An organ container has a contractible and expandable pouch-shaped body having an opening. Under no-load conditions, the opening has a maximum width smaller than a maximum width of the body. The opening is expandable up to a state in which the maximum width of the opening is greater than the maximum width of the body. The body has an inner surface that includes a first region having a smooth curved surface and a second region having an uneven shape. The uneven shape of the inner surface of the body allows a preservation solution to protrude into interstices between an organ and the inner surface and thereby improves a thermal insulating effect. Moreover, by providing the smooth first region, generation of remaining traces can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively suppress a temperature rise in the organ and to reduce damage to the organ.

A lyophilization nest and method of using the same is described herein. In various embodiments, the lyophilization nest is configured to support one or more receptacles each supporting one or more substances within an interior space of the lyophilization nest. The interior space may be in fluid communication with the exterior of the lyophilization nest through one or more vent holes extending through a surface of the lyophilization nest. Each of the one or more vent holes have a corresponding sealing element configured to selectively form an air-tight seal within the vent holes, such that a controlled environment may be maintained within the interior space when the ambient conditions surrounding the lyophilization nest are not lyophilization conditions. The one or more sealing elements may be operable while the lyophilization nest is positioned within a sealed lyophilizer by depressing the sealing elements into corresponding vent holes to form the air-tight seal.

Embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatuses for lyophilizing, storing, and transfusing materials are described. In embodiments, the materials may include whole blood or a component of whole blood such as plasma.

A portable apparatus and method for transport and incubation of a medical sample in a blood culture flask includes a sealable container having a thermally insulated compartment for receiving the blood culture flask and a heater for heating the medical sample to a temperature suitable for pre-culturing of the sample. An agitator is provided for agitating the sample in the blood culture flask.

A sample heating/cooling device (2) comprises a plurality of members (6) operable in use to heat and/or cool one or more samples (22). Each member (6) has a sample contact surface and is biased towards a resting position under the operation of a biasing means. The members (6) are movable independently of one another against said bias under the application of a force on the sample contact surface and so are able to conform to the shape of a sample placed on the members to provide a uniform heating/cooling profile. The members (6) may be mounted in a heating/cooling element (4) and adapted to conduct thermal energy between the sample (22) and the element (4). The device (2) is particularly suitable for thawing frozen sample bags having an irregular shape. A corresponding method is also described.

The present invention generally relates to thawing a cryogenically frozen sample. A method of thawing a sample includes receiving a temperature data feed from one or more temperature sensors reporting an exterior surface temperature of a vessel, calculating a thaw end time based on the temperature data feed, and outputting a signal to interrupt thawing of the sample at the calculated thaw end time, the sample at the thaw end time having solid phase remaining. A method of thawing a cryogenic sample includes heating a sample container with a heater, determining a thaw start time for the cryogenic sample; determining an estimated thaw end time of the cryogenic sample based on the determined thaw start time of the cryogenic sample, the cryogenic sample at the estimated thaw end time having solid phase remaining; and stopping the heating of the sample container after the estimated thaw end time.

Embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatuses for lyophilizing, storing, and transfusing materials are described. In embodiments, the materials may include whole blood or a component of whole blood such as plasma.

A sample heating/cooling device comprises a plurality of members operable in use to heat and/or cool one or more samples. Each member has a sample contact surface and is biased towards a resting position under the operation of a biasing means. The members are movable independently of one another against said bias under the application of a force on the sample contact surface and so are able to conform to the shape of a sample placed on the members to provide a uniform heating/cooling profile. The members may be mounted in a heating/cooling element and adapted to conduct thermal energy between the sample and the element. The device is particularly suitable for thawing frozen sample bags having an irregular shape. A corresponding method is also described.

A temperature control case comprising an outer case 1, a heat-insulating material 2 disposed inside the outer case 1, and a heat storage material 3 disposed inside the heat-insulating material 2, the heat storage material 3 having a container 4 disposed inside it.

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods to facilitate cryopreservation of a cell or a mass of a plurality of cells such as oocytes or embryos. A device of the disclosure can, for example, store oocytes or embryos during the vitrification and/or warming processes of in vitro fertilization.