Cryogenic storage racks and pre-freezing equipment

Abstract

To provide a cryopreservation rack that can reduce temperature differences that occur between samples during cooling to achieve the quality maintenance and quality uniformity of the samples.SOLUTION: Provided is a cryopreservation rack 1 comprising a rack body 3, in which rack parts 2 are provided in multiple stages in the vertical direction, and being capable of storing a cryopreservation box in each of rack parts 2, the rack body 3 constituting the bottom surface of each of the rack parts 2 and having: a plurality of bottom plates 4 each comprising an opening in the center of the bottom surface; four pillars 6a that support the four corners of the plurality of bottom plates 4; and floor plates that are removably installed on each surface of the plurality of bottom plates. 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[[TECHNICAL FIELD]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cryopreservation rack and a pre-freezing apparatus. [[BACKGROUND ART]]

[0002] For example, in the development of new drugs and basic medical research, biological samples such as blood, sperm of experimental animals, fertilized eggs, and cells (hereinafter simply referred to as "samples") are used. Samples degrade due to biological action at normal temperature. For this reason, it is common to cryopreserve samples using a cryopreservation apparatus or the like. As a cryopreservation apparatus, a cryopreservation apparatus using liquid nitrogen is widely used because it enables stable long-term storage.

[0003] When the above-mentioned samples are cryopreserved at a low temperature of, for example, -150°C or lower, it is known that if a sample at normal temperature is rapidly cooled to -150°C, the cell survival rate decreases. For this reason, before cryopreserving a sample, pre-freezing of the sample is performed while controlling the cooling rate from normal temperature to a predetermined temperature (e.g., -80°C) using a pre-freezing apparatus such as a program freezer or a mechanical refrigerator.

[0004] Further, when pre-freezing a sample, first, after the sample is filled together with a medium into a cryopreservation container such as a vial, the cryopreservation container is stored in the storage space of a cryopreservation box whose inner side is partitioned in a grid pattern.

[0005] Further, the cryopreservation box is stored in a cryopreservation rack (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). The cryopreservation rack includes a rack main body provided with a plurality of rack portions arranged vertically in multiple stages, and a cryopreservation box is stored in each rack portion.

[0006] When pre-freezing a sample, a pre-freezing apparatus such as a program freezer capable of accommodating a plurality of cryopreservation racks is used to cool the cryopreservation boxes stored in each rack portion of the cryopreservation rack.

[0007] A programmable freezer appropriately cools and controls the temperature of the storage space containing the freeze-preservation racks by adjusting the amount of refrigerant, such as liquid nitrogen, or the output of the refrigerator, according to a temperature control program set by a temperature controller. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-061460 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] Incidentally, in the pre-freezing apparatus described above, the state of ice crystal formation inside and outside the cells changes depending on the cooling rate of the sample. Therefore, it is important to reduce the temperature difference that occurs for each sample during cooling in order to maintain and standardize the quality of the samples.

[0010] In particular, with the practical application of cell products and other materials in recent years, the number of samples processed at once has been increasing. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure uniformity of cooling temperatures not only between lots and within lots, but also between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, between lots, and even between lots.

[0011] However, in the cooling control using the aforementioned programmed freezer, differences arise in the transfer of cold air within the containment space. As a result, differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation racks within this containment space, differences in the arrangement of cryopreservation boxes in multiple rack sections, and even differences in the arrangement of cryopreservation containers within the cryopreservation boxes will result in differences in the cooling temperature of the samples.

[0012] Furthermore, as the number of cryopreservation boxes and containers processed at one time increases, the situation of differences in the cooling temperature of such samples becomes more pronounced. In particular, when the storage density of cryopreservation containers within a cryopreservation box increases, the introduction of cold air to the center of the box is restricted, and cold air is drawn away from adjacent cryopreservation containers due to latent heat, etc. As a result, cryopreservation containers placed in the corners and edges of the box cool relatively easily, while those placed in the center of the box cool relatively slowly.

