Canister storage device and canister

Abstract

To suppress a problem in which a frozen storage object freeze-preserved in a freeze preservation container is replaced.SOLUTION: A canister 10 comprises a sample container holding part which holds a vial (storage body) in which a chemical liquid (frozen storage object) is stored, and is fixed at a lower part of a shaft part 12, and a canister side fastened piece 13 (first fastened part) fixed at an upper part of the shaft part 12. A canister housing instrument 20 comprises an upper cover 22 covering a part of an upper opening 21a of a trunk part 21, and a plurality of housing instrument side fastened parts 222a (second fastened parts) which is provided on an upper surface of the upper cover 22 and is fastened to the canister side fastened piece 13 by a fastener 41 (fastening means) in a state where the sample container holding part is housed in each housing chamber in the trunk part 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a canister storage device and a canister. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Canisters are known that hold sample containers (eg, vials) containing objects to be cryopreserved (eg, chemical solutions) and store the sample containers in the internal space of cryopreservation containers (eg, cryopreservation bottles). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a canister comprising a sample container holder for holding a sample container, a shaft portion whose lower portion is fixed to the sample container holder, and an upper suspension portion provided at the upper portion of the shaft portion and suspended from the upper opening of a cryopreservation container. By using the canister described in Patent Document 1, multiple sample containers can be stored in the internal space of the cryopreservation container to freeze and preserve the objects to be cryopreserved, and each sample container can be individually removed from the internal space of the cryopreservation container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2019-180306 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the upper suspension part of the canister is suspended from the upper opening of the cryopreservation container, but is not fixed, so it can be freely removed from the cryopreservation container. As a result, when removing and inserting canisters, it can become unclear which canister holds what cryopreservation target. It can also become unclear which canister is located at what position within the cryopreservation container. Furthermore, by removing the canister from the cryopreservation container, the test object frozen in the cryopreservation container can be replaced with another object, or the storage position of the test object within the cryopreservation container can be changed.

[0005] In double-blind testing, the testers and subjects are not informed of the contents or properties of the test objects (frozen objects). Therefore, the test objects are stored in cryopreservation containers in an environment unknown to the testers and subjects. Therefore, even if the test objects stored in the cryopreservation containers are replaced with other objects during transportation or storage, or if the storage locations of the test objects are swapped, the testers and subjects will not notice. For example, it is conceivable that a malicious third party, with the intent of disrupting a test, may return a removed canister to a different location than its original location, or may switch the test objects themselves, without the knowledge of the tester. Even if the test objects are switched without the tester's intention, the tester and the test subjects will not notice, which will cause a problem of significantly reducing the reliability of the test results.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent the inconvenience of replacing frozen storage objects stored in a cryopreservation container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a canister storage device that is stored inside a cryopreservation container while accommodating multiple canisters, wherein the canister comprises a storage body holding portion that holds a storage body that contains items to be cryopreserved, a shaft portion whose lower portion is fixed to the storage body holding portion, and a first fastening portion that is fixed to the upper portion of the shaft portion and fastened to the canister storage device by a fastening means, and the canister storage device comprises a cylindrical body portion with an upper opening, an upper cover that has an entrance / exit for inserting and removing the storage body holding portion into and from the hollow portion of the body and covers a portion of the upper opening of the body, a plurality of storage chambers formed in the hollow portion of the body that respectively accommodate the storage body holding portions of each canister, and a plurality of second fastening portions that are respectively fastened to the first fastening portions of each canister by the fastening means when each storage body holding portion is accommodated in each storage chamber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of replacing objects to be frozen and preserved in a cryopreservation container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] (a) is a perspective view of the canister seen from diagonally forward right, (b) is a rear view of the canister, (c) is a perspective view showing a vial containing a drug solution and the packaging box for the vial, (d) is an explanatory diagram of a tag with a string, and (e) is a perspective view showing an example of a fastener. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canister storage device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a canister storage device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sample container holding portion of the canister is accommodated in the accommodation chamber. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the canister-side fastening piece and the storage device-side protruding piece pair are fastened together by a fastener. FIG. [Figure 6]10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a canister storage device containing multiple canisters is inserted into the upper space of a cryopreservation container. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a canister storage device containing multiple canisters is stored in a storage space of a cryopreservation container. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of a cryopreservation container. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container body provided in the cryopreservation container. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a container body provided in the cryopreservation container. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a storage chamber provided in the canister storage device. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a storage chamber. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a handle provided on the canister storage device. [Figure 14] This figure explains the procedure for storing vials in a cryopreservation container, and explains the state in which a packaging box containing vials is held in the sample container holding section of the canister, a tag with a string is attached to the fastening piece on the canister side, and labels with identification numbers are affixed to the fastener, the box of the drug solution, and the tag. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for storing vials in a cryopreservation container, and illustrates a state in which the sample container holding portion of the canister is positioned above the canister storage device. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for storing vials in a cryopreservation container, and illustrates the state in which the sample container holding portion of the canister is inserted into the canister storage device. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for storing vials in a cryopreservation container, and illustrates the state in which the canister is tilted and the sample container holding portion is positioned near the wall surface inside the canister storage device. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for storing vials in a cryopreservation container, and illustrates a state in which the sample container holding portion of the canister is positioned directly above the storage chamber. [Figure 19] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a procedure for removing a vial from a cryopreservation container. [Figure 20] (a) is a diagram explaining the canister of the first modified example, (b) is a diagram explaining the upper part of the canister storage device of the first modified example, and (c) is a diagram explaining the state in which the canister of the first modified example and the canister storage device are fastened together with a fastener. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a storage chamber provided in a canister storage device of a second modified example. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a storage chamber provided in a canister storage device of a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] <Features of the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20> First, the features of the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20 will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram explaining the canister 10, vial 52, string tag 30, and fastener 41, Figure 2 is an oblique view of the canister storage device 20, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the canister storage device 20, Figure 4 is a diagram explaining the state in which the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 is stored in the storage chamber SP2, Figure 5 is a diagram explaining the state in which the canister side fastening piece 13 and the storage device side protruding piece pair 222 are fastened by the fastener 41, Figure 6 is a diagram explaining the state in which the canister storage device 20 storing multiple canisters 10 is inserted into the upper space SP32 of the cryopreservation container 100, and Figure 7 is a diagram explaining the state in which the canister storage device 20 storing multiple canisters 10 is stored in the storage space SP31 of the cryopreservation container 100.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the canister 10 comprises a sample container holding section 11 (storage body holding section) that can hold a vial 52 (storage body, sample container) containing a chemical solution 51 (object to be cryopreserved, sample) in the packaging box 53 that contains the vial 52, a shaft section 12 that is composed of a rod-shaped member such as a metal round bar and has a lower part 12d fixed to the sample container holding section 11, and a canister side fastening piece 13 (first fastening part) that is composed of a perforated plate piece fixed to an upper part 12u of the shaft section 12 and is fastened to the canister storage device 20 (see Figure 2) by a fastener 41 (fastening means). As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the canister storage device 20 comprises a cylindrical body 21 having an upper opening 21a, an upper cover 22 having an entrance / exit 221 for inserting and removing the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 into and from the hollow portion SP1 of the body 21, and covering part of the upper opening 21a of the body 21, a plurality of storage chambers SP2 formed in the lower part of the hollow portion SP1 of the body 21 and individually accommodating the sample container holding portion 11 of each canister 10, and a plurality of pairs of storage device side protruding pieces 222 (second fastening portions) that are each fastened to each canister side fastening piece 13 by a fastener 41 (fastening means) when each sample container holding portion 11 is accommodated in each storage chamber SP2. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the cryopreservation container 100 comprises a storage space SP31 for storing the canister storage device 20, and an upper space SP32 that is provided above the storage space SP31 and is continuous with the storage space SP31, and comprises a container body 110 whose portion outer than the storage space SP31 is filled with a liquid refrigerant LQ (liquid nitrogen or liquid air), and a lid member 120 that is removably attached to the container body 110 and closes the upper space SP32.

[0012] The procedure for storing the vial 52 containing the drug solution 51 in the storage space SP31 of the cryopreservation container 100 using the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20 described above will now be outlined. First, a vial 52 containing a drug solution 51 is held together with a packaging box 53 in the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10. Next, as shown in Fig. 4, the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 is housed in the storage chamber SP2 of the canister storage device 20, and then, as shown in Fig. 5, the canister-side fastening piece 13 and the storage device-side protruding piece pair 222 are fastened together by a fastener 41.

[0013] After a canister 10 is stored in each storage chamber SP2 and each canister side fastening piece 13 and each storage device side protruding piece pair 222 are fastened together with fasteners 41, the canister storage device 20 is stored in a storage space SP31 formed inside the container body 110 of the cryopreservation container 100. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the canister storage device 20 containing the canisters 10 is placed in the upper space SP32 of the container body 110. Next, as shown in Fig. 7, the canister storage device 20 is placed inside the storage space SP31, and then the upper space SP32 of the container body 110 is closed with the lid member 120. As a result, the temperature of the storage space SP31 is maintained at an extremely low temperature by the refrigerant LQ, and the medicinal liquid 51 (object to be cryopreserved) contained in the vial 52 (storage body) is cryopreserved.

[0014] Furthermore, the canister 10 stored in the canister storage device 20 is difficult to remove from the canister storage device 20 because the canister-side fastening piece 13 and the storage device-side protruding piece pair 222 are fastened together by the fastener 41. This makes it possible to prevent the vials 52 containing the medicinal solutions 51 stored in the cryopreservation container 100 from being replaced. For example, in a double-blind test, the test conductor and the subject can recognize that the canister 10 and packaging box 53 (vial 52, drug solution 51) have not been removed or replaced based on the fact that the fastening state of the fastener 41 is maintained.

[0015] <Description of the embodiment> Hereinafter, embodiments of the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20 according to the present invention will be described in detail. However, unless otherwise specified, the components, dimensions of each part, procedures, types, combinations, etc. of the embodiments described below are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention.

[0016] <Freezing storage container 100> Before describing the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20, we will explain the cryopreservation container 100. Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the cryopreservation container 100, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the container body 110 provided in the cryopreservation container 100, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the container body 110 provided in the cryopreservation container 100.

[0017] As shown in Figure 8, the cryopreservation container 100 comprises a container body 110 having an inner space SP3 (storage space SP31, upper space SP32, refrigerant chamber SP33), and a lid member 120 that is detachable from the container body 110 and closes the upper space SP32. The container body 110 has a circular cross section and is bottle-shaped with the diameter of the upper end portion being smaller than the diameter of the remaining portions. The container body 110 has a double-wall structure including an outer peripheral wall 111 and an inner peripheral wall 112. The space between the outer peripheral wall 111 and the inner peripheral wall 112 is sealed, forming a sealed space SP4. The sealed space SP4 is depressurized, forming a heat-insulating structure that makes it difficult for heat to be transferred between the outer peripheral wall 111 and the inner peripheral wall 112.

[0018] 8 to 10, the inner space SP3 is provided inside the inner circumferential wall 112. A rectangular cylindrical partition wall 113 is provided in the lower half of the inner space SP3. The partition wall 113 liquid-tightly divides the lower half of the inner space SP3 into a refrigerant chamber SP33 outside the partition wall 113 and a storage space SP31 inside the partition wall 113. The storage space SP31 stores the canister storage device 20 in a removable manner. The upper half of the inner space SP3 is an upper space SP32 that communicates with the storage space SP31. The partition wall 113 is made of a material that has high heat conductivity and can be used even at extremely low temperatures. In this embodiment, the partition wall 113 is made of a stainless steel plate, but it may be made of other materials. A wave-dissipating plate 114 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the partition wall 113 and extends laterally from the partition wall 113. The wave-dissipating plate 114 has a multi-stage configuration (e.g., a three-stage configuration) spaced apart in the vertical direction, and suppresses rippling of the refrigerant LQ (see FIGS. 6 and 7) in the refrigerant chamber SP33 when the cryopreservation container 100 is moved.

[0019] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the container body 110 is provided with a level gauge 115 that measures the liquid level of the refrigerant LQ in the refrigerant chamber SP33, and a supply pipe 116 for supplying the refrigerant LQ into the refrigerant chamber SP33. 8, the lid member 120 includes a lid main body 121 that is detachably fitted into the upper space SP32 of the container main body 110, and a disk-shaped top plate 122 attached to the top surface of the lid main body 121. The lid main body 121 is made of, for example, a cylindrical insulating material (such as foamed resin). The top plate 122 is made of, for example, a metal such as a stainless steel plate, and the outer periphery thereof is bent downward. By attaching the cover member 120 to the container body 110, the cold air in the storage space SP31 and the refrigerant chamber SP33 is less likely to escape to the outside of the cryopreservation container 100, and the amount of refrigerant LQ filled in the refrigerant chamber SP33 is less likely to decrease. The cryopreservation container 100 is just one example, and other configurations may be adopted as long as it has a storage space SP31 for storing the canister storage device 20 containing the canister 10, and can freeze-store the medicinal liquid 51 held in the canister 10 in the storage space SP31.

[0020] <Canister 10> Next, the canister 10 will be described. As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the canister 10 comprises a sample container holder 11 that detachably holds a vial 52 containing a drug solution 51 or a packaging box 53 in which the vial 52 is stored, a shaft 12 made of a stainless steel round bar and to which the sample container holder 11 is fixed at its lower part, and a canister-side fastening piece 13 made of a stainless steel plate and fixed to the upper part of the shaft 12.

[0021] The sample container holder 11 is made of, for example, a 1 mm thick stainless steel plate and includes a rectangular bottom plate 11a, a rear wall 11b extending upward from the rear edge of the bottom plate 11a, a left side wall 11c extending upward from the left edge of the bottom plate 11a, a right side wall 11d extending upward from the right edge of the bottom plate 11a, a left front wall 11e extending rightward from the front edge of the left side wall 11c, and a right front wall 11f extending leftward from the front edge of the right side wall 11d. The left side wall 11c is provided with a left cutout 11g cut downward in a rectangular shape from its upper end, and the right side wall 11d is provided with a right cutout 11h cut downward in a rectangular shape from its upper end. The bottom plate portion 11a is, for example, a square with a width in the left-right direction and a length in the front-to-rear direction of 28 mm. The rear wall portion 11b is a vertically elongated rectangle with a width in the left-to-right direction of 30 mm and a height of 60 mm. The left side wall portion 11c and the right side wall portion 11d are also vertically elongated rectangles with a width in the front-to-rear direction of 30 mm and a height of 60 mm. The left cutout portion 11g and the right cutout portion 11h each have a width in the front-to-rear direction and a height of 20 mm, and the front ends of the cutout portions 11g, 11h are located 5 mm rearward from the front end of the sample container holding portion 11. The left front wall portion 11e and the right front wall portion 11f each have a width in the left-to-right direction of 5 mm and a height of 60 mm. The sample container holder 11 is not limited to the above-mentioned shape and size, as long as it can detachably hold the vials 52 and the packaging boxes 53 containing the vials 52 one by one.

[0022] The shaft portion 12 is made of a stainless steel round bar with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 215 mm. The lower portion 12d of the shaft portion 12 is fixed to the rear surface of the sample container holder 11 (the outer surface of the rear wall portion 11b) by welding or the like. However, the shaft portion 12 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the shaft portion 12 may be made of a stainless steel square bar, or may be made of a rod-shaped member having a bent portion along the way. Furthermore, the shaft portion 12 may be made of a resin that is resistant to extremely low temperatures. The canister-side fastening piece 13 is made of a rectangular stainless steel plate. For example, the canister-side fastening piece 13 is made of a stainless steel plate with a thickness of 2 mm, a height in the short-side direction of 15 mm, and a length in the long-side direction (length in the front-to-rear direction) of 30 mm. The rear end 13c of the canister-side fastening piece 13 is bent into a square groove shape along the short-side direction, and the upper part 12u of the shaft part 12 is fitted into the square groove of the rear end 13c. The rear end 13c of the canister-side fastening piece 13 and the upper part 12u of the shaft part 12 are fixed together by, for example, welding or caulking. A circular insertion space 13a (first insertion space) is formed through the canister-side fastening piece 13. For example, the diameter of the insertion space 13a is 10 mm. The insertion space 13a may have other shapes, such as a square shape. A locking hole 13b for locking the string-attached tag 30 is formed through the upper front part of the canister-side fastening piece 13. The diameter of the locking hole 13b is, for example, 3 mm.

