A cryogenic preservation or vitrification device that has an accumulator including a first volume of pressurised hydraulic oil; a control system controlling a valve capable of releasing a second volume of hydraulic oil from the accumulator toward a cylinder by use of a pipe; and a cylinder including a piston configured to be driven by the second volume of hydraulic oil and to displace a first volume of cryogenic fluid to a cryogenic vessel intended to receive a sample to be cryogenically preserved.

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.

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.

It is described herein an improved cryogenic storage unit (100). The improved cryogenic storage unit (100) may include an apparatus (1000) for thermal regulation in a cryogenic freezer (100). The improved cryogenic storage unit (100) may also include a cable gland (2000). The improved cryogenic storage unit (100) may also include a bearing assembly (3000). The improved cryogenic storage unit (100) may also include a system (4000) for charging a cryogen to a cryogenic freezer (100). The improved cryogenic storage unit (100) may also include a venting system (5000). The improved cryogenic storage unit (100) may also include an alignment of a lid (5300) and a handle (6000).

The present disclosure provides cryogenic storage systems and methods of using the cryogenic storage systems. A cryogenic storage system of the present disclosure may comprise a cryogenic tank with an inner door and an outer door, and a robot apparatus located adjacent to the cryogenic tank. The cryogenic tank may store multiple racks such that at most a single rack is removable through the inner door or the outer door. The cryogenic tank may store the multiple racks in multiple groups of racks comprising a first group of racks located at a first radial distance and a second group of racks located at a second radial distance that is greater than the first radial distance. The robot apparatus may selectively open and close the inner or outer doors, and insert or withdraw the single rack into or out of the cryogenic tank through the inner door or the outer door.

According to one embodiment, there is provided a storage condition monitoring device for monitoring a storage condition in a cryogenic storage container. The storage condition monitoring device includes an input/output (I/O) circuitry, a memory circuitry, a processor circuitry, a user interface and a storage condition monitor circuitry. The I/O circuitry is configured to receive a first total weight from a weight sensor. The first total weight includes a weight of the cryogenic storage container and a first weight of a content contained in the cryogenic storage container. The cryogenic storage container is configured to contain a coolant and a biological material storage subcontainer. The user interface is configured to provide at least one of a visual indicator, an audible indicator and/or an electronic indicator. The storage condition monitor circuitry is configured to determine a current storage condition of the cryogenic storage container based, at least in part, on the first total weight. The storage condition monitor circuitry is further configured to select a storage condition status indicator based, at least in part, on the current storage condition and to provide the storage condition status indicator to one or more of the user interface, a worker device and a supervisor device.

A prosthetic tissue valve and a method of treating the prosthetic tissue valve are provided. The method includes: decreasing a temperature of a chamber carrying the prosthetic tissue valve from a first preset temperature to a second preset temperature in a first cooling rate; decreasing the temperature of the chamber carrying the prosthetic tissue valve from the second preset temperature to a third preset temperature in a second cooling rate; and performing a drying process to the prosthetic tissue valve. The second preset temperature is a critical crystallization temperature and is greater than a crystallization temperature of the prosthetic tissue valve. The third preset temperature is lower than the crystallization temperature of the prosthetic tissue valve, and the second cooling rate is greater than the first cooling rate.

A tube-array-type liquid nitrogen container includes a container body having a mouth; a tube array component received in the container body; and a top cap sealing the mouth from above. The top cap is rotatable in the mouth. The tube array component is composed of a plurality of holding tubes. The holding tube is opened at one end thereof, wherein the opening thereof faces the top cap. The top cap has at least one tube access passing therethrough. Each tube access is atop covered by a tube access cover. The tube-array-type liquid nitrogen container uses a tube-array component composed of the a plurality of holding tubes to store the freezing tubes, and is cooperated with the rotatable top cap and an external robotic arm, thereby improving space utilization and thermal insulation, effectively ensuring safety of the freezing tubes, and facilitating automatic storage of freezing tubes.

A system for cryocooling biological samples, including a first chamber configured to hold a first amount a cryogenic liquid; a container holder positioned in thermal contact with the first chamber and configured to hold at least one removable container positioned therein, wherein the container is configured to hold a second amount of the cryogenic liquid and forms a second chamber; an elongated tube holder configured to hold at least one hollow elongated tube into the container; and a sample wand configured to hold and transfer at least one sample holder with a biological sample into the elongated tube while the elongated tube is in the container with the second amount of the cryogenic liquid therein.

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.