Heating and cooling system for biological materials

Abstract

A method of cooling a biological material includes providing a vessel. The vessel includes a generally vertical inner wall disposed at an inner radius from a vertically disposed center axis. The generally vertical inner wall defines in part an interior volume. A medium including a biological material is provided. A plurality of heat transfer surfaces is positioned within the interior volume. Each of the plurality of heat transfer surfaces is oriented generally vertically through the interior volume. Each of the heat transfer surfaces is arranged such that it does not extend into the portion of the interior volume defined by a distance from the center axis greater than 90% of the inner radius. The medium is introduced into the vessel. A heat transfer fluid is circulated through the plurality of heat transfer surfaces. The heat transfer surfaces conduct heat out of the medium.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for uniformly heating and cooling a material, particularly a biological material such as a biopharmaceutical product. [0002] Biological materials such as biopharmaceutical products are typically frozen for long periods of time for storage and then thawed for later use. The speed and uniformity of the freezing and thawing processes must be controlled properly. If the freezing or thawing is too slow, the active material may be subject to degradation from concentration gradients. These problems can be exacerbated by compartmentalization of the material that is freezing or thawing. Overall, uneven freezing and thawing can lead to less uniformity in the active material and challenges in properly mixing it during the freeze and thaw processes. An additional problem is that the materials best suited for contact with biological materials have relatively poor heat transfer properties. [0003] Typically, vessels used to hea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The system of the present invention is capable of minimizing the thickness of the ice formed on the cooling surfaces and reducing the compartmentalization of the medium when compared to prior art systems. Additionally, in various embodiments the system of the present invention provides increases distance between the heat transfer surfaces and the inner wall of the vessel compared to prior art systems, thus minimizing the risks of collision damage during removal and insertion of the heat transfer surfaces.

Problems solved by technology

If the freezing or thawing is too slow, the active material may be subject to degradation from concentration gradients.

These problems can be exacerbated by compartmentalization of the material that is freezing or thawing.

Overall, uneven freezing and thawing can lead to less uniformity in the active material and challenges in properly mixing it during the freeze and thaw processes.

An additional problem is that the materials best suited for contact with biological materials have relatively poor heat transfer properties.

The attachment of the structure inside the container can make cleaning and decontaminating the container more difficult.

Additionally, it may be more difficult to manufacture the system because, for example, tighter tolerances may be required so that the fin can be attached to two surfaces within the container, and each fin may require two or more welded joints.

Furthermore, it may be inconvenient, costly, or impossible for fins made of certain materials to be welded to a container.

This design has some difficulties.

Analysis of this design (described below in the Examples section) indicates that it is inefficient, particularly toward the later stages of freezing.

There are large distances between the active heat transfer surfaces.

Additionally, the fins in the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,296 are very close to the vessel walls, which increases the chance of damaging the vessel or the fins during cleaning or disassembly of the vessel.

Further, the fins create compartmentalization of material which can detract from uniform cooling and heating and present challenges in mixing such material.

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