Abstract:
A system and method for controlled rate freezing and storage of thermolabile substances. The system includes a storage unit for receiving product stored within a bag and an overlying protective canister associated with a robotic arm and reading device which places the canister in the preserving environment. A control system, driven by a computer monitors the ingress, egress and storage location and particularized profiles of the articles being placed in storage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The following invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for storing a plurality of thermolabile products in a cold, preserving medium including storage addresses for each product in a cold storage dewar. Each product stored has a unique identity which correlates with both its source of origin and its location in the dewar. The device includes means for reading at least one of those identities. More specifically, this device especially enables tissue, DNA specimens, laboratory assays, certain blood products and especially white blood cells to be cryoprotected, decreased in temperature at a preprogrammed, controlled rate stored and subsequently accessed upon appropriate identification to be surrendered for subsequent use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application chronicles the ongoing evolution of assignee&#39;s cryogenic storage device described in Ser. No. 08/393,558 filed Feb. 23, 1995. The need to save thermolabile products, especially in the field of medicine and for its evidentiary value in law, continues to increase. Tissue sample, DNA specimens and laboratory assays are all examples of substances which, once studied, typed and matched are suitable candidates for subsequent storage should the need ever arise for further analysis. Products which can degrade as a function of time and temperature have little archival value unless properly preserved and maintained. 
     Significant advances in the state of the art in blood cell research, especially sequestering and preserving white blood cells and the discovery that these cells can be used between unrelated donors and recipients, has created a need for a reliable freezing and storage device for the blood products, especially blood cells to maintain their quality prior to utilization. Although there is no longer an absolute requirement that donors and recipients be related, matching characteristics of the donor and the recipient presently optimizes the likelihood of acceptance by the recipient rather than rejection. Based on a multiplicity of factors, it is estimated that optimally matching a donor to a recipient may require selecting from an aggregation of donor specimens numbering in the thousands or even hundreds of thousands. 
     The problem associated with storing large numbers of donor&#39;s products is that they are thermolabile and therefore can degrade as a function of time when they are not frozen at a controlled rate and then maintained in an extremely low-temperature, controlled environment. Equally as important, once the products are stored in the appropriate low temperature environment, it is still highly desirable that the product remain stable and undisturbed at that temperature until the product is to be used. This assures the highest quality. 
     These foregoing considerations provide considerable engineering problems, especially should the products be stored at temperatures where nitrogen is the cold storage liquid, because mechanisms working in such an operating environment would have to be durable at −190° C. At such low temperatures, tasks which are relatively simple at room temperature, e.g. storing, selecting and removing products provide difficulties. Mechanical implements can be prone to failure at extremely low temperatures. Should there be a mechanical failure without adequate accommodation for some type of system redundancy, there can be dire consequences both as to timely treatment and as to maintaining product quality because of failure to access or maintain the product at a constant temperature. 
     The following patents reflect the state of the art of which applicant is aware insofar as these patents appear germane to the process at hand. However, it is stipulated that none of these patents singly nor when considered in any conceivable combination teach the nexus of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as particularly claimed. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PATENT NO. 
                 ISSUE DATE 
                 INVENTOR 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 3,662,565 
                 May 16, 1972 
                 Gram 
               
               
                   
                 4,090,374 
                 May 23, 1978 
                 Faust, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 4,245,483 
                 January 20, 1981 
                 Murai 
               
               
                   
                 4,432,214 
                 February 21, 1984 
                 Richelli, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 4,920,763 
                 May 1, 1990 
                 Provest, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 5,125,240 
                 June 30, 1992 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 5,176,202 
                 January 5, 1993 
                 Richard 
               
               
                   
                 5,233,844 
                 August 10, 1993 
                 Richard 
               
             
          
           
               
                 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 EP0 411 224 A2 
                 February 2, 1991 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 WO91/02202 
                 February 21, 1991 
                 Richard 
               
               
                   
                 WO91/02203 
                 February 21, 1991 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 WO91/09521 
                 July 11, 1991 
                 Richard 
               
               
                   
                 WO92/16800 
                 October 1, 1992 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 WO93/03891 
                 March 4, 1993 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 JP4-507,283 
                 December 17, 1992 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 JP6-509,782 
                 November 2, 1994 
                 Knippscheer, et al. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The several patents to Knippscheer, et al. teach the use of a storage device for cryoprotecting thermolabile products including means for selectively extracting certain products upon demand. All these prior art teachings can be collectively characterized as requiring complex mechanical mechanisms whose moving components are required to perform reliably at a temperature in which liquid nitrogen is intended to be present. Because relative motion of mechanical implements is described, maintenance, repair and lubrication of the implements and reliability at such low temperatures is a grave concern. The instant invention is distinguished over the Knippscheer, et al. patents, inter alia, in that no moving components have drive mechanisms that contact or operate directly in the liquid nitrogen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention solves the problems which plague the prior art in a multiplicity of ways. The instant invention provides a sealed dewar having a series of annular racks, preferably cylindrical in configuration and concentrically disposed therewithin. Each of the racks is maintained in a fixed position with respect to peripheral walls of the dewar. Liquid nitrogen covers the racks. Each annular rack is separated one from the other by an annular passageway. The annular passageways provide access to the racks and therefore to thermolabile products which are stored in the racks. 
     Head space is provided between a surface of the liquid nitrogen and an uppermost extremity of the dewar. The head space is provided with nitrogen gas to form a gas cap to continue maintaining a low temperature. An access portal is also located above the liquid level to communicate with the ambient conditions. 
     The upper extremity of the dewar is closed. The enclosure may include the following structure. First, the overlying enclosure is sealed. Specifically, a lid overlies the topmost extremity of the dewar. This lid prevents the nitrogen gas from escaping and provides a thermal barrier. Insulation is also provided in the lid. Thus, the lid provides a barrier to prevent both heat and ambient moisture contained in air from migrating into the dewar. 
     Second, the enclosure provides a support structure for a robotic arm drive mechanism. A robotic arm connects to the drive mechanism and extends through the lid to access the racks and the thermolabile products contained in the racks via the annular passageways. The robotic arm can move to selected sites in the racks and transfer thermolabile products from the racks to the access portal located on the lid and back. The robotic arm also includes an indexing mechanism which initializes and orients the arm with respect to its position vis-a-vis a reference, which perhaps is fixed in the dewar. The robotic arm includes means for reading indicia either contained on an exposed surface of the thermolabile product, or on a holder which encapsulates the thermolabile product. The robotic arm transmits that information from the thermolabile product or holder to a remote reading and memory site. The desirability of orienting and indexing of the robotic arm, coupled with its remote reading and memory capability increases the likelihood that only the desired thermolabile product is extracted from the dewar. In the case of insertion of the thermolabile product into the dewar, the storage address of the thermolabile product will be known. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new, novel and useful method and apparatus for cryogenic storage of thermolabile products. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which is extremely durable in construction, safe to use, and lends itself to mass production. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above in which the extreme low temperature operating environment is below all moving machinery associated therewith for added reliability and freedom from maintenance problems. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above in which thermolabile products that are stored at cryogenic temperatures can be delegated to a specific address in the storage device and remain there until subsequently needed. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above in which each thermolabile product contained in storage is first scanned for verification purposes to increase the likelihood that only the correct product is being removed from storage so as to prevent unwanted temperature excursions, particularly temperature elevations, of the product. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above in which each thermolabile product contained in storage is first scanned prior to removal to increase the likelihood that only the correct product is being removed from storage so as to minimize any physical disturbance of the product until such removal is desired. 
     Viewed from a first vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for cryopreserving a thermolabile product, comprising, in combination: a dewar, a lid sealing the dewar, a cryogenic liquid in the dewar, ullage between a top of the liquid and the lid, a portal passing through the apparatus to insert the product therethrough, robotic arm means on said apparatus for passing the product in and out of the portal, and a freezer module overlying the portal. 