[0013] This invention has been proposed in view of the above conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a cryopreservation rack that reduces the temperature difference that occurs between samples during cooling when pre-freezing multiple samples stored in a cryopreservation box, thereby enabling the maintenance and uniformity of sample quality, as well as a pre-freezing apparatus equipped with such a cryopreservation rack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A freezing storage rack comprising a rack body having multiple rack sections arranged in the vertical direction, wherein each of the rack sections is capable of housing a freezing storage box, The rack body is characterized by comprising a plurality of bottom plates that constitute the bottom surface of each of the rack sections and have an opening in the center of the bottom surface, four support columns that support the four corners of the plurality of bottom plates, and base plates that are detachably installed on the surface of each of the plurality of bottom plates, for use as a freezing storage rack. [2] The freezing rack according to [1], characterized in that one of several types of base plates is selectively installed or removed from each of the rack sections. [3] The cryopreservation rack according to [2], characterized in that when the rack body is housed in the housing space of a pre-freezing device for pre-freezing samples stored in the cryopreservation box, one of the multiple types of base plates is selectively installed or removed according to the degree of cooling for each of the rack sections. [4] The cryopreservation box has a plurality of storage spaces partitioned for each sample stored inside, The freezing rack according to [3], characterized in that when the rack body is housed in the housing space of the pre-freezing device, one of the multiple types of base plates is selectively installed or removed according to the degree of cooling in the multiple storage spaces of the freezing storage box. [5] The freezing storage rack according to [4], characterized in that the rack body has plate materials located at the four corners of the freezing storage box that face the storage space. [6] The freezing rack according to [5], characterized in that the plate material constitutes the support column. [7] The freezing rack according to [1], characterized in that the rack body has a top plate which constitutes the upper surface of the rack section located at its uppermost level and has an opening in the center of the upper surface, and the four corners of the top plate are supported by the four support columns. [8] The freezing rack according to [2], characterized in that the plurality of types of base plates include any of a mesh base plate, a porous base plate, a base plate having an opening smaller than the opening of the bottom plate, and a base plate that closes the opening of the bottom plate. [9] Equipped with a freezing rack as described in any one of the above items [1] to [8], A pre-freezing apparatus having a storage space for housing the aforementioned cryopreservation rack, characterized in that it pre-freezes the samples stored in the cryopreservation box. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As described above, according to the present invention, when pre-freezing a plurality of samples stored in a cryopreservation box, it is possible to provide a cryopreservation rack that can reduce the temperature difference that occurs between individual samples during cooling, and enables maintaining and homogenizing the quality of samples, as well as a pre-freezing apparatus provided with such a cryopreservation rack. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a front view showing the configuration of a pre-freezing apparatus provided with a cryopreservation rack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a top view showing the configuration of the pre-freezing apparatus provided with the cryopreservation rack shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 3] It is a front view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation rack shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 4] It is a side view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation rack shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 5] It is a top view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation rack shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 6] It shows the configuration of a bottom plate provided in the cryopreservation rack shown in Fig. 1, (A) is a plan view showing the bottom plate provided with circular openings, and (B) is a plan view showing the bottom plate provided with rectangular openings. [Figure 7] It shows the configuration of a supporting plate provided in the cryopreservation rack shown in Fig. 1, (A) is a plan view showing a mesh supporting plate, and (B) is a plan view showing a porous supporting plate. [Figure 8] It is a plan view showing a supporting plate provided with a porous opening region. [Figure 9] (A) is a plan view showing a supporting plate provided with a circular opening smaller than the circular opening of the bottom plate, and (B) is a plan view showing a supporting plate provided with a rectangular opening smaller than the rectangular opening of the bottom plate. [Figure 10] It is a plan view showing a supporting plate that closes the opening of the bottom plate. [Figure 11] It is a plan view showing a plurality of cryopreservation containers stored in a cryopreservation box. [Figure 12]This is a cross-sectional view taken along line segment AA, as shown in Figure 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The materials, dimensions, etc., exemplified in the following description are merely examples, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to them. It can be implemented with appropriate modifications without altering its essence.

[0018] (Backup freezing device) First, as an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of a pre-freezing apparatus 100 equipped with a cryogenic storage rack 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described. Figure 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the pre-freezing device 100 equipped with a freezing storage rack 1. Figure 2 is a top view showing the configuration of the pre-freezing device 100 equipped with a freezing storage rack 1.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pre-freezing device 100 of this embodiment has a rectangular storage space K that accommodates a plurality (three in this embodiment) of freeze storage racks 1, and is a program freezer that appropriately cools and controls the temperature of the storage space K that accommodates the freeze storage racks 1 by adjusting the amount of refrigerant consisting of liquid nitrogen ejected according to a temperature control program set by a temperature controller.

