The present invention features novel methods for the cryopreservation of mammalian cell that combine the advantages of the slow-freezing and vitrification approaches while avoiding their shortcomings. Generally, the methods include the use of a capillary tube made of a thermally conductive wall material and a thin wall such that the ratio of the thermal conductivity of the wall material to the wall thickness is at least 1,000-500,000. The solution is then exposed to temperatures equal to or less than 80 C. and the vitrification solution containing the mammalian cells is cooled at a rate equal to or greater than 30,000-100,000,000 C./minute. The exposure of the capillary tube with a thermally conductive and thin wall allows for vitrification of the solution in the absence of ice formation. Cryoprotectants can also be added to the vitrification solution to further prevent ice formation.

A living cell cryopreservation tool has a body part formed of a cold-resistant material and a living cell holding part formed of the cold-resistant material. The living cell holding part has a long and narrow living cell attaching and holding portion. The living cell attaching and holding portion has a plurality of living cell accommodation concave portions formed in a longitudinal direction thereof and a plurality of excess cryopreservation liquid discharge passages communicating with the living cell accommodation concave portions.

A living cell cryopreservation tool has a living cell holding member having a body part and a living cell holding part and a tubular accommodation member, closed at one end thereof, which is capable of accommodating the living cell holding member. The living cell holding part has a long and narrow living cell attaching and holding portion. The living cell attaching and holding portion has heat conductors extended in a longitudinal direction thereof and projected from a distal end thereof. The tubular accommodation member has a heat conductive member accommodated inside a distal portion thereof. When the living cell holding member is inserted into the tubular accommodation member from a distal side of each heat conductor thereof, a distal portion of each heat conductor contacts the heat conductive member of the tubular accommodation member.

A container system and method for cryopreservation of sperm includes first containers having walls of a desired thickness and thermal conductivity. At least one layer of thermally insulating walls of a desired thickness and thermal conductivity is disposed around the at least one row of first containers. The first containers and thermally insulating walls are capable of being immersed from a range of about 5 C. to room temperature directly into a liquid cryogenic fluid below a surface thereof and freezing the sperm, without vitrification, at a cooling rate sufficient to maintain post-thaw quality of the sperm. The cooling rate is controlled solely by the thermal conductivity of the walls of the first containers, the layer(s) of thermally insulating walls and any substance between the walls of the first containers and the at least one thermally insulating container.

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 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.

Systems and devices with enhanced stability to kinetic impact for the containment of cryogenically preserved material. A device comprising a vessel with increased surface to volume ratio when compared to cylindrical vessels of like capacity, and further comprising a material that remains resistant to shock and impact at cryogenic temperatures while providing a continuous barrier of a single material surrounding the vessel contents. The device further comprising a design that may be readily modified to include internalized sensors, enhanced interfacing to external instruments, provide optimized thaw rate, and post-thawing sample processing capabilities.

Systems and devices with enhanced stability to kinetic impact for the containment of cryogenically preserved material. A device comprising a vessel with increased surface to volume ratio when compared to cylindrical vessels of like capacity, and further comprising a material that remains resistant to shock and impact at cryogenic temperatures while providing a continuous barrier of a single material surrounding the vessel contents. The device further comprising a design that may be readily modified to include internalized sensors, enhanced interfacing to external instruments, provide optimized thaw rate, and post-thawing sample processing capabilities.

A method of storing a donor organ prior to implantation into an organ recipient includes bagging the donor organ by placing the donor organ into at least one bag and sealing the at least one bag; placing the bagged donor organ into a portable storage container; placing at least one cooling pack in the portable storage container, wherein the at least one cooling pack is configured to maintain a temperature of the donor organ at 8 to 12 degrees C. during storage of the donor organ, and storing the donor organ in the portable storage container prior to transplanting the donor organ into the organ recipient, wherein the portable storage container does not contain any ice at any time during storage of the donor organ.

A method of storing a donor organ prior to implantation into an organ recipient includes bagging the donor organ by placing the donor organ into at least one bag and sealing the at least one bag; placing the bagged donor organ into a portable storage container; placing at least one cooling pack in the portable storage container, wherein the at least one cooling pack is configured to maintain a temperature of the donor organ at 8 to 12 degrees C. during storage of the donor organ, and storing the donor organ in the portable storage container prior to transplanting the donor organ into the organ recipient, wherein the portable storage container does not contain any ice at any time during storage of the donor organ.