The invention relates to a device (1) capable of being connected to an enclosure (2), the device comprising a first portion (3) which includes a thermoelectric module (4), the module being configured to maintain the temperature inside the enclosure (2) at a set value, and wherein the device comprises a stabilising portion above the thermoelectric module (4), comprising a motorised valve (20) that operates in accordance with the temperature differential created by the thermoelectric module (4) and in accordance with the temperature outside the device so as to maintain a stable temperature differential, regardless of said temperature outside the device. A third portion of the device arranged above the stabilisation portion may comprise a heat sink (46) and one or more additional thermoelectric modules (45) configured to recover a portion of the thermal energy removed from the enclosure (2) in the event that the enclosure is refrigerated relative to a higher temperature.

The present technology relates to apparatuses and methods for preserving biological material, for example cryopreserved biological material, such as cells, tissues, and organs for storage and/or transport. Apparatuses and methods of the present technology preserve biological material at a target temperature within a range of 8° C. to −40° C. for extended periods of time, for example at least 4 hours. The target temperature and extended period of time may be achieved with the use of cold sources such as phase change materials (PCMs) in combination with insulation materials, such as vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and/or aerogels.

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.

A method and apparatus for freezing a liquid droplet includes dispensing, by a liquid dispenser (14), a droplet (13) of liquid into a fluid chamber (10) containing a freezing fluid (12). The droplet of liquid is allowed to dwell in the freezing fluid for at least a predetermined dwell time so that the droplet of liquid freezes to a frozen droplet. The method and apparatus further includes injecting, by a gas injector (17), a stream (16) of gas transversely to a surface of the freezing fluid at about where the frozen droplet is located along the surface of the freezing fluid contained in the fluid chamber so that the frozen droplet sinks in the freezing fluid.

System and method for maintaining an organ and transporting the organ from a donor to a recipient, maintaining normothermic temperature of the organ. The system includes a circulation system providing oxygenated perfusate to the organ and enabling continuous monitoring of the perfusate moving through the organ. The tank can provide an inlet that can accept selected infusible materials, and an outlet that can enable sampling and waste removal. The system can continually monitor the solution bath in which the organ is bathed, and the system can manage the composition of the gas in the tank.

A portable apparatus 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.

An improved ultra-fast cooling system is disclosed for cryopreservation of biomaterials. The ultra-fast cooling system is designed to uniformly vitrify or partially vitrify biomaterials, including but not limited to, human biomaterials, proteins, peptides, cells, stem cells, antibodies, neurons, human tissue, organs, cornea, skin, retina, eggs, sperm, embryos, body fluids, blood, serum, lymph fluid, animal tissue, plant biomaterials, plant tissue, germ plasma, pollen, plant sap, and bioengineered tissue, without cryoprotectants or with a low concentration of cryoprotectants. Cooling rates are sufficient to uniformly cryopreserve biomaterials, and can be used in diagnostic cytology and biological cryofixation applications. Other materials also can be cooled uniformly, such as inorganic materials for processing.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide effective processing of materials through phase transitions with a mobile phase transition device which may have a frozen storage area and a thawing area and which can be used to thaw biological materials near a recipient of the materials. A mobile phase transition device may be automated so that the thawing of materials can precisely follow thawing protocols.

The invention is directed to an energy efficient thermoelectric heat pump assembly. The thermoelectric heat pump assembly preferably comprises two to nine thermoelectric unit layers capable of active use of the Peltier effect; and at least one capacitance spacer block suitable for storing heat and providing a delayed thermal reaction time of the assembly. The capacitance spacer block is thermally connected between the thermoelectric unit layers. The present invention further relates to a thermoelectric transport and storage devices for transporting or storing temperature sensitive goods, for example, vaccines, chemicals, biologicals, and other temperature sensitive goods. Preferably the transport or storage devices are configured and provide on-board energy storage for sustaining, for multiple days, at a constant-temperature, with an acceptable temperature variation band.

Disclosed is a method and system for freezing a biopharmaceutical fluid which is hold in a disposable container. The method includes the steps of arranging the container on the heat transfer surface area, cooling the heat transfer surface area to cool the bottom surface of the container until freezing and forming a layer of ice or an ice block of biopharmaceutical fluid inside the container; dislodging the ice layer or ice block frozen to the container. The steps of cooling the heat transfer surface area and dislodging the ice layer or ice block are repeated until the container is filled with a matrix of frozen biopharmaceutical fluid and liquid biopharmaceutical fluid, the liquid biopharmaceutical fluid occupying interstitial passages between ice layers or ice blocks of biopharmaceutical fluid. The cooling is then maintained until the freezing of the entire biopharmaceutical fluid held in the container.