[0023] 1(d), the string tag 30 includes a connecting string 31 made of a thin string-like member, a hook 32 attached to one end of the connecting string 31, and a tag 33 attached to the other end of the connecting string 31. The connecting string 31 is made of a string-like member that is flexible even at extremely low temperatures and strong enough to suspend a canister 10 holding a vial 52 or the like. The connecting string 31 may be made of metal or resin. The length of the connecting string 31 is determined so that the tag 33 can be positioned outside the cryopreservation container 100 when the canister 10 is stored in the storage space SP31 of the cryopreservation container 100 together with the canister storage device 20 and the hook 32 is attached to the canister side fastening piece 13. The hook 32 is detachable from the locking hole 13b of the canister-side fastened piece 13, requires manual operation for removal, and is usable even at extremely low temperatures. The illustrated hook 32 is made of stainless steel and includes a fishhook-shaped hook body 32a and a movable piece 32b that can move between a closed position and an open position and is positioned at the closed position by a spring. Identification information (letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) for identifying the medicinal liquid 51 in the vial 52 is attached to the tag 33. Various methods can be used to attach the identification information. For example, a label with the identification information may be attached to the surface of the tag 33, or the identification information may be written directly on the surface of the tag 33.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1(e), the fastener 41 (fastening means) is made of a rod curved into a U-shape and has a temple portion 41a that is inserted into the insertion space 13a of the canister side fastening piece 13, and a main body portion 41b that can fix both ends of the temple portion 41a and can have identification information (letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) applied to its surface. In this embodiment, fastener 41 is disposable and made of resin that can be used even at extremely low temperatures. Temple portion 41a is folded back in a roughly U-shape, and fastener 41 is fastened by fixing both ends of temple portion 41a to main body portion 41b. Fastener 41 is released from the fastened state when temple portion 41a is cut with a blade. The fastener 41 may have other configurations as long as it can fasten the canister-side fastened piece 13 and the canister storage device 20 (the storage device-side projecting piece pair 222, see FIG. 2, etc.).

[0025] <Canister Containment Device 20> Next, we will explain the canister storage device 20. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the storage chamber SP2 provided in the canister storage device 20, Fig. 12 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the storage chamber SP2, and Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a handle provided in the canister storage device 20. As shown in Figures 2, 3, 11, and 12, the canister storage device 20 comprises a cylindrical body 21, a circular disk-shaped upper cover 22 with an opening in the center that serves as an entrance / exit 221 for the canister 10 and that covers part of the upper opening 21a of the body 21, and a plurality of storage chambers SP2 formed within the hollow portion SP1 of the body 21 and that respectively accommodate the sample container holding portions 11 of each canister 10. The body 21 is made of a stainless steel plate with a thickness of 1 mm, and has a diameter of 140 mm and a height of 209 mm, although these dimensions are not limited to these. The top cover 22 is also made of a stainless steel plate with a thickness of 1 mm, and has a diameter of 138 mm, which is the same as the inner diameter of the body 21. The opening of the top cover 22 (the entrance / exit 221 of the canister 10) is provided concentrically with the body 21 and has a diameter of 60 mm.

[0026] A plurality of storage device side protruding piece pairs 222 (hereinafter simply referred to as protruding piece pairs 222) are provided on the upper surface of the upper cover 22 to protrude upward. The two protruding pieces 222a constituting one protruding piece pair 222 are substantially square metal plate pieces. For example, a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 1 mm, a width of 15 mm, and a height of 15 mm is used. A circular insertion space 222b (second insertion space) is formed through each protruding piece 222a in the plate thickness direction. For example, the diameter of the insertion space 222b is 10 mm, and it is provided in the center of the protruding piece 222a. The insertion space 222b may be of another shape, such as a square. The two protruding pieces 222a are provided with a gap therebetween that allows them to receive the canister-side fastened piece 13. For example, the two protruding pieces 222a are provided in parallel with each other with a gap of 6 mm therebetween. Each pair of protrusions 222 is provided at a rotationally symmetrical position with respect to the center CP (see FIG. 2) of the upper cover 22 located on the axis CL of the body 21. Specifically, each pair of protrusions 222 is provided at an octa-symmetrical position (at 45-degree intervals along the circumferential direction).

[0027] The distance of each pair of protruding pieces 222 from the center CP of the upper cover 22 is determined according to the position of the canister-side fastening piece 13. Specifically, when the canister 10 is stored, the distance is determined to be a position where the canister-side fastening piece 13 can be received between the protruding pieces 222a and where the insertion space 13a of the canister-side fastening piece 13 and the insertion space 222b of each protruding piece 222a are aligned (in other words, a position where the temple portion 41a of the fastener 41 can be inserted). An entrance 221 for the canister 10 provided in the center of the upper cover 22 (the inner peripheral edge of the upper cover 22 facing the entrance 221) has notches 223 formed therein that can receive the shaft portion 12 of the canister 10. The notches 223 correspond to each of the plurality of pairs of protruding pieces 222, and are formed at a position closer to the center CP than each pair of protruding pieces 222. By providing the notches 223 to receive the shaft portion 12, it becomes easier to position the canister 10 when storing the canister 10 in the canister storage device 20.

[0028] 2, the upper cover 22 is provided with a pair of handles 26. The handles 26 are used when moving the canister storage device 20, and are provided at 180-degree intervals along the circumferential direction. As shown in Fig. 13, when in use, the handle portion of the handle 26 is pulled out above the upper cover 22. An operator can move the canister storage device 20 by gripping the handle portion with his or her hand. Note that, as shown in Fig. 2, when not in use, the handle portion of the handle 26 is positioned on the surface of the upper cover 22 so as not to interfere with work.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3, 11 and 12, a storage chamber SP2 for storing the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 is formed in the lower part of the hollow portion SP1 of the body portion 21. The storage chamber SP2 is formed by a disk-shaped bottom plate portion 23 with a regular octagonal central cavity formed in the center, a cylindrical central partition tube 24 extending upward from the inner peripheral edge of the bottom plate portion 23, and a plurality of peripheral partition portions 25 provided at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction between the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 23 and the inner peripheral surface of the body portion 21. Each of the portions 23 to 25 is made of, for example, a 1 mm thick stainless steel plate.

