Adapter for cryopreservation container and cryopreservation container

Abstract

To provide an adapter for cryopreservation containers capable of changing the number of storage tools to be stored in an insulated container.SOLUTION: An adapter 1 for cryopreservation containers comprises an insulated container 101 with an open upper part, and an insulation lid 102 for closing an upper opening part 101a of the insulated container 101, and is mounted on a cryopreservation container 100 that stores storage tools 103 containing biological samples inside the insulated containers 101, with cryogenic liquefied gas L stored in the insulated container 101. The adapter includes a ring member 2 detachably attached to the periphery of the upper opening part 101a of the insulated container 101, where the ring member 2 includes a plurality of hook parts 3 arranged side by side in a circumferential direction for hooking a hooking portion 103c located at a tip of an arm part 103b extending upward from each storage tool 103.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter for a cryopreservation container and a cryopreservation container. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the medical field, such as infertility treatment and regenerative medicine, and in the research field, such as the development of new drugs, biological samples (hereinafter simply referred to as "samples") such as sperm, eggs, embryos, blood, and cells are generally cryopreserved to prevent deterioration. For cryopreservation, cryopreservation containers containing liquid nitrogen (boiling point -196°C) as a low-temperature liquefied gas are widely used because they can store samples in a stable state for long periods of time (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] Specifically, Patent Document 1 listed below describes a cryopreservation container that is used for freezing specimens such as vitrified embryos and that stores multiple specimen-storing canisters in and out of an upper opening of a container body, characterized in that the canisters are arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical and circumferential directions within the container body, and each canister is removably suspended from the edge of the upper opening of the container body by a hanger.

[0004] In the cryopreservation container described in Patent Document 1 below, a plurality of canisters are arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical and circumferential directions within the container body, making it possible to accommodate a larger number of specimens. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-88992 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, in the above-mentioned cryopreservation container, a hook portion located at the tip of an arm portion extending upward from a canister (storage device) is configured to be hooked into a groove portion (hooking portion) provided around the upper opening of the container body (insulated container).

[0007] However, in conventional cryopreservation containers, grooves are provided in advance according to the number of canisters to be accommodated in the container body, and therefore the number of grooves cannot be changed, making it difficult to efficiently accommodate canisters while increasing the number of canisters that can be accommodated by changing the size or shape of the canisters.

[0008] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide an adapter for a frozen storage container that makes it possible to change the number of storage items stored in the insulated container, and a frozen storage container that is equipped with such an adapter for a frozen storage container, thereby making it possible to efficiently store multiple storage items in the insulated container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A cryopreservation container adapter having an insulated container with an open top and an insulated lid for closing the top opening of the insulated container, the adapter being attached to a cryopreservation container that houses a storage device containing a biological sample inside the insulated container with a low-temperature liquefied gas stored in the insulated container, a ring member that is detachably attached around the periphery of the upper opening of the heat-insulating container; An adapter for a cryopreservation container, characterized in that the ring member has multiple hanging portions arranged circumferentially for hanging hook portions located at the end of an arm portion extending upward from the storage device. [2] The adapter for a cryopreservation container according to [1], wherein the hook portion is a groove portion formed by cutting out a part of the ring member. [3] The adapter for a cryopreservation container described in [1] or [2], characterized in that the ring member is provided with a protrusion that engages with a hooking groove provided around the upper opening of the insulated container. [4] The adapter for cryopreservation containers according to [3], characterized in that the number of the hook portions is different from the number of the hook groove portions. [5] The ring member has a sleeve portion and a flange portion protruding in a radially expanding direction from an upper end of the sleeve portion, The sleeve portion is inserted into the inside of the insulating container from an upper opening of the insulating container, and the sleeve portion is attached to the insulating container in a state where the flange portion is abutted against the periphery of the upper opening of the insulating container, The adaptor for cryopreservation containers according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the hook portion is provided on the flange portion. [6] The adapter for a cryopreservation container described in [5], characterized in that the sleeve portion extends downward to a position that protects the inner surface of the neck portion that forms the upper opening of the insulated container. [7] The ring member has a ring portion and a flange portion protruding in a radially expanding direction from an upper end of the ring portion, the ring portion is attached to the insulated container in a state where the ring portion is in contact with an upper end of a neck portion that forms an upper opening of the insulated container, The adaptor for cryopreservation containers according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the hook portion is provided on the flange portion. [8] A cryopreservation container comprising the cryopreservation container adaptor according to any one of [1] to [7]. Effect of the Invention

[0010] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an adapter for a frozen storage container that allows the number of storage items stored within the insulated container to be changed, and a frozen storage container that, by being equipped with such an adapter for a frozen storage container, allows multiple storage items to be efficiently stored within the insulated container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a cryopreservation container equipped with a cryopreservation container adaptor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of the cryopreservation container adaptor shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation container adapter shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a plan view showing the cryopreservation container shown in FIG. 1 with a cryopreservation container adaptor attached thereto. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line AA shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of a cryopreservation container adaptor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of a cryopreservation container adaptor according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of a cryopreservation container adaptor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the drawings used in the following explanation may show characteristic parts in an enlarged manner for the sake of convenience in order to make the features easier to understand, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as the actual ones.

