freezing point. The cooled mixture is charged into a container cooled substantially below the freezing point of the mixture so the mixture freezes instantly. The frozen mixture is lyophilized to provide a mass of dry matter.

Abstract: An insulated container (10) and a process for shipping perishable products utilizes a box (16) having a lid (18) with an internal compartment for receiving a quantity of dry ice (32) or other expendable refrigerant. The perishable products, which are prechilled, are packed into the box (16) and are covered with a layer of wet ice (24) and a wet pad (26). As the dry ice (32) sublimates, it freezes the wet pad (26) and refrigerates the box (16) to maintain the products in chilled condition. Secondary refrigeration is provided by the frozen wet pad (26) and layer of ice (24).

Abstract: An inexpensive, statically controlled cooling rate device comprising a cassette of metal plates and cardboard insulation in a plastic bag was used to freeze platelets in liquid nitrogen with glycerol-glucose as cryoprotectant. Depending on the thermocouple location, the cooling rate in the freezing bag varied between 22.1.degree. and 38.6.degree. C. per minute, averaging 33.6.degree..+-.1.1.degree. C. per minute at the center. The post-thaw recovery of platelets frozen with this device and reconstituted in plasma averaged 88.6.+-.11.7 percent, compared to 86.1.+-.9.9 percent for nonfrozen but identically processed platelets. [.sup.14 C]Serotonin uptake after 0.5-hour incubation was 95.9.+-.1.9 percent for fresh platelets in platelet-rich plasma, 92.7.+-.4.4 percent for nonfrozen processed platelets, and 81.4.+-.11.8 percent for frozen platelets, increasing to 85.9.+-.7.7 percent after one-hour incubation.

Abstract: The liquid ice system comprises an icing machine in the form of a compartment for receiving water and ice. Pulverizing means are provided for crushing the ice and uniquely oriented paddles stir the water and ice mixture to maintain a homogeneous mixture of liquid ice. A circulating conduit is provided in combination with a conveyor system and ice applicator devices connected to a portion of the conduit supported on an overhead structure of the conveyor. Boxes of vegetables or poultry are appropriately refrigerated for shipment by applying liquid ice to the boxes as they pass along the conveyor. Switches may be provided for automatically actuating the ice applicators when the box passes therebeneath.

Abstract: A flexible tube container has a plurality of cells linearly disposed along the length of the tube. The cells are defined by a plurality of segmented weld lines, each segmented weld line extending the width of the tube. Each segmented weld line permits fluid communication between the various cells in the container and the formation of individual frozen confections within each of the cells upon freezing of the fluid therein. Dispensing of an individual frozen confection is easily done by bending the tube along any segmented weld line, which detaches an adjacent cell containing an individual frozen confection and immediately permits sanitary consumption of the frozen confection while it is hygienically protected within the detached cell.

Abstract: Viable fluids such as blood components are rapidly frozen in plastic or the like pouches for transportation and/or storage by placing a flat pouch slack filled with fluid between two substantially planar parallel restraining surfaces such as metal plates of greater perimeter than the flattened slack filled pouch which are rigid enough to prevent sagging of the pouch when it is vertically disposed and flexible enough to accommodate expansion of the pouch flat sides during the freezing operation. The restraining surfaces are retained against separation by retaining means applied against at least a portion of the outer surfaces of each pouch restraining means and the entire assembly is immersed in a cryogenic medium to rapidly freeze the fluid.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system and process for producing discrete chilled products having preselected weights from a semi-fluid mixture. The semi-fluid mixture is pumped along a distribution path to an extrusion manifold which extrudes a continuous sheet of the mixture. The continuous sheet is directed through a chilling station where it is chilled and firmed such that the sheet maintains its extruded cross-sectional configuration. A plurality of slicers continuously slice the continuous sheet of material into continuous lengths. A cutter periodically severs the continuous lengths at predetermined intervals to provide a plurality of discrete products having predetermined weights. The pumping rate, rate of travel through the freezer and periodic severing of the continuous lengths may be selectively varied in order to maintain any desired weight of the discrete products.

Abstract: A continuous output brine freezing system is disclosed particularly applicable to the freezing of large fish such as tuna on board fishing vessels. The vessels include a series of fish freezing tanks within which the large fish, after being encapsulated in plastic bags and vacuum sealed, are loaded and frozen in sequence. One of said tanks is a brine storage tank and has means of precooling the brine to a temperature of -35.degree. C. Means are provided for feeding the precooled brine from the first tank to the next tank in line and to the remaining tanks in sequence as the tanks are loaded with fish. Means are also provided to remove the brine from the tanks in sequence and to return the brine to the first tank as the fish are frozen. Means are provided to maintain the quality of the brine and to recycle the brine through the system as fish are brought on board and loaded into the tanks, and to unload the frozen fish from the tanks by flotation with brine.

Abstract: A system for filling small refrigerant containers from a larger container in which the refrigerant is passed downward through a cylinder which is cooled by a refrigeration coil placed in the cylinder, the coil effecting a lower temperature at the bottom of the cylinder than at the top of the cylinder.

Abstract: A completely self-contained portable refrigeration unit for maintaining cans or bottles containing food products (e.g., beer, soft drinks, fruit juices, etc.) at a predetermined substantially constant temperature (e.g., 35.degree. to 50.degree.F.) for a relatively long period of time (10 to 24 hours or more). The unit includes an outer insulating case or container and an internal refrigeration cartridge having a plurality of curved surfaces adapted to contact the surface of the products (e.g., sides or ends). The cartridge is filled with a refrigerant substance (e.g., gel refrigerant with predetermined eutectic point) capable of maintaining the curved surfaces of the cartridge at substantially the desired refrigerating temperature for the desired period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming ice cubes mold means are provided having walls that define a plurality of separate cavities. A resilient, pliable empty bag is brought into engagement in a mold to be frozen and is placed in contact with the mold means. Preferably the mold means is comprised of two mold sections between which is sandwiched the liquid pliable package which because of its inherent resiliency and pliability the liquid filled package conforms to the shape of the cavities in the mold means. Passageways are provided that interconnect adjacent ones of the cavities so that the resulting frozen articles are connected to each other by readily frangible sections. In one form of the invention a reservoir is provided for containing the liquid to be frozen as well as a plurality of conduit means that are used for filling a number of the pliable packages positioned within the mold means.