Patent ID: 6910317

Claim:
A system configured to seal at least one ampoule of a plurality of ampoules with a sample housed therein, in dry fashion, which is capable of melt-sealing glass ampoules with a microorganism containing sample housed therein with the ampoules put at a desired temperature and in an atmosphere under a desired degree of evacuation so that the sample has a moisture content thereof lowered in the atmosphere, the system comprising: an airtight chamber defining an opening configured to be airtightly closable by a cover; and a vacuum pump configured to bring the airtight chamber into the atmosphere under the desired degree of evacuation; wherein the airtight chamber comprises: an ampoule holder configured to hold the ampoules in an upright position so that open upper portions of the ampoules face upward; a stage, on which the ampoule holder is disposed; a melt-sealing unit configured to melt-seal the ampoule; a transfer unit configured to grasp the ampoule held in the ampoule holder and to transfer the ampoule to the melt-sealing unit, and configured to grasp the ampoule melt-sealed at the melt-sealing unit and to transfer the melt-sealed ampoule to the ampoule holder to be held therein; and a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the stage.