US4783973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for freezing by means of a cryogenic liquid biological products placed in straws
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
•
Filing: 1987-07-22
•
Granted: 1988-11-15
•
Expires: 2007-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A thermally insulated enclosure (1) containing a bath (20) of liquid nitrogen. The enclosure contains a case (3) of flat shape provided with a thermal insulation (4) whose performance is lower than that (2) of the enclosure (1) and comprising, on one hand, supports (17) for supporting straws in a horizontal plane, and, on the other hand, a heater (8) for heating the lower wall (7) and/or the cover (6) of the case. Application in the freezing of animal or human embryos.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicole Angelier
- 👤 Joseph Bionda
- 👤 Jean-Yves Thonnelier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/42; A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/14; A01N1/142; A01N1/144; A01N1/145; F; F25; F25D; F25D25/00; F25D25/005; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F17; F17C; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/05; F17C2270/0509
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for freezing biological products placed in straws, the apparatus comprising an enclosure having a first thermal insulation for containing a bath of cryogenic liquid, a case of flat shape including a lower wall and a cover and located in the enclosure and provided with a second thermal insulation, the thermal insulating power of said first insulation being substantially greater than that of said second insulation, the case comprising means for supporting straws in a horizontal plane and means for heating at least one of elements consisting of the lower wall and the cover of the case.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for freezing biological products placed in straws, the apparatus comprising an enclosure having a first thermal insulation for containing a bath of cryogenic liquid, a case of flat shape including a lower wall and a cover and located in the enclosure and provided with a second thermal insulation, the thermal insulating power of said first insulation being substantially greater than that of said second insulation, the case comprising means for supporting straws in a horizontal plane and means for heating at least one of elements consisting of the lower wall and the cover of the case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support means are thermally insulating and adapted to carry all the straws in a single horizontal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, comprising two horizontal metallic plates inside the case, between which plates the straws are disposed
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the plates is in contact with the straws.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an upper plate of said plates defines a window perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the straws.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a lower plate of said plates is integral with the case, and an elastically yieldable thermally insulating support is interposed between and connected to the upper plate and the cover of the of the case for carrying the upper plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a support for the case and permitting the positioning of the case at different heights in the enclosure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one wall of the case provided with heating means comprises means for diffusing heat in the plane thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the case comprises very thick metal walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover of the case is devoid of heat insulation and is provided with heating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprise a planar electrical resistor adhered to an outer side of the associated wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3024076A
Cited
US3080725A
Cited
US3151760A
Cited
FR1296171A
Cited
DE1401608A1
Cited
FR1566664A
Cited
US4091632A
Cited
US4232453A
Cited
US4304293A
Cited
FR2468908A1
Cited
DE3125345A1
Cited
US4455842A
Cited
US4429542A
Cited
EP0090599A1
Cited
DE3225672A1
Cited
US4537034A
Cited
EP0150146A2
Cited
EP0181235A2
Cited
EP0184417A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-15 | 1992-05-16 | 1992-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-15 | 1996-05-16 | 1996-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-05-16 | 2000-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |