The present invention is directed to a cryogenic cooler that may include a cold finger coupled to a cooling source, an insulating vessel having an inner wall, an outer wall and an interior area formed within the inner wall, where the cold finger may be positioned at least partially within the interior area. The cryogenic cooler may also have a fitting positioned on the outer wall and configured for coupling to a gas source, and a passageway formed between the coupling and the inner wall and configured to allow the transfer of a gas from the gas source to the interior area. The cryogenic cooler may also have an opening is formed in the interior area so as to allow the transfer of the gas around the cold finger and out of the interior area.

The assembly comprises a ramp (4) and a straw transfer device (60) comprising two lateral pads and a straw (1) collector arranged between the two lateral pads, the freezer ramp (4) and the transfer device (60) being configured to allow a first end position, to allow a second end position, and such that, by sliding the transfer device (60) from the first end position to the second end position with the pads that slide on angled sections (19) of the ramp (4), the plurality of straws (1) initially arranged on the ramp (4) is recovered in the collector of the transfer device (60).

A system and method facilitates transfers of specimen containers (e.g., vials with caps) between storage cassettes and carrier cassettes. The storage cassettes are designed to be stored in cryogenic refrigerators while the carrier cassettes are designed to be temporarily stored in a portable carrier. Identification information is read from wireless transponders carried by the specimen containers. Visual mappings of the positions of the specimen container in the cassettes is provided. Presence and position of the specimen containers in the cassettes is verified, and alerts of inconsistencies provided along with corrective commands. Inventories of specimen container and even specific specimen holders are provided.

A cryogenic cooling manifold and methods incorporating a cryogenic cooling manifold for managing the gas layer(s) above a liquid cryogen to control cooling temperature-time profiles and ice formation for microliter and smaller samples that are plunged through the gas and into the liquid cryogen.

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 dry vapor cryogenic storage container includes an absorbent core made from a porous material that absorbs a liquid cryogen and releases the cryogen in vapor form as the absorbed liquid evaporates. Fluid channels are formed in the absorbent core to increase the available surface area through which the liquid cryogen can be absorbed. The core can absorb the cryogenic liquid much faster with inclusion of the fluid channels. The absorbent core can be made by cutting a cavity and drilling holes in a stack of calcium silicate panels. The cavity holds a contents container or an inner core. The inner core can be part of an extractor and made from porous material including fluid channels for absorbing liquid cryogen. Contents containers can be housed in the inner core.

A system to store specimen containers in a temperature controlled environment includes at least a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature in a first region of the temperature controlled environment in an interior of the cryogenic storage tank and at least a first level sensor positioned to sense a level of a cryogenic medium within the temperature controlled environment in the interior of the cryogenic storage tank. A method of storing specimen containers in a temperature controlled environment includes monitoring one or more parameters within the temperature controlled environment to prevent exposure of biological samples within the specimen containers to parameters that put the viability of the biological samples at risk.

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.

Assembly for handbag multiple straws for packaging animal semen, each having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, comprising a freezing ramp (4) that has a rim and a bottom surrounding a central free space (5), said bottom comprising two toothed walls (11, 25) which extend longitudinally along said central free space (5), each torn lied wall (11.25) having a toothing at its top, the toothings of said toothed walls (11, 25) being identical, with each trough being delimited by a surface having a curvature along said predetermined diameter, characterized in that it further comprises a crosspiece (100) comprising parts (103, 104) that are able to move with respect to one another and are configured to permit a position in which said crosspiece (100) is removably joined to said freezing ramp (4) at a location provided to receive at least one said straw (1).

A support element for a plurality of packaging straws, the support element comprising a plate (31) and two flanges (37) rigidly connected to said plate (31) and comprising a fluted surface (53) having a plurality of similar grooves (36), each flange (37) comprising a central part as well as a first projecting part (42) and a second projecting part (43), each extending from one side of the central part, characterised in that the first projecting part comprises a bracket (42) having a bearing face and the second projecting part comprises another bracket (43) having another bearing face, said bearing face and said other bearing face being upwards facing and, in the direction of height, said bearing face being further from said plate (31) than said other bearing face. The assembly comprises the support element and a freezing rack (4).