CRYOGENIC STORAGE AND FREEZING BEAKER
The present invention is directed to providing a cryogenic storage device and system that can be regulated at a constant temperature for cryopreservation of biological materials. A cryogenic storage system for cryopreservation of biological materials is provided that may include a storage beaker having at least one storage chamber formed therein, a cooling source, and a cold finger that may be configured to thermally couple the storage beaker to the cooling source.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/780,090 filed Dec. 14, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention is directed to cryogenic storage devices and systems for cryopreservation, and more particularly to a cryogenic storage and freezing beaker for cryopreservation of biological materials.
2. Description of Related ArtCryopreservation involves the process of cooling biological materials, such as organelles, cell, tissues, embryos, extracellular matrix and/or organs, to very low temperatures, for example 77 Kelvin (−196° C.) using liquid nitrogen or 193 Kelvin (−80° C.) using dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). At such low temperatures, any biological and/or chemical activity that may cause damage to the biological material is effectively halted, thereby preserving the biological material. However, for the purposes of cryopreservation it is necessary to reach low temperatures without causing damage to the biological materials through the formation of ice crystals. This may be accomplished through the use of cryoprotectants and/or rapid cooling of the biological materials to the desired cryopreservation temperature.
One of the main purposes of cryopreservation is to allow for long term storage of biological materials. Such long term storage may include the storage of human or other animal egg cells or embryos for fertilization or implantation at a later time. Currently, the primary means of cryopreservation for human or other animal egg cell and/or embryos involves cryopreservation using liquid nitrogen, and storage in dewars containing liquid nitrogen. However, there are several drawbacks to the current methods and systems. Since liquid nitrogen is constantly evaporating, additional liquid nitrogen must be continuously added to ensure that the storage vessels are maintained at the appropriate temperatures to allow for long term storage. Fluctuations in temperature during storage can result in the biological materials reaching inappropriate temperatures, and/or undergoing inappropriate thawing and re-freezing cycles. A significant amount of effort must be spent monitoring the temperatures of the storage vessels and adding additional liquid nitrogen as needed. Furthermore, often biological materials from multiple sources are stored within the same storage vessel. This can result in potential confusion and mix-ups if the biological material are inaccurately labeled or if inattentive personnel fail to follow proper protocols.
Therefore, there is a need for cryopreservation techniques and systems that provide for stable cryopreservation and storage, and reduce the likelihood of any confusion regarding the origins of any cryopreserved biological material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitations that are attendant upon the use of conventional cryopreservation techniques and systems and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a novel cryogenic storage and freezing beaker.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic storage device and system that can be regulated at a constant temperature for cryopreservation of biological materials.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic storage device and system that can be regulated at temperatures lower than currently available through the use of conventional cryopreservation cooling techniques.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic storage device and system that provides for individual storage of biological materials from the same origin, in order to reduce and/or eliminate the chance of confusing regarding the origin of biological materials.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a portable cryogenic storage device and system that is configured for transport.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable cryogenic storage device and system that is configured for transport between a cryopreservation work station to a cryopreservation storage area.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic storage cabinet for cryogenic storage of multiple cryogenic storage devices.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic storage device that includes electronic identification, tracking and/or verification components.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic freezing beaker for use in vitrification of biological materials.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a cryogenic storage system for cryopreservation of biological materials is provided that may include a storage beaker having at least one storage chamber formed therein, a cooling source, and a cold finger that may be configured to thermally couple the storage beaker to the cooling source.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may include an opening configured for receipt of the cold finger.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may include a double-walled pod having a vacuum area disposed within the double-walled pod.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may also include an opening configured for receipt of the cold finger at least partially surrounded by the vacuum area.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the at least one storage chamber may be positioned between the opening configured for receipt of the cold finger and the vacuum area disposed within the double-walled pod.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cooling source may be a mechanical cooler configured to maintain the temperature of the cold finger to between 14 to 55 Kelvin.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cooling source may be liquid nitrogen configured to reduce the temperature of the cold finger to between 14 to 77 Kelvin.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the mechanical cooler may be configured to maintain the temperature of the cold finger at a constant temperature between 14 to 55 Kelvin.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, each of the at least one storage chamber may be configured for retention of at least one vitrification stick.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may include at least a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, and the storage beaker may be labeled with an indicia, and the first storage chamber may be labeled with a first marking and the second storage chamber may be labeled with a second marking.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may include at least one electronic tracking component.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may also include a reservoir for holding of a cooling agent.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the reservoir may be connected to the at least one storage chamber through a threaded hole.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cooling agent may be liquid nitrogen or dry ice.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cryogenic storage system may be portable.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cryogenic storage system may also include a second cold finger thermally coupled to the cooling source, and a freezing beaker thermally coupled to the second cold finger, the freezing beaker may be positioned substantially adjacent to the storage beaker so as to form a cryogenic work station.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the freezing beaker may include a vitrification plate thermally coupled to the second cold finger.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cryogenic storage system may also include a second cold finger thermally coupled to the cooling source, and a second storage beaker thermally coupled to the cooling source by the second cold finger, wherein the first storage beaker and the second storage beaker are disposed within a storage tray.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may include an insulating lid.
