Complete Cryo -Encapsulation Device for Biological Specimen Vials.
This invention relates to a device for protecting biological sample vials and their contents from thawing when removed from freezer storage or for protection from thawing during transportation.
Current freezer storage facilities for a range of biological samples (i.e. Antibodies, Antigens, Recombinant Proteins, Oligonucleotides, Purified Proteins, Medical and Pathological samples) employ a variety of commercially available specimen vials placed in rack style systems. Upon removal from the freezer environment (i.e. For sample removal I stock checking purposes) these samples are exposed to the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment which is generally room temperature. Many of these samples are of high commercial / medical or academic value and can be seriously damaged in terms of biological viability when exposed to freeze / thaw cycles.
The transportation of such materials in the correct temperature environment is important both from a commercial and functionality point of view in the Biotechnology indushy, for the health sector and for the sharing of academically valuable specimens. The current system of transportation involves the use of conunercially available frozen ice packs containing water or gel as a cooling agent. The samples are generally shipped in a polystyrene outer box with a number of these ice packs loosely surrounding the material to be protected.
In both of the above cases (Storage and Transportation) the material is poorly protected from the possibility of freeze -thawing and thus to potential damage.
To overcome this the present invention proposes a molded plastic sandwich unit which is hinged at one end allowing the two halves of the device to separate. Each half of the device being filled with a cooling agent. Within the internal halves of each unit are one or more spaces (Encapsulation spaces) which can be generic or molded to fit the size and style of the particular vial to be stored or transported (i.e. micro centrifuge -vials). The device is locked in place by a clip at the opposite end of the device.
The device will therefore ensure that the material inside can be removed from storage without being immediately exposed to the surrounding ambient temperature.
The device can then be opened and closed to allow access to the contents again with a minimum of exposure to the surrounding ambient temperature.
Material can be shipped through commercial means in complete frozen encapsulation.
The individual device being transported in a polystyrene insulating outer.
The invention will now be described solely by the way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a see through side view of the encapsulation device in the partially opened configuration.
Figure 2 shows a top view of the encapsulation device in the fully opened configuration looking onto the internal surfaces.
Figure 3 shows the top of the encapsulation device in the closed configuration.
Figure 4 shows the bottom of the encapsulation device in the closed configuration.
Figures 1 and 2 demonstrate the cryo-encapsulation device which includes two sandwich sections 1 containing a cooling agent. The device is hinged at one end 2 to allow complete one hundred and eighty degree opening of the unit The corresponding end has a hinged locking clip on the bottom section 3 with a locking recess on the top section 4 to allow the device to be completely sealed. Within each sandwich half are reciprocal encapsulatjon spaces 5 located in order to receive the particular specimen vial to be maintained at low temperature.
Figure 3 shows the top of the device in the closed configuration with recesses 6 which are located so as to receive the corresponding legs 7 of another unit.
Figure 4 shows the bottom of the device in the closed configuration with legs 7 which are located so as to insert into the recesses 6 on the top of another device thus allowing each unit to be stackable.