EP0072225A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Hoxan Corp
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Filing: 1982-08-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like which has the steps of containing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like in a buffer solution at an irregular position in a tube, and cooling the same so that a buffer solution contained in an area containing no fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like becomes lower at temperature than the buffer solution containing the fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like with desired refrigerant to freeze the second buffer solution to produce crystalline nuclei, and then cooling the nuclei so that the nuclei grow to the first buffer solution. And, an apparatus forfreezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like which can carry out the above method. Thus, the survival rate of the fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like can be raised, and the fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like can be readily frozen under an automatic control by simple cooling means.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuo C/O Hoxan Laboratory Sakao
- 👤 Yasui C/O Hoxan Laboratory Kuraoka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:58
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/14; A01N1/142; A01N1/144; A01N1/145; A01N1/146; A01N1/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising the steps of: irregularly containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like in a buffer solution in a tube, cooling a buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen with predetermined refrigerant so that the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen becomes lower at the temperature than another buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen, thereby producing crystalline nuclei by freezing the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and then cooling the crystalline nuclei so that the nuclei grow to the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen to freeze the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen, thereby freezing the article to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising the steps of: irregularly containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like in a buffer solution in a tube, cooling a buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen with predetermined refrigerant so that the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen becomes lower at the temperature than another buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen, thereby producing crystalline nuclei by freezing the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and then cooling the crystalline nuclei so that the nuclei grow to the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen to freeze the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen, thereby freezing the article to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling temperature of the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen is maintained at the freezing point of the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the crystalline nuclei are produced in the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, the temperature of the refrigerant for cooling the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen is gradually lowered.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising the steps of: irregularly containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like in a buffer solution in a tube, cooling a buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen so that the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen becomes lower at the temperature than another buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen with a predetermined refrigerant, thereby freezing the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen to produce crystalline nuclei, cooling the crystalline nuclei so that the nuclei are grown to the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen to freeze the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen, thereby freezing the articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like, measuring the maximum liquid temperature of the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen when the crystalline nuclei are produced in the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and automatically controlling the cooling temperature of the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen to the vicinity of the measured temperature.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising the steps of: irregularly containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like in a buffer solution in a tube, cooling a buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen so that the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen becomes lower at the temperature than another buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen with a predetermined refrigerant, thereby freezing the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen to produce crystalline nuclei, cooling the crystalline nuclei so that the nuclei are grown to the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen to freeze the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen, thereby freezing the articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like, measuring the maximum liquid temperature of the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen when the crystalline nuclei are produced in the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and automatically controlling the cooling temperature of the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen to the vicinity of the measured temperature.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a tube containing a first buffer solution containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like and a second buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and a refrigerant for cooling the first and second buffer solution, and a floating base floated on the liquid surface of the refrigerant for supporting said tube so that the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen extends from said floating base upwardly in a predetermined length into the vapor phase portion and the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen extends from said floating base downwardly in a predetermined length into the refrigerant to be dipped therein.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a tube containing a first buffer solution containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like and a second buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and a refrigerant for cooling the first and second buffer solution, and a floating base floated on the liquid surface of the refrigerant for supporting said tube so that the buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen extends from said floating base upwardly in a predetermined length into the vapor phase portion and the buffer solution containing the articles to be frozen extends from said floating base downwardly in a predetermined length into the refrigerant to be dipped therein.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a tube containing a first buffer solution containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like and a second buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and a refrigerant for cooling the first and second buffer solution, a low constant temperature tank containing the refrigerant and a cover plate covered thereon, a guide rod vertically mounted on the cover plate of said tank, upper and lower mounting members of synthetic resin mounted on said guide rod, and a slide pin of. synthetic resin for holding said tube and elastically urged by a spring downwardly to be elevationally movably mounted at said upper mounting member, thereby elastically holding said tube between said slide pin and said lower mounting,member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a tube containing a first buffer solution containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like and a second buffer solution containing no articles to be frozen, and a refrigerant for cooling the first and second buffer solution, a low constant temperature tank containing the refrigerant and a cover plate covered thereon, a guide rod vertically mounted on the cover plate of said tank, upper and lower mounting members of synthetic resin mounted on said guide rod, and a slide pin of. synthetic resin for holding said tube and elastically urged by a spring downwardly to be elevationally movably mounted at said upper mounting member, thereby elastically holding said tube between said slide pin and said lower mounting,member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said upper mounting member is elevationally adjustably formed at said guide rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said slide pin is formed of a tube inserting port of downward recess formed at the center, and a sensor hole of upward opening at the center communicating with said inserting port.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a tube containing a first buffer solution containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like, a second buffer containing no articles to be frozen, and a refrigerant for cooling the first and second buffer solutions, an inner tank containing the refrigerant and a cover attached to the upper edge of said inner tank, an outer tank sealing heat exchanging medium such as helium at the outer peripheral side of said inner tank and integrally formed with said inner tank, a tube erecting base detachably sealed in the refrigerant in said inner tank, predetermined members such as an agitator, a heater and a thermometer sealed in the refrigerant in said inner tank, the cover of the said inner tank being detachably mounted in a low temperature liquefied gas container, and having a low temperature liquefied gas supply port opened within said container and a vaporized gas exit opened thereat.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a tube containing a first buffer solution containing articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like, a second buffer containing no articles to be frozen, and a refrigerant for cooling the first and second buffer solutions, an inner tank containing the refrigerant and a cover attached to the upper edge of said inner tank, an outer tank sealing heat exchanging medium such as helium at the outer peripheral side of said inner tank and integrally formed with said inner tank, a tube erecting base detachably sealed in the refrigerant in said inner tank, predetermined members such as an agitator, a heater and a thermometer sealed in the refrigerant in said inner tank, the cover of the said inner tank being detachably mounted in a low temperature liquefied gas container, and having a low temperature liquefied gas supply port opened within said container and a vaporized gas exit opened thereat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tube erecting base comprises a horseshoe-shaped tube supporting base and a guide and handle stood from said supporting base with horseshoe-shaped tube holder longitudinally slidably mounted thereat.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a plurality of tubes each having a first buffer solution.containing no articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like, a second buffer solution containing articles to be frozen in the lower half portion thereof, and a refrigerant dipping said tubes erected therein for cooling the first and second buffer solutions, a cooling tank suitably capable of being cooled by predetermined means via the refrigerant contained therein at a predetermined time, a tube erecting trestle for supporting said tubes to extend in vapor phase formed in the upper portion of said cooling tank, and a heat transfer block engaged and placed on the upper ends of said tubes in the vapor phase portion of said tank and containing refrigerant storage recess formed thereon for LN z , or dry ice.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like comprising: a plurality of tubes each having a first buffer solution.containing no articles to be frozen such as fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like, a second buffer solution containing articles to be frozen in the lower half portion thereof, and a refrigerant dipping said tubes erected therein for cooling the first and second buffer solutions, a cooling tank suitably capable of being cooled by predetermined means via the refrigerant contained therein at a predetermined time, a tube erecting trestle for supporting said tubes to extend in vapor phase formed in the upper portion of said cooling tank, and a heat transfer block engaged and placed on the upper ends of said tubes in the vapor phase portion of said tank and containing refrigerant storage recess formed thereon for LN z , or dry ice.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said heat transfer block comprises a plurality of engaging holes formed on the lower surface thereof for engaging the top ends of said tubes and a refrigerant storage recess formed on the upper surface thereof for containing cooling source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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