FREEZING OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS

• US 20060277927A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sudhir Brahmbhatt
• Original Assignee: Sudhir Brahmbhatt
• Inventors: Brahmbhatt, Sudhir
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/64
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/04 Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms immobilised microorganisms C12N11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/11 with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space

Abstract

An integrated industrial plant includes various systems, all of which use a cryogenic liquid obtained from a common source. One system includes a fermentation unit, in which cold air, chilled by heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid, absorbs excess heat generated by the fermentation. Another system is a lyophilization unit, in which a refrigeration step is performed through the use of air that has been chilled by heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid. Another system is a device for freezing discrete samples of biological products, the samples being frozen by partial immersion in the cryogenic liquid. The invention substantially reduces the use of electric power, and provides systems which operate economically and reliably.

Claims

1. Apparatus for freezing of biological products, comprising:

a) a source of cryogenic liquid,

b) a conveyor for moving a plurality of vials containing a biological product towards a trough, and

c) means for directing said cryogenic liquid to said trough, wherein at least some of said plurality of vials become partially immersed in said cryogenic liquid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for injecting a vaporized cryogenic liquid into a head space of the vials, the injecting means being positioned such that the vaporized cryogenic liquid is injected after the vials have been transported away from the trough by the conveyor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vaporized cryogenic liquid comprises a same material as the cryogenic liquid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trough has a bottom, and wherein the conveyor comprises a flexible belt, and wherein the belt is positioned such that the belt extends downward toward the bottom of the trough.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of cryogenic liquid is also connected to a plurality of systems which are distinct from the freezing apparatus, wherein said plurality of systems are operated simultaneously with the freezing apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said plurality of systems are selected from the group consisting of a cryocooling system, a cryogrinding system, a cryogen rapid cooling system, an inerting and blanketing unit, a lyophilization unit, and a fermentation unit.

7. A method of freezing biological products, comprising:

a) providing a product in a plurality of open vials,

b) partially immersing said plurality of vials in a cryogenic liquid,

c) injecting a vaporized cryogenic liquid into said vials, and

d) sealing said vials.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting the vaporized cryogenic liquid in step (c) to be the same material as the cryogenic liquid used in step (b).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) comprises passing the vials into a trough containing the cryogenic liquid, wherein the vials become partially immersed in the liquid.

10. A method of freezing biological products, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of vials containing a biological product,

b) transporting the vials on a movable belt, into a trough which holds a cryogenic liquid, the trough holding sufficient liquid that the vials are partially immersed in the liquid, while the vials are in the trough, and

c) removing the vials from the trough by advancing the belt.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising injecting a vaporized cryogenic liquid into a head space of the vials, the injecting being performed after the vials have been removed from the trough.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting the vaporized cryogenic liquid to be the same material as the cryogenic liquid.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising obtaining the cryogenic liquid from a source, and simultaneously operating a plurality of distinct systems with cryogenic liquid taken from said source.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting said plurality of systems from the group consisting of a cryocooling system, a cryogrinding system, a cryogen rapid cooling system, an inerting and blanketing unit, a lyophilization unit, and a fermentation unit.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting said cryogenic liquid and said vaporized cryogenic liquid to be nitrogen.