The present invention relates to a shipping container for cryopreserved biological samples in which a cryopreserved sample can be maintained on arrival at its destination for a period of time, for example several months.

A configurable cryogenic storage device has a freezer and a rack carrier positioned inside of the freezer. The freezer includes a bearing and a drive shaft though the freezer, the drive shaft being coupled to the rack carrier inside the freezer and adapted to be coupled to a motor assembly. The rack carrier rests on the bearing in a manual rotation configuration and hangs from the drive shaft when the motor is connected. Coupling the drive shaft to the motor assembly lifts the rack carrier and decouples the bearing and enables automated rotation of the rack carrier by the motor. The rack carrier includes rack-mounting features holding a plurality of sample storage racks. The sample storage racks hang from the rack carrier and the rack-mounting features precisely position the end of each sample storage rack.

A cell freeze-drying system, comprising: a temperature-elevated nitrogen supplier, a freeze-drying operation box, and a gas discharger, which are connected in that order using a first connection pipe. The temperature-elevated nitrogen supplier supplies warmed nitrogen to the freeze-drying operation box. A cell sample frozen by liquid nitrogen is placed in the freeze-drying operation box, and then the freeze-drying operation box, which is preset to a temperature suitable for placing the cell sample frozen by liquid nitrogen, is warmed up in a preset mode while continuously being supplied with the warmed nitrogen to sublimate solid state water in the cell sample into gaseous water. The gas discharger is used to discharge the gaseous nitrogen and the gaseous water. Further disclosed is a cell freeze-drying method. The invention can effectively address an issue of cell damage and contamination during freeze-drying, and realizes safety, efficiency, and low costs for cell freeze-drying.

Apparatus are provided for preventing the formation of ice crystals in a biological sample containing a non-Newtonian fluid as a cryopreservation medium. The apparatus may be used to prevent ice formation during cryopreservation of biological samples, or during warming of cryopreserved biological samples, by changing the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid. The apparatus (200) comprises a housing (202) for a container (212) containing the biological sample (214) and the non-Newtonian fluid, and a device (204) for inducing a change in viscosity of the cryopreservation medium. The change in viscosity may be increased by inducing shear thickening of the cryopreservation medium, or the change in viscosity may be decreased by inducing shear thinning of the cryopreservation medium. Possible viscosity-changing devices comprise a tapping device, a piston, a rotating device, a compression device, a sound generating device, a permanent magnet or a electromagnetic field generating device. The apparatus may further include a temperature control device.

The invention concerns a cryogenic system (1) for vitrifying a substance comprising biological material to be preserved in a receiving region of a thin tube (8), comprising a tank (10) containing a bath (11) of a cryogenic agent and a support member (80) mounted on said tank in a predetermined first position in which said tube is orientated upright, the receiving region being immersed in a liquid zone (17) of said bath, and an opening of said tube being situated above said bath, in a zone of ambient air above said bath, in order to introduce the substance into the tube, the support member being mounted on said tank in a second predetermined position, in which said receiving region is immersed in the liquid zone and said opening is situated immediately above said liquid zone, in a gaseous zone (18) of said bath above said liquid zone and below said zone of ambient air, and being raised from said second position

This document relates to methods and materials for improving the removal of gas from cryogenic freezing bags. For example, this document describes methods and devices for restricting air paths within the cryogenic freezing bag.

A storage rack for storing and retrieving products to be maintained at a desired cryogenic temperature is provided. The storage rack includes an elongate mounting bar carrying a plurality of shelves, and an elongate stop bar that extends generally parallel to the mounting bar. The shelves are independently rotatable relative to the mounting bar towards and away from the stop bar, thereby enabling alignment of all of the shelves when the storage rack is to be stored, and also enabling easy access to each of the individual shelves. A handle projects upwardly and horizontally in a curved configuration from the stop bar and the mounting bar to provide a gripping surface for moving the storage rack. The shelves receive cylindrical vial containers with threadably removable lids to make retrieval and replacement of sample vials quick to perform, thereby avoiding temperature-induced damage to other samples in the storage rack.

Cryogenic devices are provided in which liquid nitrogen is used to maintain ultra-low temperatures in which samples can be manipulated.

An apparatus for preserving biological material, comprising an insert configured to be arranged within an outer insulated tank, the insert defining a compartment for receiving biological material, such that, in operation, biological material in the compartment is immersed in the heat exchange fluid to exchange heat with the heat exchange fluid for freezing of said biological material, the apparatus further comprising a pump that is operable to adjust a flow of heat exchange fluid over the biological material in the compartment, the pump being operable to cool the biological material at one or more different stages of cooling.

A vial sleeve for a cryogenic vial includes a cover portion including a side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the vial, and a locking feature configured to operatively engage at least a portion of the vial for resisting movement of the vial relative to the vial sleeve. The vial sleeve may include a first label adhered to an exterior surface of the side wall and including a first set of indicia. The first set of indicia may be different from a second set of indicia included on a second label adhered to an exterior surface of the vial.