[0013] (First embodiment) First, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a cryopreservation container 100 including a cryopreservation container adapter 1 shown in, for example, Figs. 1 to 5 will be described. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a cryopreservation container 100 equipped with a cryopreservation container adapter 1. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation container adapter 1. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation container adapter 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the cryopreservation container 100 with the cryopreservation container adapter 1 attached. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line AA shown in Fig. 4.

[0014] A cryopreservation container 100 of this embodiment includes an insulated container 101 with an open top, and an insulated lid 102 that closes an upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101, as shown in FIG.

[0015] The insulated container 101 has a vacuum insulation structure and is configured as a double container with a vacuum insulation layer between an outer container and an inner container. In addition, a substantially cylindrical neck portion 101b that forms an upper opening 101a is provided at the top of the insulated container 101. Liquefied nitrogen (boiling point -196°C) L is stored inside the insulated container 101 as a low-temperature liquefied gas. The insulated lid 102 is capable of closing the upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101 when it is placed over the neck portion 101b.

[0016] The cryopreservation container 100 of this embodiment accommodates a canister 103 inside a heat-insulating container 101. The canister 103 is a storage device for storing a cryopreservation tool 104 containing a biological sample, such as a straw or a Cryotop (registered trademark).

[0017] The canister 103 has a holder part 103a that holds the cryopreservation instrument 104, an arm part 103b that extends upward from the holder part 103a, and a hook part 103c that is located at the tip of the arm part 103b.

[0018] Meanwhile, a groove 101c for engaging the hook 103c is provided around the upper opening 101a of the neck 101b (insulated container 101). The groove 101c is formed by cutting out a part of the upper end of the neck 101b. A plurality of grooves 101c (four in this embodiment) are provided at equal intervals around the circumference of the neck 101b.

[0019] The canister 103 is accommodated inside the heat-insulating container 101 in a state where it is suspended from the position where the groove 101c of the neck portion 101b is provided. The canister 103 is also placed in an extremely low temperature gas-phase atmosphere G formed above the liquid level of the liquid nitrogen L inside the heat-insulating container 101.

[0020] It should be noted that the canister 103 is capable of housing a plurality of cryopreservation instruments 104 in the holder portion 103a. The cryopreservation instruments 104 can be directly housed (bulk) in the canister 103, or housed in the canister 103 in a state where they are attached to a mounting device called a cane (not shown).

[0021] As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the cryopreservation container adapter 1 of this embodiment includes a ring member 2 that is detachably attached around the upper opening 101a of the neck portion 101b (insulating container 101).

[0022] The ring member 2 is made of a disk having an outer diameter larger than that of the neck portion 101b, with a hole having the same diameter as the upper opening 101a. The ring member 2 is provided with a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) hook portions 3 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The hook portions 3 are formed by cutting out a part of the outer periphery of the ring member 2 in the radial direction to hook the hook portion 103c of the canister 103.

[0023] The ring member 2 is provided with a plurality of (four in this embodiment) protrusions 4 that engage with the hook groove 101c. The protrusions 4 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring member 2, protruding from the lower surface of the ring member 2. Meanwhile, a hole 101d into which the protrusions 4 are inserted is provided at the bottom of the hook groove 101c.

[0024] The adapter 1 for a cryopreservation container of this embodiment having the above-described configuration is attached around the upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101 by abutting the ring member 2 against the upper end of the neck portion 101b and engaging each of the protrusions 4 with each of the grooves 101c.

[0025] In the cryopreservation container 100 to which the cryopreservation container adapter 1 of this embodiment is attached, the hook portion 103c of the canister 103 can be hooked to the hanging portion 3. As a result, the canister 103 is accommodated inside the insulated container 101 in a state where it is suspended from the positions where the hanging portions 3 are provided.

[0026] In the cryopreservation container adapter 1 of this embodiment, the number of hooks 3 is greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c. Therefore, in the cryopreservation container 100 to which this cryopreservation container adapter 1 is attached, by making the number of hooks 3 greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c, it is possible to change the size and shape of the canisters 103 and efficiently store the canisters 103 while increasing the number of canisters 103 that can be stored.