In accordance with this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the storage beaker may be at least partially enclosed within a housing.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
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It is also understood that the storage beakers 30 according to the present invention may provide for transport of the biological materials cryogenically preserved therein through the use of battery powered or liquid cooled cooling devices. For example, it is understood that a battery powered cooling device (not shown) may include a cold finger (not shown) on which the storage beaker 30 according to the various aspects of the present invention may be disposed so as to allow for maintenance of the desired cryogenic temperature of the storage beaker 30. Similarly, a cold finger (not shown) may be disposed within a liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, contained within a portable container for the liquid, and then the cold finger (not shown) may be coupled to the storage beaker 30 to provide for a desired cryogenic temperature of the storage beaker 30.
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The pod 134 and/or the insulating cover 142 for the pod 134 may include indicia (not shown) in order to provide identifying information for the storage beaker 130. Each of the one or more storage chambers 136 may also include a marking (not shown) positioned adjacent to the storage chamber 136, either on the pod 134 and/or insulating cover 142, in order to provide identifying information for the storage chamber 136. In this manner, the combination of the indicia and marking can provide identifying information for indicating the location and developing a catalog of biological material stored within each storage beaker 130.
It is also understood that the storage beaker 130 may be suitable for use on storage tray (not shown) and/or within a storage cabinet (not shown) configured to house multiple storage beakers 130.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained in this disclosure or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted, as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is to be understood that all of the present figures, and the accompanying narrative discussions of corresponding embodiments, do not purport to be completely rigorous treatments of the invention under consideration. It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A cryogenic storage system for cryopreservation of biological materials, comprising:
- a storage beaker having at least one storage chamber formed therein,
- a cooling source, and
- a cold finger configured to thermally couple the storage beaker to the cooling source.
2. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker comprising an opening configured for receipt of the cold finger.
3. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker comprises a double-walled pod having a vacuum area disposed within the double-walled pod.
4. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 3, wherein the storage beaker further comprises an opening configured for receipt of the cold finger.
5. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one storage chamber is positioned between the opening configured for receipt of the cold finger and the vacuum area disposed within the double-walled pod.
6. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling source is a mechanical cooler configured to maintain the temperature of the cold finger to between 14 to 55 Kelvin.
7. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling source is liquid nitrogen configured to reduce the temperature of the cold finger to between 14 to 77 Kelvin.
8. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 6, wherein the mechanical cooler is configured to maintain the temperature of the cold finger at a constant temperature between 14 to 55 Kelvin.
9. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one storage chamber is configured for retention of at least one vitrification stick.
10. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker comprises at least a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, and wherein the storage beaker is labeled with an indicia, and the first storage chamber is labeled with a first marking and the second storage chamber is labeled with a second marking.
11. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker comprises at least one electronic tracking component.
12. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker further comprises a reservoir for holding of a cooling agent.
13. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 12, wherein the reservoir is connected to the at least one storage chamber through a threaded hole.
14. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 12, wherein the cooling agent is liquid nitrogen.
15. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the cryogenic storage system is portable.
16. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a second cold finger thermally coupled to the cooling source, and a freezing beaker thermally coupled to the second cold finger, wherein the freezing beaker is positioned substantially adjacent to the storage beaker so as to form a cryogenic work station.
17. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 16, wherein the freezing beaker comprises a vitrification plate thermally coupled to the second cold finger.
18. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a second cold finger thermally coupled to the cooling source, and a second storage beaker thermally coupled to the cooling source by the second cold finger, wherein the first storage beaker and the second storage beaker are disposed within a storage tray.
19. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker further comprises an insulating lid.
20. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage beaker is at least partially enclosed within a housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 6, 2019
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2020
Inventor: Lee L. Nemeth (Prospect, CT)
Application Number: 16/705,765