Abstract: A vacuum concentrator uses microwave heating to enhance the rapid drying of a liquid specimen. Microwave heating without excessive arcing is made possible in a vacuum chamber by controlling the power of a microwave generator, by modifying antenna-like objects, and by interposing air in a direct path between opposing edges of microwave injection slots, while maintaining the vacuum condition in the vacuum chamber. This can be accomplished by using air filled plastic bosses passing through, and substantially filling the microwave injection slots. An alternate to the air filled bosses can be a non-metallic closure plate that excludes the microwave injection slots from the vacuum chamber, while allowing energy to be injected freely into the chamber. The microwave heating energy is absorbed by a vacuum chamber cover and dissipated to the atmosphere as heat.

Abstract: A cell preservation system utilizes a pre-chilled coolant stored in a coolant reservoir, which is pumped at a controlled rate into a specimen vessel containing a specimen. This allows the achievement of a controlled rate of cooling the specimen and controls the formation of crystals in the specimen. The coolant reservoir is sealed, and the coolant is pumped from the specimen vessel to the coolant reservoir, whereby heat from the pump is not entered into the specimen vessel. A magnetic stirrer is selectively controlled to maintain a uniform temperature in the specimen vessel or, alternatively, is deenergized to permit temperature stratification to occur. A heater is included in the specimen vessel for precise heat control, and for raising the temperature of the coolant in the specimen vessel to a value suitable for beginning a cooling cycle.