[0027] Second embodiment Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, for example, a cryopreservation container adaptor 1A shown in FIG. 6 will be described. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation container adaptor 1A. In the following description, the same parts as those in the cryopreservation container adaptor 1 will not be described and will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0028] The cryopreservation container adapter 1A of this embodiment includes a ring member 2A as shown in Fig. 6. The ring member 2A includes a ring portion 21 having a shape that matches the upper end of the neck portion 101b, and a flange portion 22 that protrudes from the upper end of the ring portion 21 in the radially expanding direction.

[0029] The ring portion 21 is provided with a pair of legs 23 that sandwich the neck portion 101b in the radial direction. The pair of legs 23 are arranged side by side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring portion 21, protruding downward from the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the ring portion 21.

[0030] Furthermore, a plurality of hook portions 3 are provided in the flange portion 22, arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The hook portions 3 are formed by groove portions formed by cutting out part of the outer periphery of the flange portion 22 in the radial direction.

[0031] The adapter 1A for cryopreservation containers of this embodiment having the above-described configuration is attached around the upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101 by abutting the ring portion 21 against the upper end of the neck portion 101b and radially clamping the neck portion 101b with a pair of legs 23.

[0032] In the cryopreservation container 100 to which the cryopreservation container adapter 1A of this embodiment is attached, the hook portion 103c of the canister 103 can be hooked to the hanging portion 3. As a result, the canister 103 is housed inside the insulated container 101 in a state where it is suspended from the positions where the hanging portions 3 are provided.

[0033] In the cryopreservation container adapter 1A of this embodiment, the number of hooks 3 is greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c. Therefore, in the cryopreservation container 100 to which this cryopreservation container adapter 1A is attached, by making the number of hooks 3 greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c, it is possible to change the size and shape of the canisters 103 and efficiently store the canisters 103 while increasing the number of canisters 103 that can be stored.

[0034] (Third embodiment) Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, for example, a cryopreservation container adaptor 1B shown in FIG. 7 will be described. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation container adaptor 1B. In the following description, the same parts as those in the cryopreservation container adaptor 1 will not be described and will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0035] The cryopreservation container adaptor 1B of this embodiment includes a ring member 2B as shown in Fig. 7. The ring member 2B includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve portion 24 and a flange portion 25 protruding from the upper end of the sleeve portion 24 in the radially expanding direction.

[0036] The sleeve portion 24 extends downward to a position that protects the inner surface of the neck portion 101b as a neck tube guard that protects the neck portion 101b from contact with the canister 103 when the canister 103 is inserted or removed from the upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101.

[0037] Among the insulated containers 101, there is one that includes a metallic outer container 201 and inner container 202, and a resin mouth-forming member 203 that forms a neck portion 101b, as shown in Fig. 7. In this insulated container 101, a joint portion S between the mouth-forming member 203 and the inner container 202 is a part that is vulnerable to impact. Therefore, if the joint portion S is damaged, air will enter through the gap, making it impossible to maintain the insulating performance of the insulated container 101. Therefore, in order to protect this joint portion S, it is preferable that the sleeve portion 24 is provided so as to extend downward from the joint portion S.

[0038] A plurality of hook portions 3 are provided in the flange portion 25, arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The hook portions 3 are formed by groove portions formed by cutting out part of the outer periphery of the flange portion 22 in the radial direction.

[0039] The adapter 1A for cryopreservation containers of this embodiment having the above-described configuration is attached around the upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101 by inserting the sleeve portion 24 inside the neck portion 101b and abutting the flange portion 25 against the upper end of the neck portion 101b.

[0040] In the cryopreservation container 100 to which the cryopreservation container adapter 1B of this embodiment is attached, the hook portion 103c of the canister 103 can be hooked to the hanging portion 3. As a result, the canister 103 is housed inside the insulated container 101 in a state where it is suspended from the positions where the hanging portions 3 are provided.

[0041] In the cryopreservation container adapter 1B of this embodiment, the number of hooks 3 is greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c. Therefore, in the cryopreservation container 100 to which this cryopreservation container adapter 1B is attached, by making the number of hooks 3 greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c, it is possible to efficiently store the canisters 103 while increasing the number of canisters 103 that can be stored by changing the size and shape of the canisters 103.

[0042] (Fourth embodiment) Next, as a fourth embodiment of the present invention, for example, a cryopreservation container adaptor 1C shown in FIG. 8 will be described. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation container adaptor 1C. In the following description, the same parts as those in the cryopreservation container adaptor 1 will not be described and will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0043] The cryopreservation container adaptor 1C of this embodiment includes a ring member 2C as shown in Fig. 8. The ring member 2C includes a ring portion 26 having a shape that matches the upper end of the position where the groove portion 101c of the neck portion 101b is provided, and a flange portion 27 that protrudes from the upper end of the ring portion 26 in the radially expanding direction.

[0044] A plurality of (four in this embodiment) protrusions 4 that engage with the hook groove 101c are provided on the ring portion 26. The protrusions 4 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring portion 26 and protrude from the lower surface of the ring portion 26.

[0045] The flange portion 27 has an outer diameter equal to that of the neck portion 101b. The flange portion 27 has a plurality of hook portions 3 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The hook portions 3 are formed by cutting out a part of the outer periphery of the flange portion 22 in the radial direction.

[0046] The adapter 1C for a cryopreservation container of this embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration is attached around the upper opening 101a of the insulated container 101 by abutting the ring portion 26 against the upper end of the neck portion 101b and engaging each of the protrusions 4 with each of the groove portions 101c.

[0047] In the cryopreservation container 100 to which the cryopreservation container adapter 1C of this embodiment is attached, the hook portion 103c of the canister 103 can be hooked to the hanging portion 3. As a result, the canister 103 is housed inside the insulated container 101 in a state where it is suspended from the positions where the hanging portions 3 are provided.

[0048] In addition, in the cryopreservation container adapter 1C of this embodiment, the thickness T of the ring portion 26 is the same as the thickness of the upper end of the neck portion 101b at the position where the groove portion 101c is provided, so that the hook portion 3 can be formed with a groove portion having a shape that matches the hook groove portion 101c. This makes it possible to hook the hook portion 3 to the hook portion 3 without changing the shape of the hook portion 103c of the canister 103.

[0049] In the cryopreservation container adapter 1C of this embodiment, the number of hooks 3 is greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c. Therefore, in the cryopreservation container 100 to which this cryopreservation container adapter 1C is attached, by making the number of hooks 3 greater than the number of hooking grooves 101c, it is possible to efficiently accommodate the canisters 103 while increasing the number of canisters 103 that can be accommodated by changing the size and shape of the canisters 103.

[0050] The present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the number of the above-mentioned hook portions 3 only needs to be different from the number of the hook groove portions 101c, and it is not limited to the case where the number is greater than the number of the hook groove portions 101c, but can also be less than the number of the hook groove portions 101c. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1, 1A to 1C... Adapter for cryopreservation container 2, 2A to 2C... Ring member 3... Hooking portion (groove portion) 4... Projection portion 21... Ring portion 22... Flange portion 23... Pair of legs 24... Sleeve portion 25... Flange portion 26... Ring portion 27... Flange portion 100... Cryopreservation container 101... Insulated container 101a... Upper opening 101b... Neck portion 101c... Groove portion for hooking 102... Insulated lid 103... Canister (storage device) 103a... Holder portion 103b... Arm portion 103c... Hook portion 104... Cryopreservation device L... Liquid nitrogen (low-temperature liquefied gas)

Claims

1. A cryopreservation container adaptor includes an insulating container having an open top and an insulating lid for closing the top opening of the insulating container, the adaptor being attached to a cryopreservation container that houses a storage device containing a biological sample inside the insulating container with a low-temperature liquefied gas stored in the insulating container, a ring member that is detachably attached around the periphery of the upper opening of the heat-insulating container; The ring member is provided with a plurality of hook portions arranged in a circumferential direction for hooking hook portions located at the ends of arms extending upward from the storage device, The ring member is provided with a protrusion that is engaged with a groove for engagement provided around the upper opening of the thermal insulation container, 2. A cryopreservation container adaptor, comprising: a first groove for engaging said first engaging portion and a second groove for engaging said second engaging portion;

2. 2. The adaptor for cryopreservation containers according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion is a groove portion formed by cutting out a part of the ring member.

3. The ring member has a sleeve portion and a flange portion protruding in a radially expanding direction from an upper end of the sleeve portion, The sleeve portion is inserted into the inside of the insulating container from an upper opening of the insulating container, and the sleeve portion is attached to the insulating container in a state where the flange portion is abutted against the periphery of the upper opening of the insulating container, 3. The adaptor for cryopreservation container according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion is provided on the flange portion.

4. 4. The adapter for a cryopreservation container according to claim 3, wherein the sleeve portion extends downward to a position that protects the inner circumferential surface of a neck portion that forms an upper opening of the insulated container.

5. The ring member has a ring portion and a flange portion protruding in a radially expanding direction from an upper end of the ring portion, the ring portion is attached to the insulated container in a state where the ring portion is in contact with an upper end of a neck portion that forms an upper opening of the insulated container, 3. The adaptor for cryopreservation container according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion is provided on the flange portion.

6. A cryopreservation container comprising the cryopreservation container adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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