[0020] Specifically, the pre-freezing device 100 includes a supply port 101 for supplying liquid nitrogen as a refrigerant to the containment space K, a nozzle 102 for ejecting the liquid nitrogen supplied through the supply port 101, a fan 103 for diffusing the liquid nitrogen ejected from the nozzle 102, an exhaust port 104 for exhausting the liquid nitrogen that has become gaseous in the containment space K, a lid 105 for opening and closing the upper opening facing the containment space K, and a control unit 106 for controlling each of its components.

[0021] In this embodiment, a fan 103 is located in the center of the rear side of the cryopreservation rack 1, which is placed in the storage space K. The nozzle 102 is located near the fan 103 and sprays liquid nitrogen towards the fan 103. The exhaust port 104 is located on the side of the storage space K.

[0022] (Rack for freezing and storing food) Next, the specific configuration of the above-mentioned cryopreservation rack 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 10.

[0023] Figure 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation rack 1. Figure 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation rack 1. Figure 5 is a top view showing the configuration of the cryopreservation rack 1. Figure 6 shows the configuration of the bottom plate 4 of the cryopreservation rack 1, where (A) is a plan view showing the bottom plate 4 with a circular opening 4a, and (B) is a plan view showing the bottom plate 4 with a rectangular opening 4a. Figure 7 shows the configuration of the base plate of the cryopreservation rack 1, where (A) is a plan view showing the mesh base plate 8A, and (B) is a plan view showing the porous base plate 8B. Figure 8 is a plan view showing the base plate 8C with a porous opening area E. Figure 9(A) is a plan view showing the base plate 8D with a circular opening 8a smaller than the opening 4a of the bottom plate 4 shown in Figure 6(A). Figure 9(B) is a plan view showing the base plate 8E with a rectangular opening 8a smaller than the opening 4a of the bottom plate 4 shown in Figure 6(B). Figure 10 is a plan view showing the base plate 8F that closes the opening 4a of the bottom plate 4.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment comprises a rack body 3 in which the rack section 2 is arranged in multiple tiers (seven tiers in this embodiment) in the vertical direction.

[0025] The rack body 3 is made of a metal with excellent thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, or a metal with excellent low-temperature resistance, such as stainless steel, and has multiple (seven in this embodiment) bottom plates 4 that make up the bottom surface of each rack section 2, a top plate 5 that makes up the top surface of the rack section located at the uppermost level, and four support columns 6a, 6b that make up its sides.

[0026] The rack body 3 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends vertically overall, achieved by joining these multiple bottom plates 4, top plate 5, and four support columns 6a, 6b by screws, welding, etc. (in this embodiment, screws).

[0027] The four support columns 6a and 6b support the four corners of the multiple base plates 4 and top plates 5. Of the four support columns 6a and 6b, the two support columns 6a located on the front side of the rack body 3 are made of long plates with a roughly I-shaped cross-section and are attached to the side of the rack body 3. On the other hand, the two support columns 6b located on the rear side of the rack body 3 are made of long plates with a roughly L-shaped cross-section and are attached to the rear and side of the rack body 3.

[0028] As a result, in the cryopreservation rack 1, the cryopreservation boxes 200, which are stored in each of the rack sections 2 (described later), can be freely slid in and out from the front side of the rack body 3 in the front-to-back direction.

[0029] Incidentally, in the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, a circular opening 4a, as shown in Figure 6(A), is provided in the center of the bottom plate 4 that constitutes each rack section 2. Also, a circular opening 5a, as shown in Figure 5, is provided in the center of the top plate 5. Furthermore, a pair of handles 7 are rotatably attached to both sides of the opening 5a of the top plate 5.

[0030] Furthermore, a rectangular opening 4a, as shown in Figure 6(B), may be provided in the center of the bottom plate 4. Similarly, a rectangular opening 5a may be provided in the center of the top plate 5.

[0031] The cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment includes multiple types of base plates 8A to 8F that are detachably installed on each surface of a plurality of base plates 4, as shown in Figures 7 to 10.

[0032] Specifically, it includes one of the following: a mesh-like base plate 8A as shown in Figure 7(A); a porous base plate 8B as shown in Figure 7(B); a base plate 8C with a porous opening region E as shown in Figure 8; a base plate 8D with a circular opening 8a smaller than the circular opening 4a of the bottom plate 4 as shown in Figure 9(A); a base plate 8E with a rectangular opening 8a smaller than the rectangular opening 4a of the bottom plate 4 as shown in Figure 9(B); or a non-opening base plate 8F that closes the opening 4a of the bottom plate 4 as shown in Figure 10.

