Disclosed are systems and methods for the cryopreservation of biological samples. The system includes a mixing device comprising a container and a basket, wherein the container is configured to hold the biological sample and a cryoprotectant (CPA). Means are provided to move (e.g., rotate) the basket within the container to ensure efficient mixing. The system further includes a cooling device to cool the mixing device. Vitrification may be accomplished by controlling the cooling rate and rate of addition of CPA according to a reference phase diagram of the CPA, such as to keep the CPA in a liquid phase and prevent ice formation. The corresponding method includes placing a biological sample within a basket located in a container; placing the container within a support plate; adding a CPA to the container while cooling the container with a controlled rate freezer; and moving the basket within the container during the cooling in order to mix the CPA.
Disclosed herein is a device in the form of a bung for insulating a container interior from the ambient environment, the bung comprising: a plurality of insulating segments; and one or more barriers for reflecting infrared radiation. Disclosed is: a method of preparing a shipping system for retaining a cryopreserved sample, the method comprising: loading a cryopreserved sample into a container such as a vacuum flask; and fitting the bung to the container to insulate the container interior from the ambient environment, and a method of cooling a container, such as a vacuum flask, for retaining cryopreserved samples to a desired temperature, the method comprising: cooling the container interior by pouring a cryogenic fluid such as liquid nitrogen into the container; and emptying the cryogenic fluid from the container, once the cooling has at least partially taken place.
B65D 81/38 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
Disclosed herein is a device in the form of a bung for insulating a container interior from the ambient environment, the bung comprising: a plurality of insulating segments; and one or more barriers for reflecting infrared radiation. Disclosed is: a method of preparing a shipping system for retaining a cryopreserved sample, the method comprising: loading a cryopreserved sample into a container such as a vacuum flask; and fitting the bung to the container to insulate the container interior from the ambient environment, and a method of cooling a container, such as a vacuum flask, for retaining cryopreserved samples to a desired temperature, the method comprising: cooling the container interior by pouring a cryogenic fluid such as liquid nitrogen into the container; and emptying the cryogenic fluid from the container, once the cooling has at least partially taken place.
A47J 41/02 - Vacuum-jacket vessels, e.g. vacuum bottles
B65D 81/38 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
F25D 17/04 - Arrangements for circulating cooling fluidsArrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating gas, e.g. by natural convection
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
An accessory for a freezing apparatus for cryogenic
preservation for scientific and laboratory purposes, namely,
an accessory used to dissociate biological tissues into
their cellular components before freezing that also will
have a consumable bag for storing and processing the tissue. An accessory for a freezing apparatus for cryogenic
preservation for medical purposes, namely, an accessory used
to dissociate biological tissues into their cellular
components before freezing that also will have a consumable
bag for storing and processing the tissue.
Disclosed is a device (100, 200) for the disaggregation of tissue samples into individual cells or cell clumps in a closed flexible tissue sample bag (10); the device including two or more resilient feet (134/136, 234/236) which tread sequentially a tissue sample bag receiving area (148,248). Also disclosed is a heat transfer plate (150, 250) for transferring heat energy to or from the area (148,248), the plate having one plate surface (151,251) adjacent the area (148,248) and an opposing surface (152,252) exposed to external thermal influence which faces away from the area (148,248). Further disclosed is a tissue sample receiving bag (10) comprising one or more flexible plastics cavity (12) formed from two layers of the plastics sealed around their edges to form a generally rectilinear periphery with the cavity or cavities (12) within the periphery, and at one side of the periphery is formed one or more sealable access ports (16). One part of the bag is left unsealed to provide a tissue sample receiving opening.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) An accessory for a freezing apparatus for cryogenic preservation for scientific and laboratory purposes, namely, a cell processor used to dissociate biological tissues into their cellular components before freezing that also will have a consumable bag for storing and processing the tissue.
(2) An accessory for a freezing apparatus for cryogenic preservation for medical purposes, namely, a cell processor used to dissociate biological tissues into their cellular components before freezing that also will have a consumable bag for storing and processing the tissue.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
An accessory for a freezing apparatus for cryogenic preservation for scientific and laboratory purposes, namely, a cell processor used to dissociate biological tissues into their cellular components before freezing that also will have a consumable bag for storing and processing the tissue An accessory for a freezing apparatus for cryogenic preservation for medical purposes, namely, a cell processor used to dissociate biological tissues into their cellular components before freezing that also will have a consumable bag for storing and processing the tissue
A container, namely, an insulated vessel which retains cryopreserved cellular products at cryogenic temperatures during transportation and temporary storage for laboratory use
A container, namely, an insulated vessel which retains cryopreserved cellular products at cryogenic temperatures during transportation and temporary storage for medical use
Disclosed are containers (100) for cryopreserved biological samples (102), which comprise an insulated housing comprising a cavity (108) for containing at least one cryopreserved biological sample; and a sealed reservoir (106) at least partly surrounding the cavity, the sealed reservoir comprising liquified gas (120) such as liqified air, the gas being kept largely liquified by means of a heat transfer engine (112) such as a Stirling cryocooler. A valve (114) may be provided to function as both a pressure relief valve and an inlet valve. The inlet valve may be coupled to a sensor (122) for sensing a volume of liquified gas within the sealed reservoir. The container may further comprise a heat exchanger (116) coupled to the heat engine and extending into the sealed reservoir.
