US4377077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Device and method for controlled freezing of cell cultures
Assignee: GRANLUND DAVID J
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Filing: 1981-07-15
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Granted: 1983-03-22
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Expires: 2001-07-15
Abstract
Abstract An enclosed device and method for controlled freezing of cell cultures, especially eucaryotic cell cultures, contained in cell culture vials by means of a conventional freezer includes a container and top, a supporting grid and supporting grid base within the container for supporting the cultire vials and a compatible liquid refrigerant in a volume of at least fifteen times the culture volume and at a level to totally immerse all of the cultures to be frozen. Compatible liquid refrigerants include the straight chain aliphatic alcohols, preferrably ethanol and methanol.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Granlund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:02
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/04; A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/14; A01N1/142; A01N1/144; A01N1/146; F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for controlled freezing of cell cultures contained in a portion of one or more cell culture vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and a bottom; (b) grid means for independently supporting each cell culture vial in a substantially upright position in said container; (c) a volume of liquid refrigerant in said container sufficient to completely submerse said portion of each vial containing cell culture in said refrigerant, said volume of refrigerant being in excess of fifteen times the total volume of cell culture contained in said one or more vials; and (d) suspension means resting on the bottom of said container to suspend said grid means and said one or more vials above the bottom of said container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for controlled freezing of cell cultures contained in a portion of one or more cell culture vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and a bottom; (b) grid means for independently supporting each cell culture vial in a substantially upright position in said container; (c) a volume of liquid refrigerant in said container sufficient to completely submerse said portion of each vial containing cell culture in said refrigerant, said volume of refrigerant being in excess of fifteen times the total volume of cell culture contained in said one or more vials; and (d) suspension means resting on the bottom of said container to suspend said grid means and said one or more vials above the bottom of said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container is cylindrical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grid means has substantially uniform holes completely therethrough, each sized to readily receive a cell culture vial, and said suspension means supports each said vial positioned within a said hole in said supporting grid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said suspension means is formed of a sponge-like material to absorb a portion of the liquid refrigerant in said container and provide a cushioning effect to the bottom of each culture vial supported by said means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said supporting grid contains five to twenty-five holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the size of the holes are sufficiently large compared to the culture vials so that the liquid refrigerant substantially wets that portion of the vial containing the cell culture within the hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said volume of liquid refrigerant is in excess of twenty-five times the total volume of cell culture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liquid refrigerant is a straight chain aliphatic alcohol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said liquid refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of ethanol and methanol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cell cultures comprise eucaryotic cell cultures.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
128 words
A device for controlling the rate of temperature change in a material contained within a portion of one or more test vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and flat bottom; (b) a sponge-like base resting on the bottom of said container and having a substantially level top surface; (c) a supporting grid resting on said base and positioned within said container; (d) a series of substantially vertical holes extending through said grid and sized slightly larger than said vials whereby a vial positioned within a hole will have its bottom resting on the top of said base; and, (e) a volume of straight chain aliphatic alcohol in said container sufficient to completely submerse in the refrigerant the portion of each vial containing said material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
128 words
A device for controlling the rate of temperature change in a material contained within a portion of one or more test vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and flat bottom; (b) a sponge-like base resting on the bottom of said container and having a substantially level top surface; (c) a supporting grid resting on said base and positioned within said container; (d) a series of substantially vertical holes extending through said grid and sized slightly larger than said vials whereby a vial positioned within a hole will have its bottom resting on the top of said base; and, (e) a volume of straight chain aliphatic alcohol in said container sufficient to completely submerse in the refrigerant the portion of each vial containing said material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 11 in which the material contained in said vials is tissue cell cultures and the volume of said liquid refrigerant is in excess of fifteen times the total volume of cell cultures contained in said test vials.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
129 words
A device for controlling the rate of temperature change in a material contained within a portion of one or more cylindrical test vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and flat bottom, said container adapted to contain a sufficient volume of refrigerant to completely submerse in the refrigerant the portion of each vial containing said material; (b) a sponge-like base resting on the bottom of said container and having a substantially level top surface; (c) a supporting grid resting on said base and positioned within said container; and (d) a series of substantially vertical cylindrical holes extending through said grid and sized slightly larger than said cylindrical vials whereby a vial positioned within a hole will have its bottom resting on the top of said base.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
129 words
A device for controlling the rate of temperature change in a material contained within a portion of one or more cylindrical test vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and flat bottom, said container adapted to contain a sufficient volume of refrigerant to completely submerse in the refrigerant the portion of each vial containing said material; (b) a sponge-like base resting on the bottom of said container and having a substantially level top surface; (c) a supporting grid resting on said base and positioned within said container; and (d) a series of substantially vertical cylindrical holes extending through said grid and sized slightly larger than said cylindrical vials whereby a vial positioned within a hole will have its bottom resting on the top of said base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said one or more test vials are of generally cylindrical form, and wherein said substantially vertical holes are cylindrical.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for controlled freezing of cell cultures contained in a portion of one or more cell culture vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and a bottom; (b) grid means for supporting each cell culture vial independently in a substantially upright position in said container; (c) suspension means resting on the bottom of said container to suspend said grid means and said one or more vials a sufficient distance above the bottom of said container to define a liquid refrigerant space between the bottom of the container and said cell cultures; and (d) said liquid refrigerant space having a volume in excess of approximately 15 times the total volume of cell culture contained in said one or more vials.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for controlled freezing of cell cultures contained in a portion of one or more cell culture vials which comprises: (a) a container having a removable lid and a bottom; (b) grid means for supporting each cell culture vial independently in a substantially upright position in said container; (c) suspension means resting on the bottom of said container to suspend said grid means and said one or more vials a sufficient distance above the bottom of said container to define a liquid refrigerant space between the bottom of the container and said cell cultures; and (d) said liquid refrigerant space having a volume in excess of approximately 15 times the total volume of cell culture contained in said one or more vials.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-21 | 1986-09-20 | 1987-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-21 | 1990-09-20 | 1991-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-21 | 1994-09-20 | 1995-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |