Apparatus and method for thawing biological materials

• US 20030082069A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytotherm LP
• Original Assignee: Cytotherm LP
• Inventors: Kuzyk, Roman
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0242 Apparatuses, i.e. devices used in the process of preservation of living parts, such as pumps, refrigeration devices or any other devices featuring moving parts and/or temperature controlling components
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0284 Temperature processes, i.e. using a designated change in temperature over time

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided to rapidly thaw and heat frozen bags of biological materials, such as plasma. The apparatus has a hollow bladder having a flexible wall that is placed in contact with the bag. A circulation system draws fluid from a reservoir and fills the bladder with the fluid. The circulation system also drains fluid from the bladder. A heater in the reservoir heats the fluid before the fluid enters the bladder. As heated fluid flows through the bladder, heat is transferred through the bladder wall to the plasma bag to thaw the biological material. The bladder wall expands against the plasma bag as the bladder fills with fluid, and contracts from the plasma bag as the bladder is drained. The expansion and contraction of the bladder wall agitates the plasma bag and biological material to accelerate the thawing process.

Claims

1. An apparatus for thawing and heating biological material contained in a bag, said apparatus comprising:

A. a bladder having a flexible wall in engagement with the bag;

B. a reservoir containing a fluid;

C. a circulation system operable to fill the bladder with the fluid and expand the bladder wall against the bag, and operable to withdraw the fluid from the bladder and contract the bladder wall away from the bag; and

D. a heater operable to heat the fluid,

wherein the expansion and contraction of the bladder wall in response to operation of the circulation system agitates the bag and the biological material, and the bladder wall is thermally conductive to transfer heat from the heated fluid in the bladder to the biological material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises:

A. an outlet through which fluid exits the bladder; and

B. a hollow tube extending within the bladder, said hollow tube having a first open end connected to the outlet and a second open end disposed within the bladder,

wherein, the connection between the outlet and the first open end of the tube is configured to permit a suction pressure to be formed at the first open end of the tube as fluid exits through the outlet, said suction pressure being operable to draw a quantity of gas from the interior of the bladder through the second open end of the tube and discharge said quantity of gas through the first open end of the tube and through the outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a first cell having an inlet and an outlet connected to the circulation system, and a second cell having an inlet and an outlet connected to the circulation system, said first and second cells being sealed from one another and configured to expand and contract in response to operation of the circulation system.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the circulation system comprises a first pump connected to the first cell, and a second pump connected to the second cell, said first pump and second pump being operable to expand the first and second cells respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a controller configured to activate the first pump while the second pump is deactivated and activate the second pump while the first pump is deactivated.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller comprises a cycle adjuster to control the frequency of operation of the first pump and the second pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a timer that limits operation of the heater and circulation system to a preset duration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermostat operable to measure the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir and regulate the heater to maintain a desired temperature in the fluid.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the desired temperature is between 6°

C.-38°

C.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid is water.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tank that houses the reservoir, the circulation system, and a rack configured to support the bag.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rack comprises a sensor operable to detect and signal fluid leak from the bladder or the bag.

13. An apparatus for thawing and heating biological material in a bag, said apparatus comprising:

A. a bladder having a flexible wall in engagement with the bag;

B. a reservoir containing a fluid;

C. a circulation system operable to convey fluid to the bladder and withdraw the fluid from the bladder;

D. a first cell in the bladder having an inlet and an outlet connected to the circulation system and configured to expand and contract in response to operation of the circulation system;

E. a second cell in the bladder having an inlet and an outlet connected to the circulation system and configured to expand and contract in response to operation of the circulation system; and

F. a heater operable to heat the fluid,

wherein the inlets are configured to pass fluid into the bladder to expand the first and second cells, and the outlets are configured to pass fluid out of the bladder to contract the first and second cells, said expansion and contraction of the first and second cells being operable to agitate the bag, and the passage of fluid through the bladder being operable to transfer heat to the bag.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each cell comprises a hollow tube extending within the cell, said hollow tube having a first open end connected to the outlet of the cell and a second open end disposed within the cell, wherein the connection between the outlet and the first open end of the tube is configured to permit a suction pressure to be formed at the first open end of the tube as fluid passes through the outlet, said suction pressure being operable to draw a quantity of gas formed in the interior of the bladder through the second open end of the tube and discharge said quantity of gas through the first open end of the tube and through the outlet.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the circulation system comprises:

A. a first pump connected to the inlet of the first cell; and

B. a second pump connected to the inlet of the second cell.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to activate the first pump while the second pump is deactivated and operate the second pump while the first pump is deactivated.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller comprises a cycle adjuster to control the frequency of operation of the first pump and the second pump.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising a timer that limits operation of the heater and circulation system to a preset duration.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a thermostat operable to measure the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir and regulate the heater to maintain a desired temperature in the fluid.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the desired temperature is between 6°

C.-38°

C.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fluid is water.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a tank having a lower section that houses the reservoir and circulation system, and an upper section that houses the bladder and the bag.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the upper section comprises a sensor operable to detect and signal a fluid leak from the bladder or the bag.

24. A method for thawing and heating a biological material in a bag, comprising the steps of:

A. heating a fluid to a desired temperature;

B. placing the bag containing the biological material in contact with a bladder having a flexible wall;

C. pumping the heated fluid into the bladder to expand the bladder wall against the bag and gently agitate the biological material;

D. maintaining the heated fluid in the bladder to transfer heat through the bladder wall to the bag; and

E. withdrawing the heated fluid from the bladder to retract the bladder wall away from the bag.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the steps of pumping the heated fluid to the bladder and withdrawing the fluid from the bladder comprise pumping fluid to the first cell to pressurize and expand the first cell while draining fluid from the second cell, and then pumping fluid to the second cell to pressurize and expand the second cell while draining fluid from the first cell.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the desired temperature of the heated fluid is between 6°

C.-38°

C.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of withdrawing the heated fluid from the bladder comprises removing a quantity of gas formed in the interior of the bladder.