The present invention is directed to providing a cryogenic storage device and system that can be regulated at a constant temperature for cryopreservation of biological materials. A cryogenic storage system for cryopreservation of biological materials is provided that may include a storage beaker having at least one storage chamber formed therein, a cooling source, and a cold finger that may be configured to thermally couple the storage beaker to the cooling source.

The straw comprises a tube (11), a stopper (13) arranged in the tube and having a passage (35) extending through it, and an emptying needle (14) having a first portion (31) protruding from said stopper as far as a distal end (19) situated in said tube, and a second portion (32) situated in said passage (35) of the stopper, said needle and said stopper forming an insert (12) entirely disposed in said tube and having an internal conduit (24) fluidically connecting the internal spaces of said tube that are situated to either side of said insert, said internal conduit being formed at least in part by the needle. The assembly comprises the straw and a device configured to make an opening in the tube. The method comprises the steps of establishing a fluidic communication between the needle and a receptacle, there of making an opening in the tube in order to connect said dose of liquid-based substance to the atmosphere and allow it to flow.

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.

An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.

The present invention is directed to a vitrification stick for use in the cryopreservation of biological materials, and may include a body having a first portion and a second portion, and a specimen end extending from the second portion of the body, and having a basket end tip formed thereon. The basket end tip may include a peripheral wall enclosing an interior region of the basket end tip, and the interior region may be further enclosed on a first side by a shell connected to the peripheral wall, and the interior region may be open on a second side in a direction towards the specimen end. The shell may include at least one slot formed therein.

The present invention relates to the long-term preservation of biological material. More specifically, it concerns a preservation container comprising: a biological container for containing biological material, a first shield configured for absorbing gamma-rays, a second shield configured for absorbing ambient neutrons, said second shield surrounding the biological container,
the preservation container being of low-radioactivity background materials,
and a method for preserving a biological material, comprising: a) providing a biological material in a confinement container, b) providing the preservation container of the invention, c) placing the confinement container containing the biological material into said preservation container, d) storing said preservation container containing the biological material in a room located under a material attenuating cosmic rays and induced particles, said material having a thickness equivalent to 1 m to 7000 m of water, for attenuating cosmic rays.

Disclosed is a device for use in freezing at least part of a biological sample in a receptacle, e.g. a vial or a cryopreservation bag, the device comprising: a base; and a receptacle holder comprising: a first part configured to, with the receptacle held by the receptacle holder during cooling of the base using a cooler device, withdraw heat energy from a first portion of the receptacle at a first heat withdrawal rate; and a second part configured such that, with the receptacle held by the receptacle holder during cooling of the base using the cooler device, a second heat withdrawal rate of heat energy withdrawal from a second portion of the receptacle via the second part is less than the first heat withdrawal rate. A temperature gradient may be established in the sample to enable progressive solidification to occur in the sample. A receptable for use in freezing a biological sample, and a freezing method are disclosed also.

A method of servicing a cryo-EM storage system includes identifying an element of the storage system, the element including at least one of a dewar, a rack, a puck, a gridbox, and a grid, marking the element for additional action via a user device, and sending a request to another party via a network to perform the additional action.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining first data indicative of electric power supplied to a cooling apparatus during a cooling operation on a biological sample, the cooling operation having a given cooling condition; obtaining second data associated with a reference cooling condition; determining, based on the first data and the second data, whether the given cooling condition has a predetermined relationship with the reference cooling condition; and in response to a determination, by the determining, that the given cooling condition has the predetermined relationship with the reference cooling condition, outputting a control signal. The given cooling condition for the live data cooling operation may thus be validated against a reference cooling condition.

Disclosed are containers (100) for cryopreserved biological samples (102), which comprise an insulated housing comprising a cavity (108) for containing at least one cryopreserved biological sample; and a sealed reservoir (106) at least partly surrounding the cavity, the sealed reservoir comprising liquified gas (120) such as liqified air, the gas being kept largely liquified by means of a heat transfer engine (112) such as a Stirling cryocooler. A valve (114) may be provided to function as both a pressure relief valve and an inlet valve. The inlet valve may be coupled to a sensor (122) for sensing a volume of liquified gas within the sealed reservoir. The container may further comprise a heat exchanger (116) coupled to the heat engine and extending into the sealed reservoir.