Disclosed devices for recovering cryopreserved tissue can comprise a receptacle that receives a sealed, frozen tissue container containing cryopreserved tissue and cryopreservation media, with at least one recovery media chamber and a waste material chamber fluidly coupled to the tissue container receptacle. The recovery device can be inserted into a regulator apparatus that facilitates thawing and warming of the media and tissue, and regulation of the flow of recovery media through the tissue container to flush out the thawed cryopreservation media into the waste chamber. The regulator can identify the tissue based on an ID tag on the tissue container and automatically apply an appropriate algorithm for thawing, culturing, and maintaining the tissue in a viable state.

A support system is disclosed to prepare harvested soft tissue for grafting. Methods of graft preparation are also disclosed.

Systems and methods are disclosed relating to extracorporeal fetal care. A fetal chamber assembly configured to enclose and support a fetus therein includes a base configured to receive the fetus therein; a lid configured to removably contact the base to form a liquid-tight seal between the lid and the base; a growth chamber defined between the base and the lid, the growth chamber being configured to receive the fetus therein; and a cannulation chamber in fluid communication with the growth chamber, the cannulation chamber being configured to receive therein a cannulated umbilical cord of the fetus. The growth chamber is configured to be adjusted in size to accommodate the fetus during gestation based on the size of the fetus, and the fetal chamber assembly is configured to receive a liquid from a liquid source.

In a method of ventilating excised lungs, a ventilation gas is supplied to an airway of a lung and a vacuum is formed around the lung. A quality of the vacuum is varied between a lower level and a higher level to cause the lung to breathe, while the pressure of the ventilation gas supplied to the airway is regulated to maintain a positive airway pressure in the airway of the lung. The vacuum may be cyclically varied between the two vacuum levels. The levels may be maintained substantially constant over a period of time, or one or both of the lower and higher levels may be adjusted during ventilation. The lung may be placed in a sealed chamber, and a vacuum is formed in the chamber around the lung.

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.

One aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing a vein graft. The method includes: applying a tissue passivation agent to a resected anatomical vessel; placing the resected anatomical vessel in a chamber; and allowing the tissue passivation agent to cross-link while the resected anatomical vessel is in the chamber.

A kit, including: a first solution, a second solution, and a metal mesh. The first solution includes: dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM), 65-95 V/V %; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 5.5-20 V/V %; ethylene glycol (EG), 3.5-15 V/V %; bovine serum albumin (BSA), 0.5-4 W/V %; sucrose 1-5 W/V %; methylcellulose with a viscosity of 4000 centipoise (cP), 0.05-0.8 W/V %; hetastarch 0.25-0.6 W/V %; and glucose 15-35 W/V %. The second solution includes: DMEM, 65-95 V/V %; DMSO, 5.5-20 V/V %; EG, 8-20 V/V %; BSA, 0.5-4 W/V %; sucrose, 10-20 W/V %; methylcellulose with a viscosity of 4000 centipoise (cP), 0.05-0.8 W/V %; polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), 0.25-0.6 W/V %; and glucose 15-35 W/V %. The metal mesh has a thickness of 0.15-0.2 mm and includes a plurality of square holes. The side length of the square holes is 2.0-3.0 mm, and the spacing between adjacent holes is 0.5-2.0 mm.

A system for the remote live auditing of biological samples contained in a cold storage vessel (10). The vessel (10) comprises one or more canisters (100(1), 100(2)), each of which comprises a connector (102(1), 102(2)) and is configured to hold at least one container (50), each of which contains one or more biological samples and has associated therewith an RFID tag identifying the container (50) in question. The system further comprises a docking assembly (200) mounted on the vessel (10) and comprising a plurality of connectors (202), each of which is configured to engage with the connector (102(1), 102(2)) of one of said canisters (100(1), 100(2)), thereby providing an electrical connection between the docking assembly (200) and the canister (50) in question. Each canister (100(1), 100(2)) is operable to wirelessly interrogate the RFID tags of the containers (50) held therein, to receive information identifying the containers (50) as a result of the interrogation, and to communicate this identifying information to the docking assembly (200) via the electrical connection. Also disclosed are a canister and a docking assembly suitable for use in the system.

A conditioning device for conditioning an exposed stretch of a blood vessel has an envelope and at least one conveying channel extending entirely within the envelope. The envelope has a first layer having a first surface facing the exposed stretch, and a second layer having a second surface, opposite to the first surface. The at least one conveying channel has at least one first aperture leading out of the envelope, so that the at least one conveying channel is suppliable with working fluid through the at least one first aperture. The first layer is permeable to at least one component of the working fluid, so that, when the working fluid is in the at least one conveying channel, the at least one component, permeating the first layer, diffuses until reaching the first surface to apply a conditioning action on the exposed stretch of the blood vessel.

Dry thawing systems and devices for thawing biological substances are provided herein. Methods for thawing biological substances are also provided.