Disclosed is a computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining first data indicative of electric power supplied to a cooling apparatus during a cooling operation on a biological sample, the cooling operation having a given cooling condition; obtaining second data associated with a reference cooling condition; determining, based on the first data and the second data, whether the given cooling condition has a predetermined relationship with the reference cooling condition; and in response to a determination, by the determining, that the given cooling condition has the predetermined relationship with the reference cooling condition, outputting a control signal. The given cooling condition for the "live" data cooling operation may thus be validated against a reference cooling condition.
Disclosed is a device for use in freezing at least part of a biological sample in a receptacle, the device comprising: a base; and a receptacle holder comprising: a first part configured to, with the receptacle held by the receptacle holder during cooling of the base using a cooler device, withdraw heat energy from a first portion of the receptacle at a first heat withdrawal rate; and a second part configured such that, with the receptacle held by the receptacle holder during cooling of the base using the cooler device, a second heat withdrawal rate of heat energy withdrawal from a second portion of the receptacle via the second part is less than the first heat withdrawal rate. A freezing method is disclosed also.
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the cryopreservation of biological samples involving a density assisted vitrification wherein a sample of biological material in a cryopreservation agent is cooled from its top surface, causing an ice layer to form thereon. As cooling continues the ice layer grows downwards through the sample to provide a cryoprotectant and biological material rich layer below the ice layer that undergoes vitrification as cooling continues to below the glass transition temperature.
Apparatus are provided for preventing the formation of ice crystals in a biological sample containing a non-Newtonian fluid as a cryopreservation medium. The apparatus may be used to prevent ice formation during cryopreservation of biological samples, or during warming of cryopreserved biological samples, by changing the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid. The apparatus (200) comprises a housing (202) for a container (212) containing the biological sample (214) and the non-Newtonian fluid, and a device (204) for inducing a change in viscosity of the cryopreservation medium. The change in viscosity may be increased by inducing shear thickening of the cryopreservation medium, or the change in viscosity may be decreased by inducing shear thinning of the cryopreservation medium. Possible viscosity-changing devices comprise a tapping device, a piston, a rotating device, a compression device, a sound generating device, a permanent magnet or a electromagnetic field generating device. The apparatus may further include a temperature control device.
The present invention relates to a shipping container for cryopreserved biological samples in which a cryopreserved sample can be maintained on arrival at its destination for a period of time, for example several months.
A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server (130) is provided, capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers (101,..., 10n), transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.
(1) Thawing apparatus for medical purposes, namely, medical apparatus for thawing cell therapy samples; thawing apparatus for scientific research and laboratory purposes, namely, medical laboratory research instruments for thawing cell therapy samples
01 - Chemical and biological materials for industrial, scientific and agricultural use
05 - Pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary products
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
11 - Environmental control apparatus
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
44 - Medical, veterinary, hygienic and cosmetic services; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services
Goods & Services
(1) Chemical nucleation preparations for scientific use, namely for maintaining cell viability following freezing and thawing
(2) Chemical nucleation preparations for medical use, namely for maintaining cell viability following freezing and thawing
(3) Laboratory apparatus for freezing and thawing in clean room environments and in cryopreservation, namely, medical laboratory research instruments for thawing cell therapy samples, laboratory controlled rate freezers for cryogenic preservation and laboratory equipment for the shipping of cryopreserved cell therapy samples to medical clinics for thawing and administering to patients; computer software for remotely monitoring, managing, controlling and securing clinical, medical and laboratory equipment and cellular cryopreservation data
(4) Medical devices for freezing and thawing biological cells and biological tissues for use in cellular therapies by means of cryopreservation (1) Software as a service (SaaS) services featuring software for remote monitoring, managing, controlling, and securing of clinical, medical and laboratory equipment and cellular cryopreservation data; laboratory and scientific research services in the field of specimen preservation by freezing and thawing, namely, cryogenics, cryopreservation and shipping cryopreserved cell therapy samples to medical clinics for thawing and administering to patients
(2) Medical services in the field of cellular cryopreservation
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Computer software for remote managing and controlling clinical, medical and cryogenic laboratory equipment for use in controlling the cryogenic cold chain for cellular therapies; computer software for remote monitoring and securing laboratory data in the field of controlling the cryogenic cold chain for cellular therapies (1) Software as a service (SaaS) services featuring software for remote managing and controlling clinical, medical and cryogenic laboratory equipment for use in controlling the cryogenic cold chain for cellular therapies; software as a service (SaaS) services featuring software for remote monitoring and securing laboratory data in the field of controlling the cryogenic cold chain for cellular therapies
01 - Chemical and biological materials for industrial, scientific and agricultural use
05 - Pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary products
Goods & Services
(1) Chemical nucleation preparations for scientific use, namely, for maintaining cell viability following freezing and thawing.
