A cryostat with improved accessibility for experiments includes a cooling device, a vacuum chamber and multiple cooling levels, heat shields and experimentation places. The cooling device is thermally coupled to cooling levels that have different temperatures. The experimentation places are at the temperatures of the cooling levels and are arranged side by side when viewed from above such that each experimentation place is accessible from above and from the side. Each cooling level has an associated heat shield that also encloses an experimentation place. The vacuum chamber encloses the cooling levels. The cold plate of a second cooling level is arranged above the cold plate of a first cooling level such that a portion of the first cold plate protrudes laterally from under the second cold plate. An experimentation place is disposed above the protruding portion of the first cold plate and is accessible from above and from the side.

A cryogenic storage system provides automated storage and retrieval of samples in a cryogenic environment, as well as automated transfer of individual samples between cryogenic environments. Stored samples are maintained under a cryogenic temperature threshold, while also enabling access to the samples. The samples are organized and tracked by scanning a barcode of each sample. Embodiments may also comprise multiple storage vaults and provide for transfer of individual samples between the storage vaults, as well as between a storage vault and a removable cryogenic storage device.

The present disclosure relates to a sample transfer apparatus (100) for transferring a sample holder (200) into and out of a vacuum chamber (810), comprising: a holding device (110) including at least one cam (120) configured to cooperate with at least one follower (210) of a sample holder (200), wherein the at least one cam (120) includes a curved track having an open end portion (122), a locking portion (126), a locking track portion (124) and a releasing track portion (128), wherein the locking track portion (124) and the releasing track portion (128) respectively connect the open end portion (122) and the locking portion (126), wherein the curved track is configured such that the at least one follower (210) of the sample holder (200) is guided from the open end portion (122) to the locking portion (126) via the locking track portion (124) for attaching the sample holder (200) to the holding device (110), and wherein the curved track is further configured such that the at least one follower (210) of the sample holder (200) is guided from the locking portion (126) to the open end portion (122) via the releasing track portion (128) for releasing the sample holder (200) from the holding device (110).

To provide a low-temperature storage system that can, with a simple structure, minimize heat transfer into the low-temperature storage chamber, improve storage space efficiency inside the low-temperature storage chamber, and reduce production and maintenance costs. The low-temperature storage system includes a low-temperature storage chamber, and a moving mechanism that carries storage objects in and out of the chamber. The moving mechanism includes an internal unit, which is made up of a holding part, a lift member that moves the holding part up and down, a reciprocating member that moves the holding part back and forth, and a supplementary moving member that moves storage shelves; and an external unit that transmits driving forces to the internal unit. The holding part, lift member, and reciprocating member are disposed to line up along a moving direction of the supplementary moving member.

The present disclosure provides cryogenic storage systems and methods of using the cryogenic storage systems. A cryogenic storage system of the present disclosure may comprise a cryogenic tank with an inner door and an outer door, and a robot apparatus located adjacent to the cryogenic tank. The cryogenic tank may store multiple racks such that at most a single rack is removable through the inner door or the outer door. The cryogenic tank may store the multiple racks in multiple groups of racks comprising a first group of racks located at a first radial distance and a second group of racks located at a second radial distance that is greater than the first radial distance. The robot apparatus may selectively open and close the inner or outer doors, and insert or withdraw the single rack into or out of the cryogenic tank through the inner door or the outer door.

The invention relates to a holding apparatus (100) for sample carriers (200) for use in cryomicroscopy, encompassing: a body having at least one sample carrier receptacle that comprises at least one sample carrier support surface against which at least one sample carrier (200) is abuttable; at least one first sample carrier holding means (121); and at least one second sample carrier holding means (131) that is configured to impinge upon the sample carrier (200) with force against the first sample carrier holding means (121); and to an arrangement having a manipulation container and such a holding apparatus (100), and to methods for introducing and withdrawing a sample carrier (200).

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.

Cryogenic devices are provided in which solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is used to maintain a temperature zone in which samples can be manipulated under conditions in which the sample is maintained at a temperature below −50° C.

A system and method for concurrently and uniformly removing thermal energy from a specimen sample. A thermal insulating device is provided comprising an insulating material, the device having a plurality of chambers for receiving specimen samples, the device further includes a thermal ballast whereby the rate of thermal energy removal is controlled and influenced by the thermal ballast.

Provided herein is technology relating to cryopreservation and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation of biological materials such as oocytes, zygotes, and embryos. In particular, provided herein are methods of using microfluidic devices to exposing biological material to a vitrification solution having a time dependent concentration of a cryoprotectant agent.