[0030] 12, the bottom plate 23 is attached at a position higher than the lower edge of the body 21. For example, the bottom plate 23 is fixed by welding or the like at a position 10 mm higher than the lower edge of the body 21. By attaching the bottom plate 23 at a position higher than the lower edge of the body 21 in this way, the medicinal solution 51 (vial 52, packaging box 53) can be placed in a range in the storage space SP31 where the temperature is likely to be stable. 11, the central cavity provided in the center of the bottom plate portion 23 has a regular octagonal shape. This central cavity is provided concentrically with the bottom plate portion 23. The distance from the center of the bottom plate portion 23 to each vertex of the central cavity is, for example, 29 mm.

[0031] The central partition cylinder 24 is configured as a regular octagonal cylinder, the same shape as the central cavity of the bottom plate portion 23. The width of each outer surface of the central partition cylinder 24 is, for example, 23 mm, and the height of the central partition cylinder 24 is the same as the height of the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 (for example, 60 mm). The peripheral partition 25 is made of a curved plate that is V-shaped in plan view. The width of each outer surface of the peripheral partition 25 is, for example, 25 mm, the height of the peripheral partition 25 is the same as the height of the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 (for example, 60 mm), and the central angle of the peripheral partition 25 is 45 degrees. The peripheral partitions 25 are arranged such that the apex of the V-shaped portion is positioned on a line passing through the center of the bottom plate portion 23 and each apex of the central partition tube 24, and the interior angle of the V-shaped portion is oriented so as to be divided into two by the line. The peripheral partitions 25 are provided at eight symmetrical positions (positions at 45-degree intervals along the circumferential direction) with the axis CL of the body portion 21 as the base point.

[0032] 3, 11, and 12, in the lower portion of the hollow portion SP1 of the body portion 21, a plurality of storage chambers SP2 are formed by the bottom plate portion 23, the central partition cylinder 24, and the peripheral partition portion 25 at positions rotationally symmetrical about the axis CL of the body portion 21. For example, eight storage chambers SP2 are formed at positions symmetrical with respect to eight times. In this example, each storage chamber SP2 has a depth LSP2 of 42 mm, a width WSP2 of 34 mm, and a height HSP2 of 60 mm. It should be noted that the configuration of each storage chamber SP2 is not limited to this, as long as it can accommodate the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10.

[0033] As explained in FIG. 4, each storage chamber SP2 accommodates a sample container holder 11 that holds a packaging box 53 containing a vial 52. Since each storage chamber SP2 is located within the body portion 21 and separated by a bottom plate portion 23, a central partition tube 24, and a surrounding partition portion 25, the packaging box 53 held in the sample container holding portion 11 cannot be removed from the bottom side of the canister storage device 20. Furthermore, the entrance / exit 221 located in the center of the upper cover 22 has a small diameter of 60 mm, and since the shaft portion 12 is positioned toward the center of the body portion 21 when the canister 10 is stored, it is difficult to insert one's hand or tongs through the entrance / exit 221 to remove the packaging box 53 held in the sample container holding portion 11. Therefore, when the canister 10 is contained in the canister storage device 20 and fastened to the canister storage device 20 by the fastener 41, it is difficult to remove the packaging box 53 (vial 52 containing the medicinal solution 51) held in the sample container holding portion 11 from the canister storage device 20.

[0034] Furthermore, since multiple storage chambers SP2 are formed at rotationally symmetrical positions (see Figure 11), there is no storage chamber SP2 that serves as a reference for the storage position, making it difficult to identify the position of the storage chamber SP2 that stores the canister 10 (vial 52).

[0035] <Procedure for freezing and storing drug solution 51 contained in vial 52> Next, a procedure for cryopreserving a chemical solution 51 (subject to cryopreservation, sample) contained in a vial 52 (storage body, sample container) will be described. Figures 14 to 18 are diagrams explaining the procedure for storing a vial 52 (canister 10) in a cryopreservation container 100, and Figure 19 is a diagram explaining the removal of a vial 52 (canister 10) from the cryopreservation container 100.

[0036] 14, when cryopreserving the medicinal solution 51, labels LB1, LB2, and LB3 bearing common identification information ID (for example, numbers) are attached to the packaging box 53, the string tag 33, and the fastener 41. The packaging box 53 contains a vial 52 containing the medicinal solution 51. Next, the packaging box 53 is held by the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10, and the hook 32 of the string tag 33 is attached to the locking hole 13b of the canister-side fastening piece 13.

[0037] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the canister 10 with the packaging box 53 held in the sample container holding portion 11 is moved directly above the canister storage device 20 (directly above the entrance / exit 221) with the sample container holding portion 11 facing downward, and then the canister 10 is lowered to position the sample container holding portion 11 inside the canister storage device 20 (hollow portion SP1). 17 and 18, the canister 10 is tilted obliquely so that the bottom plate 11a of the sample container holder 11 is positioned directly above the corresponding storage chamber SP2, and then the canister 10 is set upright. At this time, the shaft 12 of the canister 10 is fitted into the notch 223 of the upper cover 22. Next, as shown in Fig. 4, the canister 10 is lowered, the sample container holding part 11 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber SP2, the canister-side fastened piece 13 is inserted between the two protruding pieces 222a, and the insertion space 13a of the canister-side fastened piece 13 is aligned with the insertion space 222b of each protruding piece 222a. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 5, the temple part 41a of the fastener 41 is inserted into the insertion space 13a of the canister-side fastened piece 13 and the insertion space 222b of each protruding piece 222a, and the canister-side fastened piece 13 and the pair of protruding pieces 222 are fastened together by the fastener 41. By carrying out the above operation for each of the plurality of canisters 10, the storage of each canister 10 in the canister storage device 20 is completed.

[0038] 6 and 7, once the canisters 10 have been stored in the canister storage devices 20, the canister storage devices 20 containing the canisters 10 are stored in the storage spaces SP31 of the cryopreservation container 100, and the upper spaces SP32 of the cryopreservation container 100 are closed with the lid members 120. This allows the medicinal solutions 51 contained in the vials 52 to be cryopreserved. As described above, in the canister storage device 20 stored in the storage space SP31, the canister 10 is fastened to the canister storage device 20 by the fasteners 41, and therefore it is difficult to remove the packaging box 53 (vials 52 containing the medicinal liquid 51) held in the sample container holding part 11 from the canister storage device 20 unless the fastening by the fasteners 41 is released. This prevents the packaging box 53 (vials 52, medicinal liquid 51) from being replaced with another item. Similarly, it prevents the canister 10 (packaging box 53) from being stored in a position other than its original storage position.

[0039] 7, when the upper space SP32 of the cryopreservation container 100 is closed with the lid member 120, the tag 33 of the string tag 33 is left exposed to the outside of the cryopreservation container 100. By leaving the tag 33 exposed to the outside of the cryopreservation container 100, the desired canister 10 (vial 52 containing the medicinal solution 51) can be easily removed from the cryopreservation container 100.

[0040] When removing a desired canister 10 from the cryopreservation container 100, the tag 33 sticking out from the cryopreservation container 100 is first checked to determine the canister 10 to be removed. Once the canister 10 to be removed has been determined, the fastener 41 fastening the target canister 10 is identified by following the connecting string 31 of the string-attached tag 33. Next, the temple portion 41a of the identified fastener 41 is cut with a cutting tool such as nippers, and the connecting string 31 is operated to lift the canister 10 from the canister storage device 20. In this case, as shown in Figure 19, the connecting string 31 is pulled to lift the sample container holding portion 11 of the canister 10 above the storage chamber SP2. Then, with the sample container holding portion 11 positioned at the center of the hollow portion SP1 (below the entrance / exit 221), the connecting string 31 is pulled to remove the canister 10 from the cryopreservation container 100. In this way, since the string tag 33 is attached to the canister 10, the canister 10 can be easily removed from the cryopreservation container 100.

[0041] <First Modification> In the above-described embodiment, the canister 10 is provided with the canister-side fastening piece 13, and the canister storage device 20 is provided with the storage device-side protruding piece pair 222, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. FIG. 20 is a view illustrating the canister 10A of the first modified example, the upper part of the canister storage device 20A of the first modified example, and the state in which the canister 10A of the first modified example and the canister storage device 20A are fastened together with a fastener 41A. 20, the first modified example is characterized in that the fastener 41A is configured by a binding band 41a' with a tag 42a', and that metal rods bent into a U-shape are used as the canister-side fastened portion 13A (first fastened portion) and the storage appliance-side fastened portion 222A (second fastened portion). Note that, since the other configurations are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and the description will be omitted.

[0042] In the canister 10A shown in Figure 20(a), the canister-side fastening part 13A provided at the upper end of the shaft part 12 is made of a metal round bar bent into a U-shape, and both ends of the canister-side fastening part 13A are fixed to the shaft part 12 by welding or the like. In addition, a metal locking ring 13B is fixed to the upper end surface of the shaft part 12. The hook 32 of the string-attached tag 33 is locked to the locking ring 13B. In the canister storage device 20A shown in Figure 20(b), the storage device-side fastening portion 222A provided on the top surface of the upper cover 22A is composed of a pair of metal round bars 222a' bent into a U shape (hereinafter referred to as U-shaped round bars 222a'). The U-shaped round bars 222a' are attached in parallel with a gap sufficient to receive the canister-side fastening portion 13A. The storage device-side fastening portion 222A is provided at a rotationally symmetric position (for example, an octa-fold symmetric position) with the center CP of the upper cover 22 as the base point, similar to the storage device-side protruding piece pair 222 in the embodiment described above.

[0043] As shown in Figure 20(c), when the canister 10A is stored, the canister-side fastening portion 13A is received between the pair of U-shaped round bars 222a'. Then, fastening by the fastener 41A can be performed by inserting and locking the binding band 41a' of the fastener 41A through the canister-side fastening portion 13A and the storage appliance-side fastening portion 222A. Then, to release the fastening by the fastener 41A, the binding band 41a' is cut with a cutting tool such as nippers. The first modified example configured as above also provides the same effects as the above-described embodiment.

[0044] <Second Modification> In the above-described embodiment, the body 21 of the canister storage device 20 is cylindrical, but is not limited to this configuration. Figures 21 and 22 are a cross-sectional view and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the storage chamber SP2 provided in a canister storage device 20B of a second modified example. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the body 21B of the canister storage device 20B of the second modified example is formed of a regular octagonal metal cylinder. The other configurations of the second modified example are the same as those of the previously described embodiment, and therefore will not be described again. The canister storage device 20B of the second modified example also achieves the same effects as those of the previously described embodiment. Although the body 21B of the illustrated canister storage device 20B is a regular octagonal metal cylinder, it may be a regular polygonal cylinder of another type. For example, it may be a regular pentagonal metal cylinder or a regular hexagonal metal cylinder. In the case of a regular pentagonal metal cylinder, five storage chambers SP2 are formed in five-way symmetric positions, and in the case of a regular hexagonal metal cylinder, six storage chambers SP2 are formed in six-way symmetric positions.