(2) Chemical ice nucleation preparations for medical use, namely, for maintaining cell viability following freezing and thawing.
(1) Freezing apparatus for medical purposes, namely, medical apparatus for controlled rate freezing cell therapy samples
(2) Freezing apparatus for scientific research and laboratory purposes, namely, laboratory controlled rate freezers for cryogenic preservation
The present invention relates to a formulation for promoting non-spontaneous formation (nucleation) of ice during freeze processing of a water-containing quantity of a biological entity which comprises a framework silicate mineral capable of acting as an ice nucleant and an ammonium salt.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Computer software for remotely monitoring, managing,
controlling and securing clinical, medical and laboratory
assets and data. Software as a service in association with remote monitoring,
managing, controlling and securing of clinical, medical and
laboratory assets and data.
01 - Chemical and biological materials for industrial, scientific and agricultural use
05 - Pharmaceutical, veterinary and sanitary products
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
44 - Medical, veterinary, hygienic and cosmetic services; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services
Goods & Services
Chemical nucleation preparations for scientific use. Chemical nucleation preparations for medical use. Laboratory apparatus for freezing and thawing in clean room
environments or in cryopreservation; computer software for
remotely monitoring, managing, controlling and securing
clinical, medical and laboratory assets and data. Medical machines including specially adapted apparatus for
freezing and thawing for medical purposes. Software as a service in association with remote monitoring,
managing, controlling and securing of clinical, medical and
laboratory assets and data; laboratory and scientific
research services in association with cryochain technology. Medical services in association with cryochain technology.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Thawing apparatus for scientific research and laboratory purposes, namely, medical laboratory research instruments for thawing cell therapy samples Thawing apparatus for medical purposes, namely, medical apparatus for thawing cell therapy samples
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
10 - Medical apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Freezing apparatus for scientific research and laboratory purposes, namely, laboratory controlled rate freezers for cryogenic preservation Freezing apparatus for medical purposes, namely, medical apparatus for controlled rate freezing cell therapy samples
The present invention relates to methods of cryopreservation and compositions for use in such methods where the methods utilise non-Newtonian fluid properties of the cryopreservation medium to modulate the viscosity of that medium to deliver an improved cryopreservation process.
Apparatus are provided for controlling ice formation, such as during cryopreservation and freeze drying. The apparatus comprises at least one housing, the housing comprising a cavity and at least one permeable housing wall, and an ice nucleating material encapsulated within the cavity. The permeable housing wall is permeable to liquid but prevents (or reduces the likelihood of) the ice nucleating material permeating out of the cavity, and may e.g. be composed of laboratory filter paper. The apparatus advantageously delivers an ice nucleating material into a biological sample to be frozen, without allowing the ice nucleating agent to contact or contaminate the biological matter within the sample. The apparatus (190) may be an apparatus that can be added to a container containing a sample, it may be in the form of a multiwell plate, or it may be in the form of an insert plate (192) for a multiwell plate.
The invention provides a method of thawing a sample comprised in a container, the method comprising the steps of: a) calculating an agitation program as a function of either or both of the sample volume and the type of the container, and the ice fraction in the sample, and optionally the thermal conductivity of the sample container; b) agitating said sample according to the program to agitate at least one region of the sample; and c) changing the agitation program applied to at least one region of the sample in response to changes in the sample volume and/or sample ice fraction. The invention further provides a method of reducing shearing to cells during a method of agitation, and methods for thawing a sample wherein a sample container is differentially heated. An apparatus for use in the methods is also provided, as is an apparatus for thawing and/or cooling a sample which comprises a resilient vessel wall.
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Cooling installations and machines; Cooling installations for deep freezing; Cooling installations for refrigerating; Cooling installations for freezing. Cryopreservation services. Scientific consultancy; Scientific research.
35.
METHOD OF FREEZING MAKING USE OF A MINERAL NUCLEATOR
The present invention relates to a method for freezing a water-containing quantity of a biological entity or a formulation in a vessel using a mineral nucleator, to the use of the mineral as a nucleator and to a vessel with the mineral in or on the whole or part of a surface thereof.
