A stem cell manufacturing system for manufacturing stem cells from somatic cells includes: one or more closed production device(s) configured to produce stem cells from somatic cells; one or more drive device(s) configured to be connected with the production device(s) and drive the production device(s) in such a manner as to maintain the production device(s) in an environment suitable for producing stem cells; one or more cryopreservation device(s) configured to cryopreserve the produced stem cells; a first memory device configured to store whether or not somatic cells have been introduced to the production device(s), as a first state; a second memory device configured to store whether or not the production device(s) is/are connected with the drive device(s), as a second state; and a third memory device configured to store whether or not the produced stem cells can be placed in the cryopreservation device(s), as a third state.

A stem cell manufacturing system for manufacturing stem cells from somatic cells includes: one or more closed production device(s) configured to produce stem cells from somatic cells; one or more drive device(s) configured to be connected with the production device(s) and drive the production device(s) in such a manner as to maintain the production device(s) in an environment suitable for producing stem cells; one or more cryopreservation device(s) configured to cryopreserve the produced stem cells; a first memory device configured to store whether or not somatic cells have been introduced to the production device(s), as a first state; a second memory device configured to store whether or not the production device(s) is/are connected with the drive device(s), as a second state; and a third memory device configured to store whether or not the produced stem cells can be placed in the cryopreservation device(s), as a third state.

The present invention relates to a storage device (1) for storing cryogenic samples (2), comprising at least one sample holder (3), the sample holder being configured to hold at least one cryogenic sample (2). According to the present invention, the storage device (1) further comprises an elongated sample transport unit (4) configured to releasably hold the at least one sample holder (3) and to be inserted into an internal space (50) of a cryogenic storage dewar (5) through an opening (51) of the cryogenic storage dewar to completely submerge the sample transport unit into a cryogenic liquid (6) residing in the internal space, wherein the sample transport unit is further configured to move said at least one sample holder along a predefined path from a storage position into a removal position, from which the at least one sample holder can be removed from the internal space of the cryogenic storage dewar. The sample transport unit may comprise a chain (40) to be circulated to move the sample holder along said pre-defined path, the chain being looped around a first and a second toothed wheel (41,42).

A cryogenic storage system includes a transfer module configured to service one or more cryogenic storage freezers. The transfer module includes a working chamber that maintains a cryogenic environment for the transfer of sample tubes between different sample boxes. One or more freezer ports enable the transfer module to receive a sample box extracted from a respective freezer. An input/output (I/O) port enables external access to samples. A box transport robot operates to transport sample boxes between the freezer ports, the working chamber, and the I/O port. A picker robot operates to transfer sample tubes between sample boxes within the working chamber.

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.

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.

A closure is configured for use with a portable cryogenic container or dewar, such as a dry vapor shipper (DVS). The closure has a hollow body, a plurality of super-insulating panels, an outer perimeter, and a fluid passage. The hollow body includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting the top and bottom walls. The super-insulating panels are stacked within the hollow body. The outer perimeter forms a fluid-tight seal with a neck of the cryogenic container when the closure is in an installed position in the neck of the cryogenic container, the fluid-tight seal being continuous about an entirety of the outer perimeter to form a closed circumscription about the entirety of the outer perimeter. A fluid passage extends through the top wall, the plurality of super-insulating panels, and the bottom wall, the fluid passage being spaced from the outer perimeter of the closure.

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).

An adsorbent system and a dry vapor cryogenic shipping container are provided. The container includes an outer shell surrounding an inner vessel with an evacuable space therebetween. The container includes the adsorbent system, which includes a primary adsorbent disposed within an interior of the inner vessel and a secondary adsorbent that is disposed within the interior of the inner vessel adjacent a portion of a bottom wall of the inner vessel. The primary adsorbent and the secondary adsorbent adsorb a liquid cryogen, such as liquid nitrogen, at different rates. The primary adsorbent has a liquid cryogen adsorption rate that allows the container to be charged quickly with liquid cryogen, while the secondary adsorbent has a liquid cryogen adsorption rate that is less than the primary adsorbent and adsorbs liquid cryogen that may desorb from the primary adsorbent.

A portable cryogenic container includes a porous material configured to absorb a cryogenic coolant such as liquid nitrogen. The coolant-absorbing material at least partially defines a storage cavity in the container that is configured to accept and support a cassette or other type of contents container in which a product to be cryogenically stored is contained. With cryogenic coolant absorbed into the container, the temperature within the storage cavity can be maintained sufficiently close to the boiling point of the cryogenic coolant to preserve post-thaw viability of the stored product for several hours.