[0045] <Other variations> In the above-described embodiment, the object to be cryopreserved is exemplified as the drug solution 51, but is not limited to the drug solution 51. The object to be cryopreserved may be, for example, a liquid sample other than the drug solution 51, a powder sample, or a solid sample. In the above embodiment, the container is a vial 52 containing a drug solution 51 in a packaging box 53, but is not limited to a vial 52. In the above-described embodiment, the canister 10 is provided with the locking hole 13b and the locking ring 13B to which the hook 32 of the string tag 33 is locked, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Any configuration other than the locking hole 13b and the locking ring 13B may be used as long as the hook 32 of the string tag 33 can be locked.

[0046] [Summary of embodiments, actions, and effects of the present invention] <First embodiment> This embodiment relates to canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B that are stored in a storage space SP31 (inside) of a cryopreservation container 100 while storing a plurality of canisters 10, 10A. The canisters 10, 10A each include a sample container holding section 11 (storage body holding section) that holds a vial 52 (storage body) containing a chemical solution 51 (a cryopreservation object), a shaft section 12 that is formed of a rod-shaped member and has a lower section 12d fixed to the sample container holding section 11, and a canister-side fastening piece 13 (first fastening section) or a canister-side fastening section 13A (first fastening section) that is fixed to an upper section 12u of the shaft section 12 and fastened to the canister storage device 20 by a fastener 41 (fastening means). is characterized by comprising a cylindrical body portion 21, 21B having an upper opening 21a, an upper cover 22, 22A having an entrance / exit 221 for inserting and removing the sample container holding portion 11 into and from the hollow portion SP1 of the body portion 21, 21B and covering part of the upper opening 21a of the body portion 21, 21B, a plurality of storage chambers SP2 formed in the hollow portion SP1 of the body portion 21, 21B and accommodating the sample container holding portion 11 of each canister 10, 10A, and a plurality of storage device side protruding piece pairs 222 (second fastening portions) and storage device side fastening portions 222A (second fastening portions) that are fastened to the canister side fastening pieces 13 and canister side fastening portions 13A of each canister 10, 10A by fasteners 41, 41A when each sample container holding portion 11 is accommodated in each storage chamber SP2. According to the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B of this embodiment, when the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B are stored in the storage space SP31 of the cryopreservation container 100, in order to remove the medicinal solution 51 frozen and stored in the cryopreservation container 100 from the cryopreservation container 100, it is necessary to release the fastening between the canister side fastening piece 13, the canister side fastening portion 13A and the storage device side protruding piece pair 222, the storage device side fastening portion 222A by the fasteners 41, 41A. As a result, it is possible to prevent the packaging box 53 (vial 52, medicinal solution 51) from being replaced with another one, and it is also possible to prevent the canister 10 from being stored in a position other than its original position.

[0047] <Second embodiment> In the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B according to this embodiment, the body portions 21, 21B are cylindrical or regular octagonal tubular bodies (regular polygonal tubular shapes), and each storage chamber SP2 is provided at a rotationally symmetric position around the axis line CL of the body portions 21, 21B. According to the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B of this embodiment, there is no storage chamber SP2 that serves as a reference for the storage position, making it difficult to identify the position of the storage chamber SP2 that stores the canister 10 (vial 52).

[0048] <Third embodiment> In the canister storage device 20, 20A, 20B according to this embodiment, the cryopreservation container 100 is configured to cool the storage space SP31 that stores the canister storage device 20, 20A, 20B using a liquid refrigerant LQ stored on the outer periphery of the storage space SP31, and is characterized in that the bottom plate portion 23 that forms the bottom surface of the storage chamber SP2 is located above the lower edge of the body portions 21, 21B. According to the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B of this embodiment, the chemical solution 51 (object to be cryopreserved) can be placed within a range in which the temperature in the storage space SP31 is likely to be stable.

[0049] <Fourth embodiment> The canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B according to this embodiment are characterized in that the peripheral portion of the upper cover 22, 22A facing the entrance / exit 221 has a plurality of notches 223 formed therein to receive the shaft portions 12 of the canisters 10 stored in the respective storage chambers SP2. According to the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B of this embodiment, when the canisters 10, 10A are stored in the canister storage devices 20, 20A, 20B, the canisters 10, 10A can be easily positioned.

[0050] <Fifth embodiment> In the canister storage device 20 of this embodiment, the canister side fastening piece 13 is provided with an insertion gap 13a (first insertion gap) through which the temple portion 41a (part) of the fastener 41 can be inserted, and the storage device side protruding piece pair 222 is characterized in that it is aligned with the insertion gap 13a when the sample container holding portion 11 is accommodated in each storage chamber SP2 and has an insertion gap 222b (second insertion gap) through which the temple portion 41a of the fastener 41 can be inserted. According to the canister storage device 20 of this embodiment, the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20 can be fastened together with a simple structure.

[0051] <Sixth embodiment> In the canister storage device 20 according to this embodiment, the storage device side protruding piece pair 222 (second fastening portion) comprises a storage device side protruding piece pair 222 protruding upward from the upper surface of the upper cover 22, and the two protruding pieces 222a constituting one protruding piece pair 222 are arranged opposite each other with a gap therebetween that can receive one canister side fastening piece 13 (first fastening portion), and the two protruding pieces 222a each have an insertion space 222b formed therethrough. According to the canister storage device 20 of this embodiment, the canister 10 and the canister storage device 20 can be fastened together with a simple structure.

