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.

Designs of improved canisters for animal semen straw storage in Dewars with cryogenic liquid are described. In some embodiments, the canisters include a layer of cryogen-absorbent material and an inner layer of thermally conductive material including apertures oriented and positioned to direct cryogen vapor into the interior of the container.

A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server (130) is provided, capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers (101, . . . , 10n), transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.

A somatic cell production system comprising a preintroduction cell solution-feeding channel 20 through which a preintroduction cell-containing solution passes, a factor introducing device 30 that is connected to the preintroduction cell solution-feeding channel 20 and introduces a somatic cell inducing factor into preintroduction cells to prepare inducing factor-introduced cells, and a cell preparation device 40 in which the inducing factor-introduced cells are cultured to prepare somatic cells.

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.

An apparatus (10) for preserving biological material. The apparatus (10) has an insert (4) configured to be arranged within an outer insulated tank (2), the insert (4) defining a compartment (6) for receiving biological material. Inflow of a heat exchange fluid into the compartment (6) from the outer insulated tank (2) is at or adjacent one face of the insert (4), while outflow of the heat exchange fluid out of the compartment 6 to the outer insulated tank (2) is at or adjacent said face of the insert (4). The compartment (6) has a wall having a series of apertures to accommodate a continuous heat exchange fluid flow through the apparatus such that, in operation, biological material in the compartment (6) is immersed in the heat exchange fluid to exchange heat with the heat exchange fluid for freezing of said biological material.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the cryopreservation of biological samples involving a density assisted vitrification wherein a sample of biological material in a cryopreservation agent is cooled from its top surface, causing an ice layer to form thereon. As cooling continues the ice layer grows downwards through the sample to provide a cryoprotectant and biological material rich layer below the ice layer that undergoes vitrification as cooling continues to below the glass transition temperature.

A portable temperature-controlled container for receiving and housing one or more handheld carriers, each handheld carrier configured to transfer samples to and from a temperature-controlled storage environment, the handheld carrier including a handle and a tray portion, the tray portion configured to be slid into a port of a rack or tower provided in the temperature-controlled storage environment in order to withdraw a sample located in the port, the portable temperature-controlled container including a housing having an opening forming an internal cavity configured to receive one or more handheld carriers, and a lid configured to substantially close the opening, where the housing includes a recess configured to receive the handle of the handheld carrier such that closing of the lid substantially seals the internal cavity when the one or more handheld carriers are placed in the housing.

A spirally ascending/descending cryogenic storage apparatus, comprising a cryogenic storage tank, the temperature in the cryogenic storage tank being continuously maintained at a certain deep cryogenic range. A driving component and a rotating storage rack are provided within the cryogenic storage tank. Multiple shelf boxes can be stored in the circumferential direction of the rotating storage rack. The driving component can drive the rotating storage rack to spirally ascent or spirally descent in the cryogenic storage tank. An access opening is provided on the cryogenic storage tank. The multiple shelf boxes can rotate to a position corresponding to the access opening with the movement of the rotating storage rack. The cryogenic storage tank is a liquid nitrogen tank. Liquid nitrogen is provided at the bottom part within the liquid nitrogen tank.

The present invention provides devices and methods for the cryogenic storage of biological material. Devices of the invention are useful for storing material at a predetermined cryogenic temperature. An intermediate storage chamber (ITC) set within an adiabatic Dewar container includes a set, or multiple, heat transfer pipes that passively act to maintain a set temperature or temperature range. Some embodiments utilize an inner heat pipe to transfer heat out to a heat sink and an outer heat pipe to transfer heat into the ITC from a cool sink. The heat pipes may be arranged, designed, and/or tilled to conduct heat energy only when set parameters beyond the predetermined range are experienced within the ITC. The method of maintaining a predetermined temperature range by means of a heat sink and cool sink are taught herein.