Patent ID: 8176747

Claim:
An automated, ultra-low temperature sample storage and retrieval system comprising: a freezer body having an ultra-low temperature, insulated compartment that is maintained at an ultra-low temperature from about −50° C. to −90° C. under normal operating conditions when biological or chemical samples are being stored in the ultra-low temperature compartment; at least one freezer rack having trays for storing sample storage containers holding biological or chemical samples, wherein at least some of the sample storage containers are tube racks which hold sealed tubes containing biological or chemical samples; a robot located within the ultra-low temperature freezer compartment for transporting storage sample containers within the freezer compartment; an access module for introducing sample storage containers into the ultra-low temperature freezer compartment and for retrieving storage containers from the ultra-low temperature freezer compartment; and a tube picking mechanism located within a tube picking chamber, there being a shuttle door which provides access when open between the tube picking chamber and the ultra-low temperature storage compartment within the freezer, the tube picking mechanism comprising: a shuttle for moving tube storage racks through the shuttle door from the ultra-low temperature freezer compartment into the tube picking chamber and vice versa; a tube gripper head having a pair of fingers that is able to grip and lift a single tube from a receptacle in a tube rack located on the shuttle; and a cache having storage tube receptacles located within the tube picking chamber for temporarily holding a plurality of storage tubes within the tube picking chamber.