[0033] Among the multiple types of base plates 8A to 8F, any of the following may be included: base plate 8A with a different mesh size; base plate 8B with a different hole size and number; base plate 8C with a different hole size and number, or a different size, shape, and position of the opening area E; or base plates 8D and 8E with different size, shape, and position of the opening 8a.

[0034] Regarding the multiple types of base plates 8A to 8F, it is not necessary to have all of the above-mentioned base plates 8A to 8F, and it is possible to have a selection of them in advance. It is also possible to add additional base plates 8A to 8F as needed.

[0035] (Freezing storage boxes and containers) Next, the configuration of the cryopreservation box 200 and cryopreservation container 300 shown in Figures 11 and 12 will be described.

[0036] Figure 11 is a plan view showing multiple cryopreservation containers 300 stored in a cryopreservation box 200. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line segment AA shown in Figure 11.

[0037] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the cryopreservation box 200 is made of, for example, a resin or metal box, has a rectangular shape with an open top, and has multiple storage spaces k (25 in this embodiment, 5x5) divided into a grid pattern for each cryopreservation container 300 stored inside.

[0038] The cryopreservation container 300 is a bottomed cylindrical container with a cap called a vial. After filling the inside of the vial with the culture medium, it is placed in the storage space k of the cryopreservation box 200. Note that the cryopreservation container 300 is not limited to the vial mentioned above; any container capable of preserving the sample is acceptable.

[0039] Here, it is preferable that the openings 4a and 5a of the bottom plate 4 and top plate 5 are open in a range that does not overlap in a plan view with the freeze-storage containers 300 (storage space k) located at the four corners of the freeze-storage box 200.

[0040] As described above, the freezing containers 300 located at the four corners of the freezing storage box 200 cool down relatively more easily than the other freezing storage containers 300 when stored in the rack section 2 of the freezing storage rack 1.

[0041] Therefore, by making the openings 4a and 5a of the bottom plate 4 and top plate 5 open in a range that does not overlap in a plan view with the freeze-storage containers 300 (storage space k) located at the four corners of the freeze-storage box 200, it is possible to make the freeze-storage containers 300 located at the four corners less susceptible to cooling than the other freeze-storage containers 300, thereby achieving uniform cooling temperatures in each freeze-storage container 300 stored in the freeze-storage box 200.

[0042] Furthermore, if the openings 4a and 5a of the bottom plate 4 and top plate 5 are circular, it is preferable that the following relationship (1) is satisfied when T1 is the length from the corner of the bottom plate 4 to the opening 4a, T2 is the length of the storage space k, and T3 is the length from the corner of the bottom plate 4 to the corner of the cryopreservation box 200. T1 > T2 + T3 × 2 …(1)

[0043] This makes it possible to make the freeze-preservation containers 300 located at the four corners less susceptible to cooling than the other freeze-preservation containers 300, thereby ensuring uniform cooling temperatures in each freeze-preservation container 300 stored in the freeze-preservation box 200.

[0044] Furthermore, in the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable to provide plate members (support columns 6a, 6b) on the rack body 3 that face the cryopreservation containers 300 (storage space k) located at the four corners of the cryopreservation box 200.

[0045] This makes it possible to make the freeze-preservation containers 300 located at the four corners less susceptible to cooling than the other freeze-preservation containers 300, thereby ensuring uniform cooling temperatures in each freeze-preservation container 300 stored in the freeze-preservation box 200.

[0046] Furthermore, the board material is not necessarily limited to those constituting the support columns 6a and 6b described above, and may be attached separately from the support columns 6a and 6b. Also, by appropriately selecting the material and thickness of the board material, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of cold air while providing appropriate heat absorption and wind protection.

[0047] Furthermore, in the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, the difference in cooling temperature described above can be reduced by covering at least part or all of the side surface of the rack section 2 located near the fan 103 and exhaust port 104 of the pre-freezing device 100 with a plate material.

[0048] (Pre-freezing method using a cryopreservation rack) Next, a preliminary freezing method using the above-mentioned freezing rack 1 will be described.

[0049] When pre-freezing a sample, first, the sample is filled into a cryopreservation container 300 along with the culture medium, and then the cryopreservation containers 300 are placed in each storage space k of the cryopreservation box 200. In addition, a cryopreservation box 200 is placed in each rack section 2 of the cryopreservation rack 1.

