Abstract:
A containment apparatus ( 10 ) having a floor wall ( 12 ) with four side walls ( 16 ) extending therefrom and an opening ( 13 ) at the top. Each of the side walls ( 16 ) and the floor wall ( 12 ) include apertures ( 20 ) defined within to allow air to flow freely throughout the containment apparatus. A lid ( 18 ) may be provided to place on the containment apparatus to cover the opening ( 13 ). A divider ( 21 ) made of interlocking wall strips ( 23 ) that connect to define a plurality of separate compartments ( 25 ). Each interlocking wall strip ( 23 ) having multiple apertures ( 20 ) defined within to allow for free airflow around, through and between each compartment ( 25 ). An alternative embodiment of the divider ( 31 ) is comprised of a molded material such as plastic for holding thermosensitive product vials. The alternative divider ( 31 ) having a plurality of aligned wells ( 39 ). Each well ( 39 ) being adapted to support one thermosensitive product vial.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a division of application Ser. No. 11/361,265 and claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/656,793 filed 2005 Feb. 23. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of cryogenic storage of thermosensitive products, and more specifically to a multi-purpose containment apparatus for storing thermosensitive products, that is capable of meeting the standards required for cryogenic storage freezers while providing the free airflow necessary for controlled rate freezing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Almost all laboratories store thermosensitive products such as blood, tissues, cells, bacteria, etc., in ml vials, that fit into an industry standard storage container. The container, in turn, fits into a standard freezer rack, set by industry standards, designed to accommodate the maximum amount of storage containers, while fitting the internal dimensions of the cryogenic storage freezer. Such cryogenic containers are typically in the form of a simple cardboard or plastic box that is suitable for long term storage at ultra-low temperatures. 
         [0004]    Further, the number of vials that can be stored within the storage container is standardized within the industry. Examples of some industry standard configurations for the number of vials include: 81 vials (in a 9×9 configuration), 100 vials (in a 10×10 configuration), and 64 vials (in an 8×8 configuration.) Typically, vials are placed in the standard industry storage container, which is placed in the cryogenic freezer, usually a −80 C freezer or a liquid nitrogen (LN2) freezer for freezing and storage. 
         [0005]    Much energy is required to maintain the thermosensitive products at cryogenic temperatures. Accordingly, cryogenic storage freezers are compact in design for energy and spatial efficiency. Each cryogenic freezer has a finite amount of space and little tolerance for varying sizes of containers within. Much thought and experimentation has gone, and goes, into determining the optimal numbers and configuration of sample vials etc for acceptable freezing of the most vials for the least energy cost. 
         [0006]    Much research has shown that using a controlled rate freezer prior to placing thermosensitive products in a final storage freezer is preferred because it is better for the samples. Bringing the temperature of the samples down gradually results in less shock to the specimens, thus resulting in increased cryoprotection. 
         [0007]    However, there is much resistance in the industry to incorporate controlled rate freezing because the standard cryogenic storage containers cannot be used in the controlled rate freezing process. This is because effective controlled rate freezing requires free air flow around and between the vials, which the current cryogenic storage containers do not allow. A more open configuration is necessary for sufficient airflow during controlled rate freezing. 
         [0008]    Several devices are typically used to secure the sample vials during controlled rate freezing. For example, a wire rack can be used, and a rounded rack consisting of a series of disks to hold samples is sometimes used. However, these and other controlled rate freezing apparatus for securing the sample vials are unsuitable for use in cryogenic freezing storage because they are not designed or configured to meet the standards required for cryogenic storage. 
         [0009]    For example, the existing racks used in controlled rate freezers are in a non-industry standard configuration. Examples of such non-industry standard configurations include a 12×16 configuration, a 6×10 configuration, cane or circular configuration, to name a few, so that technicians, scientists, or other parties must perform a multi-step process to incorporate the advantages of controlled rate freezing. 
         [0010]    The thermosensitive product vials typically must be taken out of a standard configuration container and placed in a non-standard configuration rack or other device, which is placed in the controlled rate freezing apparatus. After the controlled rate freezing process is concluded, the thermosensitive product vials are removed from the controlled rate freezing apparatus, such as the rack or disc. The vials are carefully placed back into a standard configuration storage container and the storage container is placed in a cryogenic freezer for storage. This multi-step process, with the typical transfers of multiple vials, results in increased labor, increased costs, and an increase in the possibility of vial misplacement and harm to the specimens. 
         [0011]    The possibility of misplacement or mishandling of one or more of the vials during this process is of particular concern. Careful track of the vial placement must be kept so as not to misplace the thermosensitive products. Vial mix-ups could lead to disastrous consequences. For example, misplaced DNA samples could help set a guilty person free or medical sample mix-ups could lead to an incorrect diagnosis. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, there has been a long-felt need in the industry to eliminate the extra steps involved in relocating the thermosensitive product vials between two different containers to obtain the benefit of controlled rate freezing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose containment apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing an included divider. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the containment apparatus of  FIGS. 1-2  showing an included lid. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the containment apparatus. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the containment apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an environmental view of the containment apparatus inside a controlled rate freezer. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an environmental view of the containment apparatus inside a cryogenic storage freezer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a multi-purpose apparatus designed to reduce or eliminate the multiple step process for controlled rate freezing and cryogenic freezing and storage of thermosensitive products, by providing a standardized containment apparatus capable of meeting the conditions necessary for use in a cryogenic freezer, while also being capable of use in a control-rate freezers. 
         [0021]    Embodiments of the multi-purpose containment apparatus and method of use are described herein by way of example only and not by way of limitation. 
         [0022]    Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers denote like or corresponding parts throughout the figures, example embodiments of the multi-purpose containment apparatus are shown. 
         [0023]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose containment apparatus is shown. The containment apparatus  10  is comprised of a floor wall  12  having wall apertures  20  defined within. The apparatus  10  also includes four side walls, denoted  16 , having apertures, denoted  20  defined within the side walls  16 , extending from the floor  12 . Between the side walls  16 , an opening  13  is defined opposite the floor wall  12 . 
         [0024]    The containment apparatus  10  can be made using any suitable materials in the art, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, stainless steel, cardboard, a plastic or other resin, or any combination thereof. The containment apparatus can be of any suitable dimensions. In this embodiment, each containment apparatus floor  12  is about 130.175 mm×130.175 mm (5.125″ square), and each side wall  16  is about 130.175 mm (5.125″) in length and up to 76.2 mm (3″) high. Further, the apertures  20  can be of any suitable shape or configuration. The vials can be separated and secured within the apparatus by any suitable means. 
         [0025]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  is shown, and separation and individual containment of the vials is achieved by means of a provided divider  21 . The divider  21  is placed within the apparatus  10  and vials placed therein. The divider  21  is comprised of a plurality of interlocking wall strips  23 , which are transversely connected to define a plurality of smaller compartments  25  as shown. In this embodiment, each wall strip  23  of the divider has divider apertures, denoted  22  defined within to allow for free airflow between thermosensitive products stored in the compartments. 
         [0026]    The divider  21  can be made using any suitable materials, including, but not limited to, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cardboard, a plastic, or other resin, or any suitable combination thereof. The divider  21  can be of any suitable dimensions providing that the divider  21  has dimensions that would allow for placement within containment apparatus  10 . The divider  21  herein comprised of interlocking walls strips  23  which are connected to form a plurality of compartments  25  in any suitable configuration in the art such as, but not limited to, an 8×8 configuration, a 9&#39;9 configuration, and a 10×10 configuration. In this embodiment the configuration is a 9×9 configuration to form  81  compartments  25 . 
         [0027]    Product vials are placed in the divider compartments  25 , and the apparatus  10  is placed in a controlled rate freezer. The overall design of the apparatus  10 , including apertures  20  and, in some cases, the divider  21 , allows for free airflow around and between the thermosensitive product vials stored within the apparatus  10 . Since the air is free to flow around and between the thermosensitive products, cooling of the products according to specifications is more successful and results in more uniform temperature reduction in the controlled rate freezing process. 
         [0028]    Once an appropriate temperature has been reached, the container apparatus is removed from the controlled rate freezer and placed directly in the cryogenic storage freezer. Thus the steps of placing the thermosensitive product vials in a non-industry standard container for controlled rate freezing and removing and arranging them in proper order in an industry standard container for storage in the cryogenic freezer are eliminated. 
         [0029]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , The containment apparatus  10  may also have a lid  18 , which can be placed on the opening  13  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lid can provide additional protection for the vials during storage, and can be used for labeling a container of vials. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the lid  18  is about 133.35 mm×133.35 mm (5.25″ square). These dimensions are the current industry standard for fitting into the freezer racks. However the lid can be of any suitable dimension. Further, the lid  18  can be constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, those denoted herein for construction of the apparatus  10 . 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , the apparatus is shown with an alternative type of divider  31 . The alternative divider  31  is comprised of any suitable material or combination including, but not limited to, those discussed herein, including, as in this embodiment, a molded material such as a thin plastic. The divider  31  has a top surface  34 , a bottom surface  38 , an outer edge  35 , with a series of transverse borders  32 , which define a plurality of aligned wells  39  within the outer edge  35 . The divider  31  can be of any suitable dimensions may be used providing that the divider  31  has dimensions that would allow for placement of vials within the divider and placement of the divider within the containment apparatus  10 . 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the divider rests on the walls  16  of the apparatus  10 . It can simply rest on the walls  16  if this is sufficient or be secured by any suitable means in the art. Further, the divider  31  can have a groove (not shown) along the bottom surface such that the divider  31  can snap onto the apparatus  10  or be otherwise structurally secured. 
         [0033]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , another alternative embodiment of the containment apparatus  10  is shown. In this embodiment, the apertures  20  of the apparatus are circular and another alternative divider  31  is shown. The alternative divider herein has wells  39  that are cylindrically shaped. The divider  31 , as shown previously herein, is placed within the containment apparatus  10 . A lid  18  is shown again being placed over the apparatus  10 . 
         [0034]    As previously mentioned, existing racks or other means for use in controlled rate freezers  42  are of a non-industry standard configuration unsuitable for use in cryogenic storage freezers  54  and storage containers used in cryogenic storage are unsuitable for controlled rate freezing. The invention herein provides a containment apparatus of industry standard cryogenic configuration, which allows for free air flow around and between thermosensitive product vials for successful controlled rate freezing. The containment apparatus also provides sufficient protection of samples during cryogenic storage. The containment apparatus  10  is capable of reducing the possibility of vial misplacement, and will save valuable time and labor costs by eliminating the steps of moving and tracking a plurality of thermosensitive product vials. 
         [0035]    Accordingly, this device can facilitate controlled rate freezing, with its advantages, for important products such as tissue, DNA specimens, cells of all types, embryos, nucleic acids, bacteria, etc, decreased in temperature at a preprogrammed, controlled rate then stored and subsequently cryoprotected with access for later use. 
         [0036]    In addition to the containment apparatus, the invention claimed also includes a method for controlled rate freezing and subsequent cryogenic storage. This method involves placing the thermosensitive product vials in the containment apparatus  10 , placing the apparatus in the controlled rate freezer  42 , as in  FIG. 6 , then removing from the controlled rate freezer  42  and placing directly in the cryogenic storage freezer  54 , as in  FIG. 7 . This method eliminates the steps of first, placing the thermosensitive product vials in a non-industry standard container for controlled rate freezing and second, having to remove and arrange them in proper order in an industry standard container for storage in the cryogenic freezer. 
       CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0037]    As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the present invention is suitable for use in controlled rate freezing, cryogenic freezing, storage and thawing of thermosensitive products. 
         [0038]    Although the detailed descriptions above contain many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within its scope, a number of which are discussed in general terms above. 
         [0039]    While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be reasonably included within the scope of the invention. 
       DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0040]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 Containment Apparatus 
                 12 Floor Wall 
               
               
                   
                 13 Opening 
                 16 Side wall 
               
               
                   
                 18 Lid 
                 20 Apertures 
               
               
                   
                 21 Divider 
                 22 Divider apertures 
               
               
                   
                 23 Interlocking wall strip 
                 25 Compartment 
               
               
                   
                 31 Alternative Divider 
                 32 Borders 
               
               
                   
                 34 Top Surface 
                 35 Outer Edge 
               
               
                   
                 38 Bottom Surface 
                 39 Well 
               
               
                   
                 42 Controlled Rate Freezer 
                 54 Cryogenic Storage Freezer