Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) possess tremendous potential for tissue regeneration and banking hiPSCs by cryopreservation for their ready availability is crucial to their widespread use. However, contemporary methods for hiPSC cryopreservation are associated with both limited cell survival and high concentration of toxic cryoprotectants and/or serum. The latter may cause spontaneous differentiation and introduce xenogeneic factors, which may compromise the quality of hiPSCs. Here, sand from nature is discovered to be capable of seeding ice above 10 C., which enables cryopreservation of hiPSCs with no serum, minimized cryoprotectant, and high cell survival. Furthermore, the cryopreserved hiPSCs retain high pluripotency and functions judged by the pluripotency marker expression, cell cycle analysis, and capability of differentiation into the three germ layers. This unique sand-mediated cryopreservation method may greatly facilitate the convenient and ready availability of high-quality hiPSCs and probably many other types of cells/tissues for the emerging cell-based translational medicine.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) possess tremendous potential for tissue regeneration and banking hiPSCs by cryopreservation for their ready availability is crucial to their widespread use. However, contemporary methods for hiPSC cryopreservation are associated with both limited cell survival and high concentration of toxic cryoprotectants and/or serum. The latter may cause spontaneous differentiation and introduce xenogeneic factors, which may compromise the quality of hiPSCs. Here, sand from nature is discovered to be capable of seeding ice above 10 C., which enables cryopreservation of hiPSCs with no serum, minimized cryoprotectant, and high cell survival. Furthermore, the cryopreserved hiPSCs retain high pluripotency and functions judged by the pluripotency marker expression, cell cycle analysis, and capability of differentiation into the three germ layers. This unique sand-mediated cryopreservation method may greatly facilitate the convenient and ready availability of high-quality hiPSCs and probably many other types of cells/tissues for the emerging cell-based translational medicine.

The present invention refers to a canister assembly (1) suitable for a cryopreservation container comprising: a rigid elongated handle (2) having a hook (3) in the upper part (4) suitable for supporting said rigid elongated handle (2) in an a cryopreservation container (13), a thermal bridge (5) in the upper part (4) of said elongated handle (2) and a lower portion (6); at least two cylindrical cups (7,8) having a series of apertures (12) in the bottom side, in which said at least two cylindrical cups (7,8) are located one on top of the other sharing the same longitudinal axis, and being attached to said lower part (6) of said rigid elongated handle (2); being separated by a supporting member (9) attached in a fixed manner to the upper cylindrical cup (7); characterized in that the bottom cylindrical cup (8) is attached in a fixed manner to the lower part (6) of the handle (2) by fixing means (11) and the upper cylindrical cup (7) comprises non-slip pivot joints (10) suitable for rotating the upper cylindrical cup (7) around the handle's (2) axis.

A cryogenic specimen shipping container using cryogenic gas for transport of a cryogenic specimen to a cryogenic storage chamber or Dewar vessel for storage. The cryogenic specimen shipping container may comprise an outer container, an inner container received within the outer container, and a gas pathway located between the outer container and the inner container and configured to expel the cryogenic gas.

A cryogenic specimen shipping container using cryogenic gas for transport of a cryogenic specimen to a cryogenic storage chamber or Dewar vessel for storage. The cryogenic specimen shipping container may comprise an outer container, an inner container received within the outer container, and a gas pathway located between the outer container and the inner container and configured to expel the cryogenic gas.

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).

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 medical device for thermally treating a donor organ to be transplanted within a patient, comprises a jacket. The jacket includes a first section and a second section adjacent to the first section. The first and second sections are folded about a hinge to form a pocket sized to receive the donor organ. The first and second sections are secured together by a plurality of conjoined weld bar sets. A sling depends from the second section and has a strap. The strap includes a first end portion coupled to the sling, and an opposite second end portion affixed to one set of the plurality of conjoined weld bar sets.

A medical device for thermally treating a donor organ to be transplanted within a patient, comprises a jacket. The jacket includes a first section and a second section adjacent to the first section. The first and second sections are folded about a hinge to form a pocket sized to receive the donor organ. The first and second sections are secured together by a plurality of conjoined weld bar sets. A sling depends from the second section and has a strap. The strap includes a first end portion coupled to the sling, and an opposite second end portion affixed to one set of the plurality of conjoined weld bar sets.

A method for human sperm vitrification is disclosed, which includes providing liquefied human sperm; having a vitrification medium, where the vitrification medium has (a) a sperm buffer, and (b) a cryoprotectant mixture including a permeable cryoprotectant and a non-permeable cryoprotectant; mixing the liquefied sperm with the vitrification medium; providing a sperm straw and loading the straw with 0.25 to 0.5 mL of the obtained mixture; sealing the straw with heat; and placing the straw vertically in a container with liquid nitrogen to vitrify the mixture. A portable kit is also disclosed, which makes it easy to implement the method. The kit includes a vitrification medium, some straws, a container, usage instructions, among others.