VESSELS AND METHODS FOR CRYOPRESERVATION

• US 20150048085A1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Gregory Roger, Tanner, Allison Jean, Brown, Jessica Monique, Illsley, Nicholas Michael, del Pilar Pardo, Ana Maria
• Application Number:
  US14/081,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20150048085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/23.83
• 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 1/0263 Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0268 Carriers for immersion in cryogenic fluid, both for slow-freezing and vitrification, e.g. open or closed "straws" for embryos, oocytes or semen
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0273 Transport containers A01N1/0268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0284 Temperature processes, i.e. using a designated change in temperature over time
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/05 for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids multiple bags systems for separating or storing blood components A61M1/0209; Infusion or perfusion containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1412 Containers with closing means, e.g. caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2425 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0206 Separate rigid or semi-rigid trays or cups joined together, e.g. separate trays connected by single foil closure or crimped together plurality of trays formed in one piece B65D1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/325 Containers having parallel or coaxial compartments, provided with a piston or a movable bottom for discharging contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0005 Containers or packages provided with a piston or with a movable bottom or partition having approximately the same section as the container B65D83/0072 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0022 moved by a reciprocable plunger
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0033 the piston being a follower-piston and the dispensing means comprising a hand-operated pressure-device at the opposite part of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0038 moved by a spring-like mechanism B65D83/005, B65D83/0817, B65D83/0858 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/005 the piston or movable bottom being pulled upwards to dispense the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0072 the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by a piston or a movable bottom or partition provided in the container or the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0077 moves by a spring-like mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/48 : Holding appliances; Racks; Supports holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/04 : by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles pipettes in general B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/22 : Means for packing or storing viable microorganisms casings for storing cell samples A61B10/0096, preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02

Abstract

An article including, either:

• • a frame having an interior cavity, and a flexible liner situated within the interior cavity; or
  • a deformable frame having an interior cavity, as defined herein.

Either frame can receive a sample, such as liquid having suspended live cells, and cooling freezes the sample to a solid sample. The solid sample can be readily ejected from the article having either a frame with the flexible liner, or the deformable frame, without extensive thawing. The solid sample can be rapidly displaced from the article by the methods and apparatus disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a frame having an interior cavity; and

a flexible liner situated within the interior cavity;

the frame has a first open end for receiving a sample into the flexible liner, and the frame has a second open end, for engaging a holster for the article, and for receiving an ejector to displace the flexible liner and the sample contents from a location within the cavity.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the frame is a hollow cylinder or hollow conic having first and second open ends.

3. The article of claim 1 further comprising a closure member for reversibly sealing the received sample in the interior cavity, and the closure member comprises at least one of:

a screw cap adapted to engage screw threads on the frame;

a press fit plug having an optional strap to engage the frame, or a combination thereof.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of frames, the flexible liner comprises a plurality of flexible liners, the ejector comprises a plurality of ejectors, and the closure member comprises a plurality of closure members.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the ejector is:

integral with the article;

worn by an operator;

attached to a stationary external support;

attached to a robotic external support;

or a combination thereof.

6. The article of claim 1 further comprising at least one ejector.

7. The article of claim 1 further comprising at least one ejector integral with the article and the at least one ejector comprises at least one retractable member.

8. The article of claim 1 further comprising at least one ejector integral with the article, the at least one ejector comprises a plurality of ganged ejectors aligned with and attached to a plurality of cryotubes separated by at least one spring member.

9. The article of claim 1 further comprising a holster where the holster holds the article and permits the closure member to be removed with a single human hand or a single mechanical gripper.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein the holster has a recessed volume that conforms to at least a portion of the base of the frame at the second end, and the holster has a detent feature to engage the frame to restrict rotational freedom of the frame.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the liner comprises a biodegradable releasable flexible liner.

16. A method of using the article of claim 1 comprising:

filling the liner in the interior cavity of the article with a sample;

sealing the article;

cooling the filled sealed article to freeze the sample; and

ejecting the frozen sample from the interior cavity of the article into a receiving vessel with an ejector.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein ejecting the frozen sample from the interior cavity of the article is accomplished without substantial intermediate thawing.

12. An article comprising:

a deformable frame having an interior cavity, and the frame has a first open end for receiving a sample into the interior cavity, and the frame has a second closed end for engaging a holster for the frame.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the interior cavity has a hollow cylindrical geometry and the base of the cylinder is at the first open end, or has a hollow conical geometry and the base of the conic is at the first open end.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the second closed end for engaging a holster for the frame comprises an indentation in the wall of the frame.

15. The article of claim 12 further comprising a closure member for reversibly sealing the received sample in the interior cavity and excluding liquid nitrogen from the interior cavity.

18. A method of using the article of claim 12 comprising:

filling the interior cavity of the article having a deformable frame with a sample;

sealing the article;

cooling the filled sealed article to freeze the sample; and

ejecting the frozen sample from the article into a receiving vessel by manually or mechanically squeezing the exterior of the deformable frame.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein ejecting the frozen sample from the article is accomplished without substantial intermediate thawing, and wherein squeezing the exterior is accomplished with a human hand, a mechanical device, a robot, or a combination thereof.

20. A kit comprising:

a cryopreservation article having either a rigid frame or a deformable frame, and having an interior cavity for holding a liquid or solid sample, and an optional closure for sealing the sample in the interior cavity of the article;

a holster for holding the article;

if the frame of the article is rigid, then an ejector for ejecting a frozen sample for the interior of the article; and

instructions for use of the article.