A stem cell cryostrorage rack

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of stem cell cryopreservation rack, belong to biomedical low temperature preservation technical field;Including: freezer box body, still include: rotary storage subassembly, rotary storage subassembly is movably arranged in the inside of freezer box body by bearing;Storage power component, storage power component is arranged in the lower wall of freezer box body and the rotation of storage power component and rotary storage subassembly is connected;Storage isolation component, storage isolation component is arranged in the inside of freezer box body;The device solves the core pain point that traditional cryopreservation equipment stores and accesses when temperature fluctuation is big, operation is complicated, reaches the effect that sample survival rate is promoted, energy consumption is reduced and artificial cost is saved;Overall design integrates preservation, access and isolation function into one, while ensuring low temperature stability, greatly improves operating speed, applicable to laboratory and clinical large-scale application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of biomedical cryopreservation technology, specifically relating to a stem cell cryopreservation rack. Background Technology

[0002] Stem cell cryopreservation is a key biotechnology used to preserve stem cells long-term to maintain their activity and function, and it has wide applications in regenerative medicine, drug development, and clinical treatment. The core challenge in this field lies in maintaining a stable environment at extremely low temperatures, avoiding temperature fluctuations that could lead to ice crystal formation or cell damage, thereby ensuring the long-term survival rate of the samples.

[0003] For example, a stem cell cryopreservation rack with announcement number CN 211703399 U has a guide rail with several layers and a carrying plate on top of the guide rail, which can slide back and forth on the guide rail. By changing the position of the spacer, this technical solution can accommodate cryopreservation boxes of different sizes, thereby improving the ease of use.

[0004] While the aforementioned technical solutions can preserve cryopreservation boxes of different sizes, several problems still exist in traditional stem cell cryopreservation racks: First, retrieving samples often requires opening the entire cryopreservation box, causing drastic temperature fluctuations, which not only wastes energy but may also cause irreversible damage to the samples; second, manual operation is dominant, requiring operators to directly contact the low-temperature environment, which is not only inefficient but also introduces the risk of contamination; in addition, existing equipment lacks intelligent management, and sample positioning relies on manual memory, which is prone to misplacement or loss, making it difficult to meet the needs of high-throughput research. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a stem cell cryopreservation rack, comprising: a cryopreservation box body, and further comprising: a rotating storage assembly, which is movably disposed inside the cryopreservation box body via bearings; a storage power assembly, which is disposed on the lower wall of the cryopreservation box body and connected to the rotating part of the rotating storage assembly; a storage isolation assembly, which is disposed inside the cryopreservation box body; and an automatic storage and retrieval assembly, which is disposed inside the cryopreservation box body and outside the storage isolation assembly; the rotating storage assembly comprises: a rotating main shaft, which is movably disposed inside the cryopreservation box body via sealed bearings; a rotating base, which is fixedly disposed outside the rotating main shaft; a rotating top frame, which is disposed on the upper wall of the rotating main shaft body and has a plurality of test tube placement slots; and a plurality of storage limiting bases, which are respectively disposed on the upper wall of the rotating base body body, and the plurality of storage limiting bases correspond one-to-one with the test tube placement slots of the rotating top frame.

[0006] Preferably, the storage power assembly includes: a power motor disposed on the lower wall of the freezer body; and a power reducer, the input end of which is connected to the power motor, and the output end of which is connected to the rotating main shaft.

[0007] Preferably, the storage isolation component includes: two isolation fixing plates, which are respectively disposed on the inner wall surface of the freezer body, and a storage and access gap is left between the two isolation fixing plates; and an electric isolation door, which is disposed on the inner wall surface of the freezer body, and the electric isolation door is located in the storage and access gap between the two isolation fixing plates.

[0008] Preferably, the automatic storage and retrieval assembly includes: an automatic storage and retrieval rotating disk located inside the freezer body; an automatic storage and retrieval telescopic rod disposed on the upper wall of the automatic storage and retrieval rotating disk; and an electromechanical clamp disposed at the drive end of the automatic storage and retrieval telescopic rod.

[0009] Preferably, the outer end of the freezer box is provided with a sealed sliding door.

[0010] Preferably, the lower wall of the freezer body is provided with a height-increasing bracket.

[0011] Preferably, the test tube placement slots of several of the rotating top frames are provided with test tube clamping protrusions.

[0012] Preferably, the rear end of the freezer body is provided with an observation window.

[0013] Preferably, the inner wall of the freezer box is provided with an insulation layer.

[0014] Preferably, the upper wall of the freezer box is equipped with a refrigeration unit.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the stem cell cryopreservation rack of this utility model has the following advantages: it solves the core pain points of traditional cryopreservation equipment, such as large temperature fluctuations and cumbersome operation, and achieves the effects of improving sample survival rate, reducing energy consumption and saving labor costs. The overall design integrates preservation, retrieval and isolation functions, which greatly improves the operation speed while ensuring low temperature stability, and is suitable for large-scale laboratory and clinical applications.

[0016] This device solves the problems of low sample storage space utilization and inaccurate positioning by using a rotating storage component, achieving orderly storage and rapid retrieval. The rotating design allows for dense arrangement of test tubes, saving space; precise rotation control ensures that each test tube position can be quickly aligned, reducing addressing time.

[0017] This device solves the problem of temperature fluctuations caused by cold air leakage during storage and retrieval by storing and isolating components, achieving the effects of local isolation and energy saving. The electric door opens and closes quickly, forming a sealed space with the fixed plate, improving temperature stability by more than 50% compared to traditional equipment.

[0018] This device solves the problems of contamination and low efficiency associated with manual operation through its automated storage and retrieval components, achieving aseptic operation and high throughput. The flexible mechanical clamps prevent damage to test tubes, and the automated sequence reduces storage and retrieval time to the second level, minimizing human error. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the first overall structure of the stem cell cryopreservation rack provided by this utility model; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the second overall structure of the stem cell cryopreservation rack provided by this utility model; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the stem cell cryopreservation rack provided by this utility model; Figure 4 A partial structural schematic diagram of the stem cell cryopreservation rack provided by this utility model; in, Figures 1 to 4 The attached diagram and components of the stem cell cryopreservation rack are as follows: 1. Cryostat body; 2. Rotating spindle; 3. Rotating base; 4. Rotating top shelf; 5. Storage limiting base; 6. Power motor; 7. Power reducer; 8. Isolation fixing plate; 9. Electric isolation door; 10. Automatic storage and retrieval rotating disk; 11. Automatic storage and retrieval telescopic rod; 12. Electromechanical clamp; 13. Sealed sliding door; 14. Test tube clamping protrusion; 15. Observation window. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following are specific implementation cases and appendices. Figures 1-4This invention provides a further description of the present invention, but it is not limited to these embodiments. The present invention provides a technical solution: a stem cell cryopreservation rack, comprising: a cryopreservation chamber 1, and multiple functional components: a rotating storage component, a storage power component, a storage isolation component, and an automatic storage and retrieval component. The rotating storage component is movably mounted inside the cryopreservation chamber 1 via bearings and is used for rotating and storing stem cell tubes. The storage power component is located on the lower wall of the cryopreservation chamber 1 and is connected to the rotating part of the rotating storage component to provide a stable rotational driving force, specifically including a motor and a transmission gear system. The storage isolation component is located inside the cryopreservation chamber 1 and is used to separate different storage areas and maintain temperature uniformity, preventing cross-contamination of samples. The automatic storage and retrieval component is located inside the cryopreservation chamber 1 and outside the storage isolation component, used for automatically retrieving and placing test tubes, and may include a robotic arm and a position sensor. The rotating storage component specifically includes a rotating main shaft 2, a rotating base 3, a rotating top frame 4, and several storage limiting bases 5. The rotating main shaft 2 is movably mounted inside the cryopreservation chamber 1 via sealed bearings, serving as the core support for rotation. A rotating base 3 is fixedly mounted on the outside of the rotating main shaft 2, providing a stable bottom platform. A rotating top frame 4 is mounted on the upper wall of the rotating main shaft 2, with several test tube placement slots, each slot precisely accommodating a test tube. Several storage restraint bases 5 are respectively mounted on the upper wall of the rotating base 3, corresponding one-to-one with the test tube placement slots of the rotating top frame 4, used to fix the bottom position of the test tubes. In addition, the outer end of the cryogenic chamber 1 is equipped with a sealed sliding door 13 for easy manual or automatic storage and retrieval. The lower wall of the cryogenic chamber 1 is equipped with a height-increasing bracket to raise the height of the equipment for easy maintenance of the bottom components. The test tube placement slots of the rotating top frames 4 are equipped with test tube clamping protrusions 14 for elastically clamping the test tubes to prevent movement. The rear end of the cryogenic chamber 1 is equipped with an observation window 15 for real-time monitoring of the internal status. The inner wall of the cryogenic chamber 1 is equipped with an insulation layer to enhance heat insulation performance and maintain a constant low-temperature environment. The upper wall of the cryogenic chamber 1 is equipped with a refrigerator to continuously provide low-temperature freezing conditions to ensure the stability of stem cell preservation.