     Viewed from a second vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for storing thermolabile products, the steps including: scanning an identity of a product to be stored, loading the product into a deployment module, inserting the module into a freezer/storage device, controlling a temperature profile of the product to conform to an exemplar by modifying a heat transfer rate of the product, storing the product by removal of the product from the module and noting the location of the product. 
     Viewed from a third vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a canister for receiving a thermolabile product, comprising, in combination: a receiver to accept the product, a door on the receiver to occlude and protect the product when the door is deployed, attachment means to be releasably engaged by a robotic arm, and indicia on the canister readable by means on the robotic arm to correlate with the product. 
     These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic depiction of the system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one component, the liquid nitrogen storage unit, isolated from its environment showing further detail. 
     FIG. 3 greater detail of the liquid nitrogen storage unit in combination with a controlled rate freezing unit. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view partially fragmented showing a detail of the rack and dewar 
     FIG. 4A reflects a detail of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is active view similar to FIG. 3 but from a different elevation. 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing greater detail. 
     FIG. 7 is a partially fragmented perspective view of a storage rack removed from the dewar. 
     FIG. 7A details a fragment of FIG. 7 showing vertical tiers of a canister holding projections. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmented top view depiction of the storage rack and a robotic arm for deployment and retrieval of canisters within the dewar. 
     FIG. 9 is perspective view of retention projections used to retain canisters within the dewar. 
     FIGS. 10A through 10D are perspective views of the canister and canister elements. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic depiction of a robotic arm addressing the canister. 
     FIG. 12 is a front view of a bag deployed within the canister of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is view of FIG. 11 showing an upper end of the periscope robotic arm receiving information from the canister. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the freezer module and its orientation adjacent a minor lid the system in order to deploy a canister into the dewar. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the freezer module of FIG. 14, with one door removed to expose interior detail. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the freezer control module deployed in the dewar allowing controlled rate freezing. 
     FIG. 17 is a graph exemplifying one freezing profile according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals denote like parts throughout the various figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to the apparatus according to the present invention. 
     In essence, and as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  includes a liquid nitrogen storage unit  20  within which storage racks  90  (FIG. 2) are deployed. A topmost portion of the storage unit includes a controlled rate freezing unit  100  that consists of a freezer module  220 , a control module  360  and a robotic arm and periscope  60 . The control module  360  monitors the environment associated with the liquid nitrogen storage unit. The freezer module  220  controls the rate at which product is decreased in temperature prior to storage in the liquid nitrogen storage unit  20  and also receives product from the liquid nitrogen storage unit  20  for retrieval. This freezer module  220  is driven by a computer  320  as is the robotic arm and periscope  60  for locating product within the liquid nitrogen storage unit  20  and retrieval. The computer  320  downloads to the freezer module  220  the profile of a temperature curve (e.g., FIG.  17 ), and freezer module  220  controls the downward temperature excursion of the product prior to its journey towards storage. The computer  320  also maintains a complete record as will be described. In addition, a bar code scanner  300  is associated with the computer  320  to read the identity of the product contained within a bag  180  (FIG. 12) which holds the product. A printer  310  is included which generates a label  202  (FIG. 13) for use on a canister  110  which ensconces the product and bag  180  prior to its deployment within the liquid nitrogen storage unit  20 . More particularly, and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid nitrogen storage unit  20  consists of a dewar  22  having first and second spaced parallel walls (an outer wall  22   a  and an inner wall  22   b ) held in spaced concentric relationship and provided with a vacuum therebetween. Insulation may also be disposed between the inner and outer walls  22   b ,  22   a . A bottom wall  22   c  completes the dewar  22  to define an open topped blind bore. The bottom wall  22   c  is supported on a platform  24  which includes a plurality of casters  26  on a bottom surface thereof so that the device  20  can be easily moved from one site to another. Handles  28  (FIG. 2) facilitate the ability of the liquid nitrogen storage unit  20  to be moved from site to site in conjunction with the casters  26  and platform  24 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary portion of the dewar  22  enlarged (compared to FIG. 2) to reveal a radially extending lip  25  of the rack  90  overlying a top edge  21  of the dewar  22 . The lip  25  suspends the rack  90  in the dewar. Recesses  91  are located strategically around the rack  90  adjacent the lip  25  each to receive a hook  93  so that the rack  90  can be removed from the dewar in its entirety including plural canisters  110  retained on projections  104  as will be described. 
