Patent EP0101906A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0101906A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlled reduction in temperature and preservation of embryos in a cryogenic state
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-07-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-07-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for reducing the temperature of articles to the cryogenic state in reducing the temperature of embryos at a controlled and predetermined rate comprises an insulated cooling chamber containing support means for removably suspending the embryos within the chamber. A gaseous medium, such as air, circulates along a closed path through the chamber so that the embryos are disposed in its path and a heat exchanger including a heat transfer medium is positioned in the flow path of the gaseous medium together with a temperature sensor so that the rate of cooling may be programmed and regulated automatically by correlation of the temperature sensor with the heat exchange medium to avoid uneven temperature zones in the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Crouch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:30
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/14; A01N1/142; A01N1/144; A01N1/145; F25B2321/00; F25B2321/02; F25B2321/021; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D17/06; F25D2600/00; F25D2600/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for reducing the temperature of embryos and the like at a controlled and predetermined rate, characterised by a cooling chamber (12) and support means (14) for removably suspending said embryos in said cooling chamber, gaseous medium circulating means (16) for recirculating a gaseous medium along a closed path through said chamber with said embryos in the path of circulation of said gaseous medium, heat exchange means (18) including heat transfer elements (22) positioned in the path of flow of said gaseous medium, and means (30) for regulating the rate of heat transfer and cooling rate of said gaseous medium circulated through said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for reducing the temperature of embryos and the like at a controlled and predetermined rate, characterised by a cooling chamber (12) and support means (14) for removably suspending said embryos in said cooling chamber, gaseous medium circulating means (16) for recirculating a gaseous medium along a closed path through said chamber with said embryos in the path of circulation of said gaseous medium, heat exchange means (18) including heat transfer elements (22) positioned in the path of flow of said gaseous medium, and means (30) for regulating the rate of heat transfer and cooling rate of said gaseous medium circulated through said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by said cooling chamber (12) being of generally cylindrical configuration, said support means (14) being insertable through an open end of said chamber and a removable lid (35) hermetically sealing said open end of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by said support means including an annular rib (40) positioned along a wall of said chamber adjacent to said open end and a generally circular support plate (14) having a plurality of openings (42) therein removably disposable on said rib, and embryo suspension means (42) insertable through said openings whereby to support encapsulated embryos centrally of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by said heat exchange means (18) including air passages extending in an axial direction along inner wall portions of said chamber and said gaseous medium circulating means (16) being operative to- discharge said gaseous medium through said air passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised by said removable support means (14) defining one end wall of said chamber opposite to said gaseous medium circulating means (16) and cooperating with said heat exchange means (18) to cause the flow of said gaseous medium across the embryos stored in said chamber, and said heat exchange means include reverse thermocouples (19) operative to reduce the temperature of said gaseous medium to a level of the order of -50°C, said reverse thermocouples being positioned exteriorly of said chamber and said heat transfer elements being defined by convoluted coils intruding into the interior of said chamber and extending in a direction parallel to the flow of air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised by baffle plates (24) positioned in spaced parallel relation to one another to define axially extending flow passages to constrain the flow of said gaseous medium from said circulating means across said heat transfer element.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of freezing embryos at a controlled rate from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures of the order of -50 0 C characterised by the steps of providing an insulated chamber in which said embryos are removably supported, positioning a heat transfer medium in said chamber, circulating a gaseous medium through said chamber successively across said heat transfer medium and said embryos wherein said gaseous medium is air which is forced under pressure along a closed path in an axial direction first along the inner wall surfaces of said chamber and to return along the central axis of said chamber into direct contact with said heat transfer medium followed by passing across said embryos, and programming the rate of cooling of said gaseous medium by regulating the temperature of said heat transfer medium. 8326:B:2JJK2
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of freezing embryos at a controlled rate from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures of the order of -50 0 C characterised by the steps of providing an insulated chamber in which said embryos are removably supported, positioning a heat transfer medium in said chamber, circulating a gaseous medium through said chamber successively across said heat transfer medium and said embryos wherein said gaseous medium is air which is forced under pressure along a closed path in an axial direction first along the inner wall surfaces of said chamber and to return along the central axis of said chamber into direct contact with said heat transfer medium followed by passing across said embryos, and programming the rate of cooling of said gaseous medium by regulating the temperature of said heat transfer medium. 8326:B:2JJK2
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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