[0021] As a preferred option, the power components include: a power motor 6, which is a high-efficiency DC motor, installed on the lower wall of the freezer body 1 and fixed with bolts to ensure structural stability; and a power reducer 7, which adopts a planetary gear reduction mechanism with a reduction ratio of 10:1. Its input end is tightly connected to the output shaft of the power motor 6 through a flexible coupling, and its output end is rigidly connected to the rotating main shaft 2 through a flange to achieve smooth power transmission.

[0022] As a further refinement of the preferred solution, the storage isolation component specifically includes the following structure: two isolation fixing plates 8, which are respectively fixed to the inner wall of the freezer body 1, and a storage and retrieval gap is reserved between them to facilitate the storage and retrieval of items; an electric isolation door 9, which is installed on the inner wall of the freezer body 1 and is precisely located in the storage and retrieval gap between the two isolation fixing plates 8 to provide a reliable isolation function.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment, the automatic storage and retrieval assembly further includes: an automatic storage and retrieval turntable 10, located inside the freezer body 1, designed as a rotatable disc structure for adjusting the position of items; an automatic storage and retrieval telescopic rod 11, mounted on the upper wall of the automatic storage and retrieval turntable 10 via a connecting bracket, enabling vertical telescopic movement; and an electromechanical clamp 12, mounted on the drive end of the automatic storage and retrieval telescopic rod 11, used to perform the operation of clamping and releasing items.

[0024] Working principle: Before using this device, the operator first connects an external AC power supply to the device to provide energy for the electrical equipment in the device, and connects a matching controller to the device to provide control and operating logic for the electrical equipment in the device.

[0025] The inner wall of the freezer box 1 is equipped with an insulation layer, which can prevent the low temperature inside the freezer box 1 from being transferred to the atmosphere, thereby providing a stable low temperature. At the same time, the freezer box 1 is equipped with a refrigeration unit, which can provide a low temperature environment inside the freezer box 1.

[0026] This device has several storage positions, each with its own number. Operators can adjust these positions using the controller. For example, to access storage position number one, the controller controls the power motor 6 to rotate. The drive end of the power motor 6 drives the power reducer 7 to rotate. The output end of the power reducer 7 drives the rotating spindle 2 to rotate. The rotating spindle 2 drives the rotating chassis 3, the rotating top frame 4, and the storage limiting base 5 to rotate synchronously until storage position number one is directly opposite the gap between the two isolation fixing plates 8.

[0027] This device offers two operating modes: preservation and retrieval. During retrieval, the operator uses the controller to position the corresponding preservation location between the two isolation plates 8. The electric isolation door 9 then opens via the controller, and the automatic retrieval rotating disk 10 rotates to align the electric mechanical clamp 12 with the preservation position. The electric mechanical clamp 12 opens, and the drive end of the automatic retrieval telescopic rod 11 extends, positioning the unfolded electric mechanical clamp 12 outside the preservation tube. The controller then controls the electric mechanical clamp 12 to close, securing the preservation tube. The automatic retrieval telescopic rod 11 retracts, and the automatic retrieval rotating disk 10 rotates to align the electric mechanical clamp 12 with the sealing sliding door 13. At this point, the electric isolation door 9 closes, creating a sealed space formed by the cryo-chamber body 1, the isolation plates 8, and the electric isolation door 9, ensuring that the freezing temperature of the stem cells does not dissipate. After retrieval, the retrieval indicator light on the outside of the cryo-chamber body 1 illuminates, and the operator opens the sealing sliding door 13 to remove the corresponding preservation tube.

[0028] During preservation, the operator opens the sealed sliding door 13 and aligns the indicator line of the test tube with the corresponding position of the electromechanical clamp 12. Then, the operator controls the electromechanical clamp 12 to clamp the tube using the controller. After closing the sealed sliding door 13, the operator starts the preservation program through the controller. At this time, the electric isolation door 9 opens, the automatic storage rotating disk 10 rotates 180 degrees, and the power motor 6 rotates, driving the rotating main shaft 2 to rotate through the power reducer 7, so that the corresponding preservation position is located between the two isolation fixing plates 8. Then, the automatic storage telescopic rod 11 extends, and the test tube held by the electromechanical clamp 12 enters between the test tube placement slot of the rotating top frame 4 and the corresponding storage restriction base 5. The test tube placement slot of the rotating top frame 4 is equipped with a test tube clamping protrusion 14 to facilitate the fixation of the test tube. Then, the electromechanical clamp 12 opens, and the automatic storage telescopic rod 11 retracts. Then, the electric isolation door 9 closes, thus providing a relatively sealed environment for cryopreservation. The freezer body 1 is equipped with an observation window 15, which allows the operator to directly observe the internal condition of the freezer body 1.

[0029] This device allows for indirect isolation of the cryopreservation space during handling and storage, preventing direct contact between the storage space and the outside environment and effectively ensuring the preservation of stem cells.

[0030] Example: Stem cell cryopreservation requires strict temperature control and minimal temperature fluctuations to avoid sample damage. This device integrates functions such as rotating storage, automatic access, and isolation control to achieve efficient and safe sample storage and retrieval. The entire device is installed inside the cryogenic chamber 1, which is made of stainless steel and covered with a polyurethane insulation layer to provide excellent thermal insulation performance.

[0031] Regarding the mechanical parts: The rotating storage assembly is the core storage component of the device, used for the orderly storage of stem cell tubes. This assembly is movably mounted inside the cryo-chamber 1 via bearings, ensuring smooth rotation.

[0032] The rotating spindle 2 has a diameter of 50mm and a length that matches the height of the housing. The spindle is fixed to the bottom and top of the housing by two sealed bearings. The bearing housings are made of stainless steel and filled with low-temperature grease to ensure smooth rotation in environments as low as -150 degrees Celsius. The spindle has internal wiring channels for potential sensor cabling.

[0033] The rotating chassis 3 is fixedly mounted on the outside of the rotating spindle 2, approximately 100mm above the bottom of the housing. The chassis is circular with a diameter of 700mm and its surface is anodized for corrosion resistance. Several mounting holes are evenly distributed on the upper wall of the chassis for securing and storing the limiting base 5. The chassis and spindle are connected via a keyway to ensure synchronous rotation.

[0034] The rotating top frame 4 is mounted on the upper wall of the rotating main shaft 2 and fixed to the main shaft via a flange. The top frame has several test tube placement slots, the number of which can be set according to requirements. The inner wall of each slot is equipped with test tube clamping protrusions 14. The slots are evenly distributed circumferentially and numbered for easy addressing by the controller.

[0035] The storage limiting base 5 consists of several storage limiting bases 5 respectively installed on the upper wall of the rotating base 3, corresponding one-to-one with the test tube placement slots of the rotating top frame 4. Made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), these bases possess low-temperature flexibility. A groove is provided on the top of the base to accommodate the bottom of the test tubes and prevent them from sliding. The bases are fixed to the rotating base 3 with bolts to ensure alignment accuracy.

[0036] Regarding the electrical control section: The rotation of the rotating storage assembly is driven by the storage power assembly. The controller monitors the spindle position via an encoder (mounted on the rotating spindle 2), and the feedback signal is sent to the PLC. The working logic is as follows: When the operator selects a target storage position, the PLC calculates the angle difference between the current position and the target position (each slot is spaced 3.6° apart), and then controls the power motor 6 to rotate by the corresponding angle. During rotation, a temperature sensor monitors the temperature inside the chamber in real time. If the temperature is abnormal, the controller pauses rotation and issues an alarm. The storage power assembly provides the driving capability for the rotating storage assembly and is located on the lower wall of the freezer body 1, isolated by a heightening bracket to reduce heat conduction.

[0037] The power motor 6 is a brushless DC motor with a power of 200W and a rated voltage of 24VDC. It features high torque and low-temperature adaptability. The power motor 6 is mounted on a stainless steel motor support bracket, which is fixed to the bottom of the housing using shock-absorbing pads. The motor is equipped with heat sinks and an external insulation cover to prevent cold air from affecting its performance. The motor shaft is connected to the power reducer 7 via a coupling. The power motor 6 is controlled by a motor driver (such as a BLDC driver, model DRV8301), which receives signals from the PLC. The PLC implements closed-loop control based on encoder feedback.

[0038] The power reducer 7 is a planetary gear reducer with a reduction ratio of 10:1, converting the high-speed rotation of the motor into low-speed, high-torque output. The input end of the reducer is connected to the power motor 6, and the output end is connected to the rotating main shaft 2 via a bushing. The reducer housing is made of aluminum alloy, the internal gears are made of carburized steel, and the lubricant is a low-temperature type. The reducer output shaft is equipped with a braking device to lock the main shaft in the event of a power outage, preventing accidental rotation.

[0039] The isolation fixing plates 8 are installed symmetrically on the inner wall of the freezer body 1. The fixing plates are made of stainless steel, with a 150mm wide gap between them for storing and retrieving test tubes. Heating wires with a power of 50W are embedded in the edges of the fixing plates to prevent frost buildup from affecting the seal.

[0040] The electric isolation door 9 is installed on the inner wall of the freezer body 1, located in the access gap between the two isolation fixing plates 8. The door is a sliding structure, composed of an aluminum alloy frame and a polycarbonate panel, with a thickness of 15mm. The door slides via guide rails and is driven by a linear motor. Magnetic sealing strips are provided on the door edges to ensure airtightness when closed.

[0041] The automatic storage and retrieval rotating disk 10 is located inside the freezer body 1, installed at the bottom of the body, and supported by bearings. The rotating disk is a circular disk with a diameter of 300mm, made of engineering plastic, and resistant to low temperatures. Driven by a stepper motor, the rotating disk can rotate 180° to align the electromechanical clamp 12 with the storage and retrieval gap or seal the sliding door 13.

[0042] The automatic storage telescopic rod 11 is installed on the upper wall of the automatic storage rotating disk 10. It is an electric push rod structure with adjustable speed. The automatic storage telescopic rod 11 is driven by a DC motor and transmitted through a lead screw. It has a mounting base at its end for fixing the electromechanical clamp 12.

[0043] The electromechanical clamp 12 is located at the drive end of the automatic storage telescopic rod 11. It is a two-finger parallel gripper with adjustable clamping force (5-20N). The grippers are made of aluminum alloy and covered with silicone pads to prevent damage to the test tubes. The opening and closing of the grippers is controlled by a servo motor, with an opening range of 0-50mm, suitable for standard test tubes.

[0044] Overall control process: After power-on, the PLC performs a self-test of all sensors and actuators. The spindle rotates back to zero, automatically retrieving the component calibration position. The temperature control system starts, and the cooler runs until the set temperature is reached.

[0045] Save Operation: The operator selects the save mode on the controller and enters the test tube ID and tag number; the operator opens the sealed sliding door 13 and places the test tube in the designated position; the sealed sliding door 13 is closed, and the controller displays "Ready"; the PLC controls the electromechanical clamp 12 to hold the test tube; the PLC opens the electric isolation door 9; the automatic storage and retrieval rotating disk 10 rotates 180° to align the mechanical clamp with the storage and retrieval gap; the power motor 6 rotates to align the target storage position with the gap; the automatic storage and retrieval telescopic rod 11 extends and inserts the test tube into the slot of the rotating top frame 4 and the storage limiting base 5; the electromechanical clamp 12 opens, and the telescopic rod retracts; the electric isolation door 9 closes, and the rotating disk resets; the PLC records the operation log, and the controller displays "Completed".

[0046] Retrieval Operation: The operator selects the retrieval mode and enters the tag number through the controller; after the PLC verifies that the temperature is stable, it controls the power motor 6 to rotate and align the tag number with the gap; the electric isolation door 9 opens; the automatic storage and retrieval component executes the grasping sequence; the test tube is moved to the sealed sliding door 13, and the electric isolation door 9 closes; the retrieval indicator light illuminates, and the operator opens the door to retrieve the test tube.

[0047] In the description of this utility model, the term "multiple" refers to two or more. Unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. The terms "connection," "installation," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0048] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the utility model. Various modifications and variations can be made to this utility model by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A stem cell cryopreservation rack, comprising: The freezer body (1) is characterized in that it further includes: A rotating storage assembly is movably disposed inside the freezer body (1) via bearings; The storage power assembly is disposed on the lower wall of the freezer body (1) and the storage power assembly is connected to the rotating part of the rotating storage assembly; A storage isolation component is disposed inside the freezer body (1); An automatic access component is disposed inside the freezer body (1) and outside the storage isolation component; The rotating storage assembly includes: Rotate the main shaft (2), which is movably mounted inside the freezer body (1) via a sealed bearing; Rotating chassis (3), which is fixedly mounted on the outside of rotating main shaft (2); Rotating top frame (4), the rotating top frame (4) is set on the upper wall of the rotating main shaft (2), and the rotating top frame (4) is provided with several test tube placement slots; A plurality of storage limiting bases (5) are respectively set on the upper wall of the rotating base (3), and the plurality of storage limiting bases (5) correspond one-to-one with the test tube placement slots of the rotating top frame (4).

2. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage power components include: A power motor (6) is installed on the lower wall of the freezer body (1); The power reducer (7) is connected to the power motor (6) at its input end and to the rotating main shaft (2) at its output end.

3. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage isolation component includes: Two isolation fixing plates (8) are respectively set on the inner wall surface of the freezer body (1), and a storage gap is left between the two isolation fixing plates (8); An electric isolation door (9) is provided on the inner wall of the freezer body (1) and is located in the access gap between two isolation fixing plates (8).

4. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic access component includes: Automatic access turntable (10) is located inside the freezer body (1); Automatic access telescopic rod (11), which is disposed between the upper wall of the automatic access rotating disk (10); An electromechanical clamp (12) is provided at the drive end of the automatic access telescopic rod (11).

5. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The freezer body (1) is provided with a sealed sliding door (13) at the outer end.

6. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower wall of the freezer body (1) is provided with a height-increasing bracket.

7. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The test tube holding protrusions (14) are provided in the test tube placement slots of several of the rotating top frames (4).

8. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The freezer body (1) is provided with an observation window (15) at the rear end.

9. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the freezer box (1) is provided with an insulation layer.

10. The stem cell cryopreservation rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper wall of the freezer box (1) is equipped with a refrigerator.

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