[0052] <Seventh embodiment> This embodiment is characterized by a canister 10, 10A that is stored in a cryopreservation container 100 while being housed in a canister storage device 20, 20A, and is equipped with a sample container holding portion 11 (storage body holding portion) that holds a vial 52 (storage body) containing a medicinal solution 51 (object to be cryopreserved), a shaft portion 12 that is formed of a rod-shaped member and has a lower portion 12d fixed to the sample container holding portion 11, and a canister side fastening piece 13 (fastening portion) and a canister side fastening portion 13A (fastening portion) that are fixed to an upper portion 12u of the shaft portion 12 and fastened to the canister storage device 20 by fasteners 41, 41A (fastening means). The canister 10, 10A according to this embodiment can prevent the packaging box 53 (vials 52, medicinal liquids 51) from being replaced with other items when stored in the storage space SP31 of the cryopreservation container 100. Similarly, it can also prevent the canister 10 from being stored in a position other than its original storage position.

[0053] <Eighth embodiment> In the canister 10 according to this embodiment, the canister-side fastened piece 13 is characterized by having an insertion space 13a into which the temple portion 41a (part) of the fastener 41 can be inserted. The canister 10 according to this embodiment can be fastened to the canister storage device 20 with a simple structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10, 10A... canister, 11... sample container holding portion (storage body holding portion), 11a... bottom plate portion, 11b... rear wall portion, 11c... left side wall portion, 11d... right side wall portion, 11e... left front wall portion, 11f... right front wall portion, 11g... left notch portion, 11h... right notch portion, 12... shaft portion, 12u... upper portion, 12d... lower portion, 13... canister side fastening piece, 13a... insertion space, 13b... locking hole, 13A... canister Side fastening portion, 13B... locking ring, 20... canister storage device, 20B... canister storage device, 21... body portion, 21B... body portion, 21a... upper opening, 22... upper cover, 221... entrance / exit, 222... pair of storage device side protruding pieces, 222a... protruding piece, 222b... insertion space, 223... notch, 222A... storage device side fastening portion, 23... bottom plate portion, 24... central partition tube, 25... surrounding partition portion, 30... tag with string 31...connecting string, 32...hook, 32a...hook body, 32b...movable piece, 33...tag, 41...fastener, 41a...handle portion, 41b...main body portion, 41A...fastener, 41a'...binding band, 42a'...tag, 51...medicinal solution (object to be cryopreserved), 52...vial (storage body), 53...packaging box, 100...cryopreservation container, 110...container body, 111...outer wall, 112...inner wall, 113...partition wall, 114 ...wave-dissipating plate, 115...liquid level gauge, 116...supply pipe, 120...lid member, 121...lid body, 122...top plate, SP1...hollow portion of body, SP2...storage chamber, SP3...inner space of container body, SP31...storage space, SP32...upper space, SP33...refrigerant chamber, SP4...sealed space, LQ...refrigerant, CL...axis of body, CP...center of upper cover, LB1...label, LB2...label, LB3...label, ID...identification information

Claims

1. A canister storage device that is stored inside a cryopreservation container while storing a plurality of canisters, The canister comprises: A container holder for holding a container containing an object to be cryopreserved; A shaft portion having a lower portion fixed to the housing holder; a first fastening portion that is fixed to an upper portion of the shaft portion and fastened to the canister storage device by a fastening means; The canister storage device includes: A cylindrical body portion having an upper opening; an upper cover having an entrance for inserting and removing the container holder into and from the hollow portion of the body and covering a part of the upper opening of the body; a plurality of storage chambers formed within the hollow portion of the body, each of which accommodates the storage body holding portion of each of the canisters; a plurality of second fastening portions which are respectively fastened to the first fastening portions of each of the canisters by the fastening means when each of the storage body holding portions is accommodated in each of the storage chambers.

2. The body portion is cylindrical or regular polygonal tubular, 2. The canister storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage chambers are provided at positions rotationally symmetrical about the axis of the body.

3. The cryopreservation container has a configuration in which a storage space for storing the canister storage device is cooled by a liquid refrigerant stored on the outer periphery of the storage space, 3. The canister storage device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom plate portion constituting a bottom surface of the storage chamber is positioned above a lower end edge of the body portion.

4. 4. The canister storage device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of notches are formed in the peripheral portion of the upper cover facing the entrance and exit, the notches respectively receiving the shaft portions of the canisters respectively stored in the storage chambers.

5. the first fastened portion has a first insertion space into which a portion of the fastening means can be inserted, 5. A canister storage device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of the second fastening portions has a plurality of second insertion spaces whose positions are aligned with each of the first insertion spaces when each of the storage body holding portions is accommodated in each of the storage chambers, and into which a portion of the fastening means can be inserted.

6. Each of the second fastening portions includes a pair of protruding pieces protruding upward from the upper surface of the upper cover, The two protruding pieces constituting one of the protruding piece pairs are disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween that is capable of receiving one of the first fastened portions, 6. The canister storage device according to claim 5, wherein the second insertion space is formed through each of the two projecting pieces.

7. A canister that is stored in a cryopreservation container while being housed in a canister housing device, A container holder for holding a container containing an object to be cryopreserved; A shaft portion having a lower portion fixed to the housing holder; A canister comprising: a fastening portion fixed to an upper portion of the shaft portion and fastened to the canister storage device by a fastening means.

8. 8. The canister according to claim 7, wherein the fastened portion has an insertion space through which a portion of the fastening means can be inserted.

Images