Patent ID: 11946690
Assignee: NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL—ARGENTINA (CONICET)
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC F  A  G | IPC F  G

Claim 8:
9. A method of loading, storing and retrieving biological material containers; said method comprising steps of:
a. providing a device for storing biological material containers; said device comprising:
i. a sealed cryogenic Dewar vessel accommodating a liquefied gas in an inner space thereof;
ii. a matrix of receptacles disposed said inner space and configured for receiving and storing biological material containers;
iii. means for loading and retrieving said biological material containers;

said means comprising a telescopic cane manipulator configured for loading and retrieving said biological material containers within said matrix; said means comprising an airlock isolating said inner space from an outer environment surrounding said sealed cryogenic Dewar vessel; said airlock is configured for passing said biological material containers manipulated by said telescopic cane manipulator therethrough in a sealed manner;
said receptacles are carried by a first carousel member rotatable around an axis thereof; said receptacles are arranged into a number of groups distributed over said carousel member; each group of said receptacles has a central point positioned at distance R1 from said rotation axis of said carousel member; a center of each receptacle within said group is positioned around a central point thereof at distance R2;
said telescopic cane manipulator is rotatable around an axis disposed at R1 from said rotation axis of said carousel member on an arm of R2 length such that providing coincidence between said rotation axis of said telescopic cane manipulator with said central point of a receptacle group of interest, a receptacle of interest is loadable or retrievable by said telescopic cane manipulator by rotation thereof around said axis thereof on said R2 arm;
b. inserting said biological material container into said inner space via said airlock;
c. cooperatively rotating said carousel member and said telescopic cane manipulator such that said receptacle of interest is available for placing said biological material container within said receptacle of interest;
d. placing said biological material container within said receptacle of interest;
e. storing said biological material container within said receptacle of interest;
f. cooperatively rotating said carousel member and said telescopic cane manipulator such that said biological material container in said receptacle of interest is available for retrieving said biological material container from said receptacle of interest;
g. retrieving said biological material container from said receptacle of interest;
h. outing said biological material container from said inner space via said airlock.