     FIG. 4A shows bolts  2  used to fix the rack lip  25  to the dewar top edge  21 . A kill switch  4 , protected by a casing  6  and a flap  8  disables motors  42 ,  52  and  80  as well as linear actuator threaded rod  66  should an operator want to override the computer driving robotic device  60 . 
     FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5  and  6  reflect structure of a major lid  40  that occludes an open top of the dewar  22  and overlies rack lip  25 . As shown in FIG. 3, the major lid  40  moves about the double-ended arrow “A”. This is accomplished by a drive motor and gear head assembly  42  shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . In essence, the motor  42  has a gear  43  on an output shaft which meshes with corresponding teeth  44  on a periphery of the major lid  40 . The motor  42  is preferably mounted on rack lip  25  or could mount to dewar edge  21  or on a support flange. A series of pressure rollers  46  engage the periphery of the lid  40  to discourage wandering and excessive play by the lid. Alternatively, the drive motor and gear head assembly  42  can also use a roller in lieu of the gear arrangement if desired to drive the lid  40 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressure rollers  46  are mounted on a top lip  25  of the rack  90  but could also mount on dewar top edge  21  or on a support flange. An overlying gantry post P (FIG. 5) supports cable for the freezer unit. 
     FIGS. 3,  5  and  6  also illustrate a minor lid  50  supported by a ring  55  on the major lid  40 , but offset from a geometric center of the major lid  40 . The lid  50  moves about the direction of the double-ended arrow “B”. The minor lid  50  includes a minor lid motor  52  disposed on the minor lid  50  and having a gear output that drives teeth  54  carried on the ring  55  of the major lid  40 . 
     The minor lid  50  supports the robotic arm and periscope  60 . A free end  61  of the periscope  60  extends within the interior of the dewar  22  defining a robotic arm. The periscope  60  is supported on the minor lid  50  by means of a mast  70 . The mast  70  includes triangulating braces  72  emanating from brace  64  for stability. The triangulating braces  72  terminate on a top surface of the minor lid  50  which includes horizontal braces  74  fixed on the minor lid  50 . The periscope  60  is carried on the mast  70  via an elevator cage  62  which allows the periscope  60  to travel vertically along the double-ended arrows “C” of FIG.  3 . The elevator cage  62  is enabled by a linear actuator  66  to allow the vertical travel along the direction of the double-ended arrow “C”. Preferably the linear actuator is a threaded rod  66  passing through a complementally threaded bore of the elevator cage  62 . Rotation of the threaded rod  66  causes the cage  62  to travel up or down. 
     In addition to pure vertical travel along the direction of the arrow “C”, the periscope  60  is also capable of rotation about the double-ended arrow “D” shown in FIG.  3 . More specifically, a periscope motor  80  is mounted on the elevator cage  62  which moves with the periscope  60  up and down as just described. In addition, the periscope motor  80  includes a gear drive that coacts with a peripheral gear on the periscope  60  to effect the rotation along the double-ended arrow “D”. 
     The periscope  60 , by virtue of its connection to the periscope motor  80  via its gear drive, the linear actuator  66  and rotation of both the minor lid  50  and major lid  40  accesses the interior of the dewar  22  with a great degree of precision. These different degrees of freedom for the periscope allow it to access all locations in the storage racks contained within the dewar. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7,  7 A,  8  and  9 , the storage racks  92 ,  94 ,  96  are unitary  90  and can be removed and placed within the dewar  22  as a unit  90  as discussed with regard to the hook  93  and recesses  91  of FIG.  4 . The storage rack  90  comprises a series of annular, cylindrical towers oriented in concentric relationship. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, an outermost annular tower  92  receives therewithin an inner cylindrical tower  94  that has, in abutting registry, a core annular tower  96  (FIG. 8) disposed therewithin. Core tower  96  circumscribes a central cylindrical void  103  to allow the robotic arm/periscope  60  access thereat, as does annular void  105  expose towers  92  and  94  to arm  60 . The rack  90  is formed with an outer skin  95  that supports the lip  25  at its topmost extremity. Skin  95  is cylindrical. Peripheral bands  102  are fixed to the skin and project inwardly. Bands  102  support projections  104 . Collectively the skin  95 , band  102  and projections  104  define outermost annular tower  92 . 
