Method and apparatus for freezing or thawing of a biological material
First Claim
1. A method for changing the temperature of a biological material from a first temperature to a second temperature within a time period, one of the said first or second temperatures being above freezing temperature and the other being below freezing temperature, comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising an insulator having inner and outer walls and at least two opposing heat exchangers, each heat exchanger having a first end and a second end, the heat exchangers being spaced from each other along their entire longitudinal dimension by a space, and each heat exchanger comprising a fluid conduit extending along the entire longitudinal dimension thereof between an inlet tube and an outlet tube spaced by the longitudinal dimension, the inlet and the outlet tubes projecting from the first and second ends of the heat exchangers towards the inner walls of the insulator;
placing the biological material or a container holding the biological material in the space between the at least two opposing heat exchangers such that the biological material or the container holding the biological material is tightly in contact with each of the two opposing heat exchangers along a majority of the longitudinal dimension, andcontrolling the temperature in one or more of the at least two heat exchangers by means of the fluid conduits such that a freezing temperature front propagates in the material away from the one or more heat exchangers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The temperature of a biological material is changed from a first temperature to a second temperature within a time period, one of the said first or second temperature being above freezing temperature and the other being below freezing temperature, by placing the biological material in tight contact with at least one, preferably between two heat exchangers, and controlling the temperature in at least one of said heat exchangers such that a freezing temperature front propagates in said material away from at least one of the two heat exchangers.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for changing the temperature of a biological material from a first temperature to a second temperature within a time period, one of the said first or second temperatures being above freezing temperature and the other being below freezing temperature, comprising:
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providing an apparatus comprising an insulator having inner and outer walls and at least two opposing heat exchangers, each heat exchanger having a first end and a second end, the heat exchangers being spaced from each other along their entire longitudinal dimension by a space, and each heat exchanger comprising a fluid conduit extending along the entire longitudinal dimension thereof between an inlet tube and an outlet tube spaced by the longitudinal dimension, the inlet and the outlet tubes projecting from the first and second ends of the heat exchangers towards the inner walls of the insulator; placing the biological material or a container holding the biological material in the space between the at least two opposing heat exchangers such that the biological material or the container holding the biological material is tightly in contact with each of the two opposing heat exchangers along a majority of the longitudinal dimension, and controlling the temperature in one or more of the at least two heat exchangers by means of the fluid conduits such that a freezing temperature front propagates in the material away from the one or more heat exchangers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for changing the temperature of a biological material from a first temperature to a second temperature, one of the first or second temperatures being above freezing temperature and the other being below freezing temperature, the apparatus comprising:
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a heat exchange unit comprising an insulator having inner and outer walls and at least two heat exchangers, each heat exchanger having a first end and a second end, the heat exchangers being spaced being spaced apart from each other along their entire longitudinal dimension by a space, and configured for placing the biological material or a container holding the biological material in the space in tight contact with the heat exchangers along a majority of the longitudinal dimension, one or more of the at least two heat exchangers being equipped with one or both of a heating and a cooling arrangement, and each heat exchanger comprising a fluid conduit extending along the entire longitudinal dimension thereof between and inlet tube and an outlet tube spaced by the longitudinal dimension, the inlet and the outlet tubes projecting from the first and second end of the heat exchangers towards the inner walls of the insulator, at least two of the heat exchangers being equipped with a cooling arrangement for cooling the internal, biological material facing surface of the heat exchanger; and a control unit for inducing a temperature changing operational sequence comprising controlling the temperature of one or more of the at least two heat exchangers by means of the fluid conduits such as to yield a freezing temperature front that propagates within the material away from at least one of the heat exchangers, whereby temperature of the material changes from the first to the second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for changing the temperature of a biological material from a first temperature to a second temperature within a time period, one of the said first or second temperatures being above freezing temperature and the other being below freezing temperature, comprising:
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providing an insulator having inner and outer walls and at least two heat exchangers each having a first end and a second end, the heat exchangers having opposing material facing surfaces spaced from each other along their entire longitudinal dimension by a material receiving space, and each heat exchanger comprising a fluid conduit extending along the entire longitudinal dimension thereof between and inlet tube and an outlet tube spaced by the longitudinal dimension, the inlet and outlet tubes projecting from the first and second ends of the heat exchangers toward the inner walls of the insulator; placing the biological material or a container holding the biological material in the space in tight contact with each of the surfaces, and controlling the temperature in one or more of the at least two heat exchangers by means of the fluid conduits such that a freezing temperature front propagates in the material away from at least one of the heat exchangers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for changing the temperature of a biological material from a first temperature to a second temperature, one of the first or second temperatures being above freezing temperature and the other being below freezing temperature, the apparatus comprising:
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a heat exchange unit comprising an insulator having inner and outer walls and at least two heat exchangers each having a first end and a second end, the heat exchanger having opposing material facing surfaces spaced from each other along their entire longitudinal dimension by the biological material or a container holding the biological material receiving space, wherein the material receiving space is configured for placement therein of the biological material in tight contact with the material facing surfaces along the majority of the longitudinal dimension, and wherein one or more of the at least two heat exchangers being equipped with one or both of a heating and a cooling arrangement, and the heat exchangers each comprising a fluid conduit extending along the entire longitudinal dimension thereof between an inlet tube and an outlet tube spaced by the longitudinal dimension, the inlet and outlet tubes projecting from the first and second ends of the heat exchangers toward the inner walls of the insulator, at least one of the heat exchangers being equipped with a cooling arrangement, the cooling arrangement comprising one or more cooling fluid conduits extending along the longitudinal dimension in flow communication with a cooling fluid reservoir; and a control unit for inducing a temperature changing operational sequence comprising controlling the temperature of one or more of the at least two heat exchangers by means of the fluid conduits such as to yield a freezing temperature front that propagates within the material away from at least one of the heat exchangers, whereby temperature of the material changes from the first to the second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification