The blood bank comprises a cooled storage area with a plurality of stationary storage racks. Further, it comprises a buffer storage, which holds a number of movable storage racks. A robot is provided for moving blood products between the stationary storage racks and the movable storage racks. A product access door is arranged close to the buffer storage for manual access to the blood products within the movable storage racks.

A cryogenic storage system provides automated storage and retrieval of samples in a cryogenic environment, as well as automated transfer of individual samples between cryogenic environments. Stored samples are maintained under a cryogenic temperature threshold, while also enabling access to the samples. The samples may be organized and tracked by scanning a barcode of each sample. The storage system can include multiple storage vaults and provide for transfer of individual samples between the storage vaults, as well as between a storage vault and a removable cryogenic storage device.

An automated cryogenic storage system includes a freezer and an automation system to provide automated transfer of samples to and from the freezer. The freezer includes a bearing and a drive shaft though the freezer, the drive shaft being coupled to a rack carrier inside the freezer and adapted to be coupled to a motor. The automation module includes a rack puller that is automatically positioned above an access port of the freezer. The rack puller engages with a sample rack within the freezer, and elevates the rack into an insulating sleeve external to the freezer. From the insulating sleeve, samples can be added to and removed from the sample rack before it is returned to the freezer.

A method for managing the operation of a refrigerated truck for transporting heat-sensitive products, of the indirect-injection type, in which the parameter T=.sub.Tair inletT.sub.setpoint(T.sub.air inlet: temperature of the air coming into contact with the heat exchanger internal to the truck as a result of the action of the fan, T.sub.setpoint: temperature to be set in the chamber inside the truck) is determined in real time and in which if T is greater than an upper setpoint value T.sub.setpoint H, a rapid-pressurization (RMP) circuit is activated to vaporize some cryogen and thus increase the pressure in the head of gas above the reserve of cryogen of the truck.

A method of temperature control in a cryogenic temperature control apparatus. The method includes operating the cryogenic temperature control apparatus in a first mode, and delivering a first flow rate of cryogen from a storage tank to an evaporator coil in the first mode. The cryogenic temperature control apparatus is operated in a second mode after operating the cryogenic temperature control apparatus in the first mode for a predetermined time duration. A second flow rate of cryogen that is lower than the first flow rate is delivered to the evaporator coil in the second mode.

A movable workbench for performing work under low temperature, such as 80 C. or below. The movable workbench includes: a worktable including a workspace forming member for providing a workspace for work at low temperature and a refrigerant-reservoir for containing a refrigerant, and disposed on a base with a moving member; the workspace forming member including side and bottom walls providing a workspace with an upper surface opening; the upper surface of the workspace being open on the upper side of the worktable; the refrigerant-reservoir accommodating the bottom wall of the workspace forming member so that a gas phase in the workspace is cooled when the refrigerant is provided in the refrigerant-reservoir and the bottom wall of the workspace forming member is subsequently cooled; and the moving member disposed on a bottom surface of the base so that the worktable is movable with the refrigerant-reservoir filled with the refrigerant.

It is described herein an improved cryogenic storage unit. The improved cryogenic storage unit may include an apparatus for thermal regulation in a cryogenic freezer. The improved cryogenic storage unit may also include a cable gland. The improved cryogenic storage unit may also include a bearing assembly. The improved cryogenic storage unit may also include a system for charging a cryogen to a cryogenic freezer. The improved cryogenic storage unit may also include a venting system. The improved cryogenic storage unit may also include an alignment of a lid and a handle.

Cryogenic storage system provides automated storage and retrieval of samples in a cryogenic environment, as well as automated transfer of individual samples between cryogenic environments. Stored samples are maintained under a cryogenic temperature threshold, while also enabling access to the samples. The samples may be organized and tracked by scanning a barcode of each sample. Embodiments may also comprise multiple storage vaults and provide for transfer of individual samples between the storage vaults, as well as between a storage vault and a removable cryogenic storage device.

A thermally insulated pallet shipper is provided for use in any industry where temperature sensitive products are shipped, including the pharmaceutical, hospital and food industries, particularly for shipping payloads by air. The pallet shipper is made from just four individual foam molded structures: a base, a first corner structure, a second corner structure and a lid.

A dewar for storing a cryogenic fluid features an inner vessel configured to store the cryogenic fluid and an outer vessel having an outer upper head and an outer lower head. The outer upper and lower heads are joined so as to define an interior chamber of the dewar. The inner vessel is positioned within the interior chamber of the outer vessel so that an insulation space, which is evacuated of air, is defined between the inner and outer vessels. A neck extends between the inner vessel and a central region of the outer upper head. The outer upper head and neck are configured so that the central region permanently deforms without breaking the neck when excessive shock loads are applied to the dewar.