     FIG. 7 shows that on a bottom portion of the rack  90  a peripheral frame  98  communicates with a central core frame  88  by radiating ribs  86 . A center area  103  of the core remains hollow. Mesh  84  is placed at the bottom wall of the rack  90  between the ribs  86  that extend between the central core  88  and the peripheral frame  98 . Mesh  84  also spans the inner periphery of core frame  88 . The purpose of the mesh (or perforations) is to decrease the rate at which the liquid nitrogen drains from the rack  90  should it be necessary to move the rack to another dewar. In such an event, hooks  93  are used to lift rack  90 . A thermal blanket can drape the rack  90  in such an event to retain cold. 
     Ribs  86  and core  88  support towers  94  and  96 . A common skin  97  extends between towers  94  and  96 . Both the inner and outer surfaces of common skin  97  support their peripheral bands  102  which in turn supports projection  104 . Please see FIGS. 7,  7 A,  8  and  9 . 
     In essence, and as shown in FIGS. 4,  7 ,  7 A,  8  and  9  all towers are integrally formed with a plurality of projections  104  extending throughout each tower to allow the slideable insertion thereof of the product, especially when the product is encapsulated by a canister  110  to be described. The projections  104  are densely spaced next to each other with sufficient clearance therebetween to accommodate the canister  110 . Please see FIG.  7 A. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, product and the canister  110  are loaded along the direction of the several arrows “E”. FIG. 8 also shows the periscope/robotic arm  60  at its free end  61 , located within the dewar  22  supporting a canister  110  and addressing the storage racks  90 . FIG. 9 reflects details of plural projections  104  one of which is to receive one canister  110  per projection as will be described. The projections  104  are located all along the height and periphery  102  of each tower to receive product as suggested by arrow “E”. Clearances  103  and  105  for the robotic arm/periscope  60  allows the canisters to be received on the projections  104 . The projections have a tapered leading end  104   a  that leads to a rectangular section  104   b  for reliable attachment to the canister  110 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 10A through 10D the canister  110  is shown. The canister  110  is formed from two halves which are hinged together, one half is shown in FIG.  10 C and another half in FIG.  10 D. The half  112  shown in FIG. 10C includes a first planar wall  114  with a peripheral bottom wall  116 , a side wall  118  and at top wall  120  forming a tray like structure having one side wall deleted. A corner  157  between bottom wall  116  and side wall  118  has been truncated. The edge  122  remote from side wall  118  has a slight curve leading towards both the top and bottom walls  120 ,  116 . Both the top wall  120  and the bottom wall  116  (adjacent the “rolled” edge  122 ) include first and second holes  124  to receive a hinge  127  shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. These holes  124  coact with holes  144  on the canister half  142  shown in FIG.  10 D. 
     The planar wall  114  includes three upwardly extending raised portions  126  to precisely locate the product (described later) in a fixed position within the canister  110 . The bottom wall  116  and top wall  120  each include pips  128  which project towards the planar wall  114  to frictionally engage complementally formed recesses  148  on the other half  142 . The side wall  118  includes a recess  130  to serve as a purchase area so that one can project one&#39;s finger therein to open the canister  110 . The top wall  120  includes a central interruption where the wall  114  extends upwardly beyond the top wall  120 , the wall extension  132  communicating with a raised wall  134  parallel to the top wall  120 , but extending upwardly by a gap defined by the dimension of the wall extension  132 . A rolled edge  136  projects downwardly towards the top wall  120  and parallel to the wall extension. Raised wall  134  includes a downwardly distressed portion  138  formed from resilient spring like material that serves as a friction catch  138  allowing secure retention on the projection  104  (FIG. 9) of the storage rack  90  just described. Rolled edge  136  assures that the projection  104  securely retains the canister  110  thereon and that the canister  110  will not shift laterally. When inserting the canister  110  on to a projection  104 , the spring tension of the downwardly distressed portion  138  frictionally captures the projection  104  positively until the canister  110  is subsequently removed. 
     The other half  142  of the canister  110 , shown in FIG. 10D, includes a second planar wall  154 , a top wall  150  and a bottom wall  146 . As mentioned, these top and bottom walls  146  and  150  include the holes  144  for the hinge  127  and also the holes  148  to receive the pips  128 . In addition, an edge  152  adjacent the hinge (corresponding to edge  122 ) has a rolled contour facing up towards the top and bottom walls  150 ,  146 . The edge opposite edge  152  includes an extension  156  running only a short distance down planar wall  154  from wall  150 . Extension  156  raises a side wall  158  away from its counterpart  118  of FIG. 10C. A return  160  depends back towards its counterpart  118  and, as shown in FIG. 10A, has a length sufficient to frictionally contact the side wall  118  to provide a positive closure when the canister  110  is in the FIG. 10A closed position. Similar to FIG. 10C, FIG. 10D includes oval raised portions  126  projecting up from planar wall  154  to precisely locate the product in the canister  110 . In addition, wall  154  includes a hole  162  allowing a temperature sensor (to be described) to project into the canister to monitor the temperature of the product as the temperature descends during controlled rate freezing. The return  160  in conjunction with the wall  158  and the wall  118  also serves as a passageway  170  (FIG. 10A) for the assembled canister  110  to allow a canister hook  172 , FIG. 11 (located on the free end  61  of robotic arm/periscope  60 ), to pass therein in order to transport the canister  110  within the dewar  22  as will be described. 
     Referring to FIG. 12, the product bag  180  is shown. The product bag includes a main compartment  182  and a minor compartment  184 . Typically, eighty percent of the volume is contained in the main compartment  182  with the remaining twenty percent in the minor compartment. The product bag  180  is of substantially rectangular shape and an area of demarcation  186  defined as a recess provides the division between the major compartment and the minor compartment. This recess  186  is dimensioned to straddle the canister raised portion  126   a  which is perpendicular to the other two. This will precisely locate the major compartment over the hole  162  so that a temperature probe can access the temperature of the product within the bag  180  and therefore monitor its decrease in temperature in a manner to be described. Bag  180  also includes two ports  188  separated from each other by a void  190 . This void is also straddled by a raised portion  126   b  that is closest raised portion  126   a . The remaining raised portion  126   c  locates the bag  180  precisely by its juxtaposition to a recess  192  which spans between one inboard port  188   a  and fluidic column  194  which projects out of the bag. Column  194  includes an elbow  196  leading at a right angle to a linear section  198  that overlies inboard port  188   a . In other words, it is preferred that the bag  180  only be inserted into the canister  110  in one orientation so that the hole  162  in the canister  110  can address only the main compartment  182 . This increases the precision in following a cooling regimen because the temperature probe is monitoring the largest volume in the bag  180  at its centerpoint. 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, the periscope and robotic arm  60  includes an elongate cylindrical column preferably hollow and filled either with a gas such as nitrogen or drawn with a vacuum to promote optical clarity and minimize condensation or other opacity. At topmost portion of the periscope includes a lens and a bar code reader  200  which receives information with respect to a bar code label  202  located on the canister  110  overlying an outer surface of wall  158 . The free end  61  of the periscope  60  includes an optical portal  204  located preferably near a canister hook  172  of FIG.  11 . It is preferred that a source of light  207 , preferably an LED or perhaps a laser be adjacent the portal  204 . Thus, the bar code label  202 , being located on the canister receiver  170 , will address the light  207  and portal  204  after the canister hook  172  of the free end  61  lodges in the receiver  170 . Note that a face of the hook  172  which faces the portal  204  has its own distinctive bar code  202   a . When the canister hook  172  has nested within the receiver  170  on the canister  110 , the portal  204  and light  207  will no longer address the bar code  202   a  of the hook, but instead will scan a bar code label  202  as shown in FIG.  13  and transmit the information up the periscope tube  60  and to the lens and bar code reader  200 . This feature provides positive feedback that the canister  110  is properly secured on the hook  172 . Thus, light  201  from LED  207  passes through a portal  204  reflects on bar code  202  (or  202   a ) and is then diverted via a mirror  206  at a bottom portion of the free end  61  of the periscope  60 , to then reflect back light  201  (modified by the bar code identity) to the lens and reader assembly  200 . 
     FIGS. 14 through 16 depict a manner in which the canister and its product are inserted into the dewar through the freezer module  220 . As shown in FIG. 14, a port  222  passes through the minor lid  50 . When the freezer module  220  is not deployed there, an insulative plug is placed in its stead. The freezer module  220  includes a lower portion provided with retention plates  224  which open about hinges  226  on both sides thereof allowing access to the canister  110  contained therewithin. Notice how a mitered corner  228  corresponds to the truncated corner  157  of the canister  110 . This is one way of assuring proper orientation of the canister  110  within the control module  220 . FIG. 14 also depicts a fan  230 . Details of the interior of the control module  220 , under the retention plates  224 , are explored in FIG.  15 . Each of the retention plates hold the canister  110 , act as doors  224  and include side walls  224   a  and a bottom wall  224   b . Two side walls  224   a  are shown on opposite sides of one door  224  in FIG.  15 . Clearance is provided in one side wall  224   a  for a fan  230  that draws cold nitrogen gas through flow channels ( 224   c  of FIG. 16) to pass over the canister  110 . A temperature measuring device  232  mounted on one or both of the doors  224  passes its probe into the canister  110  through the hole  162  provided on the canister  110  and discussed hereinabove for monitoring the temperature profile of the main compartment  182  of the bag  180 . The probes of the temperature measuring device  232  monitors the temperature excursion of the product within the bag  180  until the product has conformed to an illustrative curve in FIG. 17 which corresponds to a preferred freeze profile illustrative of a preferred model for white stem cells. The probe also partially supports the canister  110  in conjunction with bottom walls  224   b . Only after the periscope hook  172  supports the canister  110  by its receiver  170 , as signaled by the change in the bar code (from  202   a  to  202 ) will the doors will surrender the canister  110  to the periscope  60 . 
     As shown in FIG. 17, because there is cryoprotectant mixed in with the white stem cells, the freezing temperature is about −20° C. (the super cooling region). This is an area where greater time should be allowed for the phase change of the product since gentle cooling at that time is most beneficial to prevent the formation of ice crystals which can injure the contents within the bag  180 . During the cooling process, the fan&#39;s speed operates at a rate which can be varied in order to have the time profile of FIG. 17 become optimized. The cold nitrogen vapor  224   c  depicted flowing in FIG. 16 finally lowers the temperature of the product in the bag  180  to approximately −50° C. at which point the fan  230  stops, hook  172  supports canister  110  and the doors  224  open. 
     Referring again to FIG. 15, each door  224  includes an apertured post  240  on an inner surface which receives a leg of a coil spring  242  passing through the aperture. The spring  242  is biased such that the doors want to stay in the closed position. Once the freezer module  220  has determined, via the temperature measuring device  232 , that the appropriate temperature has been reached, a command is sent to a solenoid  244  located in freezer module  220  which in turn activates a plunger  246  that causes a bearing  248  located at an extremity of the plunger  246  remote from the solenoid  244  to operate against a bearing surface  250  to force the doors  224  open against the pressure of the spring  242 . Because the canister  110  is now retained by the projection hook  172  on the periscope  60 , it removes the canister by motion in the direction of the arrow “F” away from the controlled rate freezer module  220  and seeks a location in the storage racks  90  as set forth hereinabove. 
     In use and operation, a bag  180  of the product is delivered to the system  10  of FIG.  1 . The bag  180  (FIG. 12) is provided with a bar code label  202 . A bar code scanner  300  reads the label  202 . The bar code label printer  310  prints a corresponding label for the canister  110 . The operator verifies the correspondence between the printed label of both the canister  110  and the bag  180 . The computer  320  (after an approved operator has logged on and provided an access password) notes the desire to place a bag  180  now contained within the canister  110  into the system  10 . A controlled rate freezer module  220  accepts the canister  110  with the product and bag  180  loaded and ready to go. Once the freezer module  220  is inserted through the minor lid  50  of the dewar  22 , a temperature profile specific to the product being frozen is selected by the operator and downloaded from the computer to the controlled rate freezer module  220 . Note the electrical connection  252  (FIG. 15) which allows the freezer module  220  to communicate to the computer  320 . Next, the cooling process begins until complete. Next, the periscope  60  addresses the canister  110  within the freezer module  220 , access having been gained before the freezer module doors  224  are opened. The hook  172  on the periscope  60  engages the canister  110 . The reading head  204  of the periscope  60  corresponds the bar code back  202  to the computer  320 . So long as the periscope is reading the correct bar code  202  (and not its own code  202   a ) the doors  224  open. The computer then directs the periscope to a location within the dewar  22  and records a specific address for that canister within the storage rack  90 . The periscope  60  deploys the canister  110  on a projection  104  of the storage rack  90 . The canister  110  and product within the bag  180  hereby safely maintained. 
     A control module  360  (FIG. 2) located on the dewar  22  monitors the temperature within the dewar  22 , perhaps the vacuum between the spaced walls  22   a ,  22   b  and the liquid level of the nitrogen. The control module  360  includes a standby power source P should there be a power interruption. The control module  360  includes an alarm L if there is an undesirable temperature excursion, a loss of liquid nitrogen or a problem with the vacuum between the walls of the dewar. The control module  360  can replenish the liquid nitrogen via a valve V in fluid communication with a source of nitrogen (not shown) if needed. 
     Moreover, having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims.