Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Apparatus – Microorganism preservation – storage – or transport apparatus
Patent
1997-06-17
1999-08-10
Redding, David A.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Apparatus
Microorganism preservation, storage, or transport apparatus
62 64, 62341, 62903, C12M 300
Patent
active
059358483
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container which is suited for deep freezing suspensions of living cell material in elastic bags.
Deep freezing makes it possible to maintain living biological cells for practically unlimited time. Thus, for example, before interventions which cause great blood loss and which can be scheduled electively, blood is taken from the patient, processed, and subsequently frozen and stored. It is consequently possible to build up a sufficient deposit of the patient's own blood, so that the patient can be provided with his own blood during the operation and afterwards. An infection of the patient with viruses causing hepatitis and HIV, possibly contained in foreign donor blood and not detectable owing to the "diagnostic window," is thereby reliably prevented. Moreover, the deep freezing, generally referred to as cryopreservation, makes possible the preparation of "quarantine preparations" from foreign donor blood, the bridging of temporary bottle-necks, and the stocking of rare blood groups.
Usually, the whole blood preserves which are taken are separated by centrifugation into erythrocytes and blood plasma and are then transferred to bags not affected by low temperatures. These are subsequently deposited in metal containers, with which they are dipped into liquid nitrogen for cooling. In order that the living cells are not damaged or destroyed during freezing, a controlled and rapid cooling with a high rate of cooling is necessary with erythrocytes. The usual metal containers nevertheless have the disadvantage that they enable only a limited heat transfer to the cooling medium so that, with unavoidable geometric inhomogeneities of the bag contained in the container, uncontrolled cooling can occur at least in these partial areas.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to make available a container for deep freezing of suspensions of living cell materials found in elastic bags, with which a rapid and controlled cooling of the cell material is possible.
This object is accomplished by a microporous layer fastened to the outside of the container by means of an adhesive layer.
The microporous layer on the outside of the container raises the heat transfer to the cooling medium and thereby greatly increases the rate of cooling, so that a rapid and controlled cooling of the cell material is possible, and the survival rate of the cell material deep frozen with the container of the invention is thereby clearly increased.
In accordance with a preferred further embodiment of the invention, the microporous layer comprises of textile materials. These can, for example, be constructed as a fabric tape of acetate rayon with a temperature-stable acrylate adhesive, so that the textile material can be simply and reliably fastened on the outside of the container and withstands repeated rapid cooling and reheating.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the container has two thin-walled metallic plates arranged plane parallel, which form the container walls, and has a frame consisting of two halves, whereby appropriately the plates as well as the frame comprise material not affected by low temperature. Advantageously, one plate is respectively fastened in one frame half, the two frame halves are pivotably fastened to each other by at least one joint, and the plates fastened in the frame halves can be fixed in the plane parallel position by means of a fixing device. Advantageously, the plates fixed in the plane parallel position have at the same time a defined distance from each other, so that the bag placed in the container is pressed into a plate-shaped form with the required layer thickness upon closing the container. The container thereby presses the elastic bag into a basically homogenous plate shape, so that on the one hand, a large surface/volume ratio is attained, and on the other hand, geometric inhomogeneities such as folds or bulges are avoided. A further improved heat tran
REFERENCES:
patent: 3776411 (1973-12-01), Luckadoo
patent: 4018911 (1977-04-01), Lionetti et al.
patent: 4074753 (1978-02-01), Schmittle et al.
patent: 4107937 (1978-08-01), Chmiel
patent: 4288897 (1981-09-01), Withers, Jr.
patent: 4371034 (1983-02-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 5320119 (1994-06-01), Griffiths
Mingers Bernd
Sputtek Andreas
LandOfFree
Deep-freezing container does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Deep-freezing container, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Deep-freezing container will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1119597