Freezing container

Abstract

To provide a freezing container which enables both a low-temperature environment of about -196°C and a low-temperature environment of -80°C to -100°C to be defined stably for a long time by using liquid nitrogen of -190°C.SOLUTION: A freezing container 1 comprises: a heat insulation container 2 that can store liquid nitrogen; and a neck plug 3 that closes a neck tube 2a of the heat insulation container 2. The neck plug 3 is provided with a heat insulator 3b that closes the neck tube 2a, a vacuum double container 4 fitted into a fitting hole 3c provided in the heat insulator 3b, and a lid 5 that seals the vacuum double container 4. The vacuum double container 4 is exposed at the bottom to a gas phase part G of the heat insulation container 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a freezing container capable of stably partitioning a low-temperature environment of about -190°C and a low-temperature environment of, for example, -80°C to -100°C inside for a long period of time respectively.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when storing or transporting biological samples, a freezing container in which liquid nitrogen is filled into a container to maintain a low-temperature environment of about -190°C inside has been used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] On the other hand, for vaccines and gene therapy drugs, storage and transportation in a low-temperature environment of about -80°C where RNA and DNA are not decomposed are required. Therefore, when storing these vaccines and gene therapy drugs, they have been stored in a freezer equipped with a refrigerator and controlled at -80°C inside. Also, when transporting, a cold storage box covered with heat insulation material around and containing dry ice inside to maintain -70°C has been used (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, since the temperatures suitable for storage and transportation are different between the container used for storing and transporting biological samples and the container used for storing and transporting vaccines and gene therapy drugs, individual containers and freezers have been used respectively.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a freezing container that can stably partition a low-temperature environment of about -190°C and a relatively higher-temperature low-temperature environment (for example, -80°C to -100°C) inside for a long period of time by using liquid nitrogen.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the freezing container of the present invention is a freezing container including a heat-insulating container capable of storing liquid nitrogen and a neck plug for closing the neck tube of the heat-insulating container. The neck plug includes a heat-insulating material and a vacuum double container mounted in a mounting hole provided in the heat-insulating material. When the neck plug is mounted on the neck tube, at least a part of the bottom surface of the vacuum double container is exposed to the gas phase portion of the heat-insulating container.

[0008] Preferably, a case made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the vacuum double container is provided inside the vacuum double container. Further, it is preferable to have a heater for heating the internal space of the vacuum double container. Also, it is preferable that the upper opening edge of the vacuum double container is located below the upper end of the heat-insulating material.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the freezing container of the present invention, by attaching a neck plug having a vacuum double container to the neck tube, the cold inside the freezing container filled with liquid nitrogen is harmonized with the outside air temperature, and the temperature inside the vacuum double container can be controlled at a temperature higher than the gas phase portion of the liquid nitrogen-filled freezing container, for example, around -80°C. As a result, a first sample maintained at a temperature of about -190°C can be stored in the heat-insulating container of the freezing container, and a second sample maintained at a higher temperature, for example, -80°C to -100°C, can be stored in the vacuum double container respectively. Also, for example, a second sample maintained at a temperature of -80°C to -100°C can be stored alone. Furthermore, the first sample and the second sample can be transported simultaneously using the freezing container, or only the second sample maintained at a temperature of -80°C to -100°C, for example, can be stored. Also, since the sample can be stored in the vacuum double container for a long time in an environment of, for example, -80°C to -100°C, the area where the second sample can be transported can be expanded.

[0010] Also, when it is desired to temporarily store the second sample at -80°C to -100°C, the freezing container can be used, and there is no need to store it in a refrigerator with a built-in freezer as in the prior art. Furthermore, by using the liquid nitrogen filled in a cylinder or a portable container, equipment for storing the refrigerant becomes unnecessary. In this way, the equipment can be omitted and the cost can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams showing a first exemplary form of the freezing container of the present invention. The freezing container 1 of the present invention stores therein a first sample whose temperature is maintained at about -190°C and a second sample whose temperature is maintained at a temperature higher than -190°C, for example, about -80°C to -100°C, and is further a container for transporting the first sample and the second sample. The freezing container 1 includes a heat-insulating container 2 capable of storing liquid nitrogen and a neck plug 3 that closes the neck tube 2a of the heat-insulating container 2.

[0013] The heat-insulating container 2 is a double container composed of an outer tank 2b and an inner tank 2c, and the neck tube 2a is integrally formed in a double structure with the outer tank 2b and the inner tank 2c. A heat-insulating layer is formed between the outer tank 2b and the inner tank 2c and in the neck tube 2a.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the neck plug 3 includes an annular plate-shaped heat-insulating material support member 3a formed to have a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the neck tube 2a, a heat-insulating material 3b adhered to the heat-insulating material support member 3a and closing the neck tube 2a, a vacuum double container 4 fitted into a mounting hole 3c provided in the heat-insulating material 3b, and a lid 5 placed on the upper part of the vacuum double container 4 and sealing the vacuum double container 4.

[0015] The heat-insulating material 3b is formed of a material having a low thermal conductivity, for example, expanded polystyrene, has an outer diameter capable of closing the neck tube 2a, and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with the mounting hole 3c penetrating through the center part.

[0016] The heat-insulating material support member 3a has a lid insertion hole 3d formed in the center part with the same diameter and coaxial with the mounting hole 3c.

[0017] The vacuum double container 4 is a double container composed of an outer tank 4a and an inner tank 4b, which is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper part, and a vacuum layer is formed between the outer tank 4a and the inner tank 4b. Further, the vacuum double container 4 is made of a material that can maintain the vacuum state of the vacuum layer over a long period of time, for example, stainless steel.

[0018] The vacuum double container 4 is fitted into the heat insulating material 3b such that the upper opening edge 4c is positioned below the upper end 3e of the heat insulating material 3b and the bottom surface 4d is positioned below the lower end 3f of the heat insulating material 3b. When attached to the neck tube 2a, the bottom surface 4d is exposed to the gas phase part G of the heat insulating container 2.

[0019] The lid 5 includes a heat insulating material part 5a formed of a material with low thermal conductivity, for example, expanded polystyrene, and a disc-shaped heat insulating material support part 5b that has the same diameter as the heat insulating material part 5a and the same thickness as the heat insulating material support member 3a and is integrated with the heat insulating material part 5a. The heat insulating material part 5a is formed in a columnar shape with an outer diameter and depth that can be inserted into the mounting hole 3c of the heat insulating material 3b positioned above the upper opening edge 4c of the vacuum double container 4 and the lid insertion hole 3d of the heat insulating material support member 3a. Further, a handle 5c is formed on the upper surface of the heat insulating material support part 5b of the lid 5. By grasping the handle 5c and inserting the lid 5 from the lid insertion hole 3d into the mounting hole 3c and bringing the lid 5 into contact with the upper opening edge 4c of the vacuum double container 4, the vacuum double container 4 is closed.

[0020] In the freezing container 1 of this exemplary embodiment, liquid nitrogen is stored in the heat insulating container 2, and by closing the neck tube 2a with the neck plug 3, the inside of the heat insulating container 2 is maintained in a gas phase atmosphere of about -190°C. Further, the vacuum double container 4 provided on the neck plug 3 has the temperature inside the vacuum double container 4 maintained at about -80°C to -100°C because the cold heat inside the heat insulating container 2 is transferred from the bottom surface 4d exposed to the gas phase part G of the heat insulating container 2 and the heat of the outside air is transferred from the lid 5.

[0021] As a result, a first sample maintained at about -190°C can be stored in the heat-insulating container 2, and a second sample maintained at a temperature higher than the temperature of the gas phase portion of the heat-insulating container 2, for example, -80°C to -100°C, can be stored in the vacuum double container 4, respectively. Furthermore, the first sample and the second sample can be transported simultaneously using the freezing container 1. Also, since the upper opening edge 4c of the vacuum double container 4 is located below the upper end 3e of the heat insulating material 3b, the vacuum double container 4 can be kept in a low temperature state for a long time, and the area where the second sample can be transported can be expanded.

[0022] Also, when it is desired to temporarily hold the sample at -80°C to -100°C, the freezing container 1 can be used, and there is no need to use a refrigerator with a built-in refrigerator as in the conventional case. Furthermore, by using liquid nitrogen filled in a cylinder or a portable container, equipment for storing the refrigerant becomes unnecessary. Due to these reasons, the equipment can be omitted and the cost can be reduced.

[0023] Next, as shown in Fig. 3, the freezing container 1 storing liquid nitrogen in the heat-insulating container 2 was placed in the constant temperature bath 6, and an experiment was conducted to measure the temperatures in the constant temperature bath 6, in the heat-insulating container 2, and in the vacuum double container 4 using the temperature sensors 7a, 7b, and 7c, respectively. The temperature maintenance over time at each location was recorded by the recorder 8 and shown in Fig. 4. Note that for the freezing container 1 used in the experiment, when the neck plug 3 was attached to the neck tube 2a, the height position of the vacuum double container 4 was adjusted so that the bottom surface 4d of the vacuum double container 4 was flush with the lower end 3f of the heat insulating material 3b.

[0024] The use and materials of each equipment used in the experiment are shown below. Constant temperature bath 6: PR-4J (manufactured by ESPEC Corporation) Freezing container 1: CryoShipper (manufactured by MVE) Heat insulating material 3b: Made of styrofoam with an outer diameter of 214 mm and a height of 190 mm Mounting hole 3c: Diameter 154 mm Vacuum double container 4: Made of stainless steel with an outer diameter of 154 mm, an inner diameter of 132 mm, and a height of 160 mm Insulation material part 5a of lid 5: Outer diameter 152 mm, height 30 mm, made of expanded polystyrene Temperature sensors 7a, 7b, 7c: T thermocouple Recorder 8: TR-W550 (manufactured by Keyence Corporation)

[0025] As shown in Fig. 4, in the thermostatic bath 6 maintained at 20°C, the temperature inside the freezing container 1 was kept at -190°C for about 75 hours from the start of the experiment. Furthermore, the temperature inside the vacuum double container 4 was kept at -80°C to -100°C for about 75 hours from the start of the experiment.

[0026] Figs. 5 and 6 show other exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Components similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the neck plug 20 of the vacuum double container 4 has a case 21 formed of, for example, aluminum having a higher thermal conductivity than the stainless steel constituting the vacuum double container 4 disposed inside. Thereby, the internal temperature of the vacuum double container 4 (the temperature inside the case 21) can be made uniform.

[0028] Fig. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the neck plug 30 of the vacuum double container 4 has a heater 31 disposed through a through hole provided in the heat insulating material 3b across the inner peripheral surface 4e and the inner bottom surface 4f of the vacuum double container 4. Also, the power supply 32 of the heater 31 is disposed above the heat insulating material support member 3a, and the amount of heat is adjusted according to the outside air temperature. Thereby, even when the outside air temperature changes, the inside of the vacuum double container 4 can be stably maintained at a temperature higher than the temperature of the gas phase portion of the heat insulating container 2, for example, -80°C to -l00°C.

[0029] Further, in this exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface 4d of the vacuum double container 4 and a part of the outer peripheral surface 4g are protruded below the lower end portion 3f of the heat insulating material 3b and exposed in the heat insulating container 2 so that the temperature inside the vacuum double container 4 becomes lower than a desired set temperature. Then, the internal space of the vacuum double container 4 is heated by the heater 31 to adjust the inside of the vacuum double container 4 to the desired set temperature. Thereby, the inside of the vacuum double container 4 can be more reliably maintained at a temperature higher than the temperature of the gas phase portion of the heat insulating container 2, for example, -80°C to -100°C.

[0030] Furthermore, a sheet-type heater is used as the heater 31, whereby the volume of the internal space of the vacuum double container 4 can be secured. Also, by disposing the case 21 above the heater 31, contact between the heater 31 and the second sample can be prevented.

[0031] Also, the heater 31 may be any heater as long as it can heat the internal space of the vacuum double container 4. Further, the heater 31 may be disposed inside the lid, on the inner peripheral side surface of the vacuum double container, or in the vacuum chamber.

[0032] In each of the above-described exemplary embodiments, the entire bottom surface of the vacuum double container is exposed to the gas phase portion of the heat insulating container. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least a part of the bottom surface of the vacuum double container may be exposed to the gas phase portion. Further, the amount of cold heat transferred from the gas phase portion into the vacuum double container may be adjusted by changing the height position of the vacuum double container with respect to the heat insulating material, and the amount of heat input transferred from the outside into the vacuum double container may be adjusted by changing the thickness of the heat insulating material. Also, the freezing container may be a so-called dry shipper type freezing and transporting container in which a liquid nitrogen adsorbing material for adsorbing liquid nitrogen is disposed when storing liquid nitrogen in the heat insulating container.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1... Freezing container, 2... Heat-insulating container, 2a... Neck tube, 2b... Outer tank, 2c... Inner tank, 3... Neck plug, 3a... Heat-insulating material support member, 3b... Heat-insulating material, 3c... Mounting hole, 3d... Lid insertion hole, 3e... Upper end portion, 3f... Lower end portion, 4... Vacuum double container, 4a... Outer tank, 4b... Inner tank, 4c... Upper opening edge, 4d... Bottom surface, 4e... Inner peripheral surface, 4f... Inner bottom surface, 4g... Outer peripheral surface, 5... Lid, 5a... Heat-insulating material portion, 5b... Heat-insulating material support portion, 5c... Handle, 6... Constant temperature bath, 7a to 7c... Temperature sensor, 20... Neck plug, 21... Case, 30... Neck plug, 31... Heater, 32... Power supply

Claims

Claim 1 A freezing container comprising a heat-insulating container capable of storing liquid nitrogen and a neck plug for closing the neck tube of the heat-insulating container, wherein the neck plug includes a heat-insulating material and a vacuum double container mounted in a mounting hole provided in the heat-insulating material, and when the neck plug is mounted on the neck tube, at least a part of the bottom surface of the vacuum double container is exposed to the gas phase portion of the heat-insulating container. A freezing container characterized by this. Claim 2 The freezing container according to claim 1, further comprising a case formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the vacuum double container inside the vacuum double container. Claim 3 The freezing container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a heater for heating the internal space of the vacuum double container. Claim 4 The freezing container according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening edge of the vacuum double container is located below the upper end of the heat-insulating material.

Images