CRYOGENIC STORAGE CONTAINER SYSTEM

• US 20080092581A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custom Biogenic Systems, Inc. (Biolife Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Custom Biogenic Systems, Inc. (Biolife Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Teper, Edward, Walker, Scott, Brothers, John, Schumann, Cass, Heintz, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/378
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0257 Stationary or portable vessels generating cryogenic temperatures
• 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: F25D 11/04 specially adapted for storing deep-frozen articles F25D11/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/00 Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled

Abstract

A cryogenic storage container having a tank with an interior and an open top. At least two and preferably three trays are independently rotatably mounted within the interior of the housing so that an upper tray is positioned above one or more lower trays. Each tray has a plurality of compartments and each compartment is adapted to receive a source unit container. At least one cold working area is formed on the upper tray while an extraction tool selectively engages and moves stored unit containers from any of the trays and to the cold working area.

Claims

1. A cryogenic storage container comprising:

a tank having an interior and an open top,

an upper turntable and at least one lower turntable independently rotatably mounted in said interior of said tank with said upper turntable being positioned above said at least one lower turntable,

each turntable having a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted to receive a storage unit container,

at least one cold working area formed on said upper turntable.

2. The invention as defined in claim 2 and comprising at least two lower turntables independently rotatably mounted within said tank.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and comprising means for selectively locking said upper turntable and one of said lower turntables together.

4. A cryogenic storage system comprising:

a tank having an interior and an open top,

an upper turntable and a lower turntable independently rotatably mounted in said interior of said tank with said upper turntable being positioned above said lower turntable,

a plurality of storage unit containers, each turntable having a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted to receive one storage unit container,

a storage unit container extraction tool for selectively engaging and moving one storage unit container, said extraction tool comprising an elongated rod, a base mounted to one end of said rod and dimensioned to engage an open top, a latch mounted to said base and movable between an unlocked position in which said base and a selected storage unit container are separable from each other, and a locked position in which said latch engages said selected storage unit container and secures said selected storage unit container to said base.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and comprising an actuator mounted to the other end of said rod for moving said latch between said locked and said unlocked position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein each said storage unit container includes a pair of opposed slots near its top, and wherein said latch extends through said slots when said latch is in said second position.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said storage unit container is rectangular in cross-sectional shape, said storage unit container having a slot on each wall adjacent the top of the storage unit container.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said latch extends through all four of said slots when said latch is in said second position.

9. The invention as defined in claim 5 and comprising a spring which resiliently locks said latch in one of said locked or unlocked position.