[0050] Then, after placing the cryopreservation rack 1 in the storage space K of the pre-freezing device 100, the cooling temperature of the storage space K containing the cryopreservation rack 1 is controlled by adjusting the amount of liquid nitrogen ejected according to the temperature control program set by the temperature controller. This makes it possible to pre-freeze the samples filled in each cryopreservation container 300.

[0051] By the way, in the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, when the rack body 3 is housed in the storage space K of the pre-freezing device 100, one of several types of base plates 8A to 8F is selectively installed or removed according to the degree of cooling for each of the rack sections 2.

[0052] Furthermore, in the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, one of several types of base plates 8A to 8F is selectively installed or removed according to the degree of cooling in the multiple storage spaces k of the cryopreservation box 200.

[0053] In other words, in the pre-freezing apparatus 100, differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation racks 1 in the containment space K, differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation boxes 200 relative to the multiple rack sections 2, and further differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation containers 300 within the cryopreservation boxes 200 result in differences in the cooling temperature of the samples.

[0054] In the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, in order to reduce the difference in cooling temperature that occurs in such samples, an optimal base plate is placed on the surface of the bottom plate 4 for each rack section 2, according to the degree of cooling for each rack section 2 and the degree of cooling for the multiple storage spaces k of the cryopreservation box 200. Alternatively, the base plate is removed from the surface of the bottom plate 4.

[0055] In other words, since openings 4a and 5a are provided in the center of the bottom plate 4 and top plate 5 of each rack section 2, the cold air from the storage space K can easily flow vertically through these openings 4a and 5a to the rack body 3. On the other hand, by placing a base plate on the surface of the bottom plate 4 of each rack section 2, it is possible to adjust the flow of cold air passing through the openings 4a of the bottom plate 4.

[0056] Therefore, in the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to equalize the cooling temperature among the multiple rack sections 2 by adjusting the amount of cold air flowing between these multiple rack sections 2.

[0057] Table 1 shows an example of a base plate that is selectively installed on each of the seven rack sections 2 provided in each of the three cryogenic storage racks 1 housed in the storage space K of the pre-freezing device 100.

[0058] Table 1 shows the three cryogenic storage racks 1 (rack numbers 1 to 3) housed in the storage space K of the pre-freezing device 100, and the seven rack sections 2 (shelf numbers 1 to 7) provided in each cryogenic storage rack 1, indicating the type of base plate selectively installed in each of the rack sections 2 and whether or not a base plate is present.

[0059] [Table 1]

[0060] As shown in Table 1, of the three cryopreservation racks 1 (rack numbers 1-3), the cryopreservation rack 1 located in the center (rack number 2) is more difficult to cool than the cryopreservation racks 1 located at both ends (rack numbers 1 and 3).

[0061] Therefore, by using a base plate with a larger opening ratio for the centrally located cryopreservation rack 1 (rack number 2) than for the cryopreservation racks 1 located at both ends (rack numbers 1 and 3), the difference in cooling temperature due to the different arrangement of cryopreservation racks 1 in the storage space K is reduced.

[0062] On the other hand, among the seven rack sections (shelf numbers 1-7) of each freezing storage rack 1 (rack numbers 1-3), the middle rack section (shelf numbers 3-5) is more difficult to cool than the upper and lower rack sections (shelf numbers 1, 2, 6, 7).

[0063] Therefore, by using a base plate with a larger opening ratio in the middle rack section 2 (shelf numbers 3-5) than in the upper and lower rack sections 2 (shelf numbers 1, 2, 6, 7), the difference in cooling temperature due to the different arrangement of the cryopreservation boxes 200 across multiple rack sections 2 is reduced.

[0064] Furthermore, cooling adjustments using base plates can also be made by changing the material and thickness of the base plates. For example, by using base plates with a smaller thickness in the middle rack section 2 (shelf numbers 3-5) than in the upper and lower rack sections 2 (shelf numbers 1, 2, 6, 7), it is possible to reduce the difference in cooling temperature caused by the different arrangements of the cryopreservation boxes 200 across multiple rack sections 2.

[0065] Furthermore, regarding cooling adjustment using base plates, it is not limited to selectively installing or removing one base plate from the multiple types of base plates 8A to 8F described above; at least one type of base plate may be selectively installed or removed.

[0066] As described above, the pre-freezing method using the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to achieve uniform cooling temperatures while suppressing differences in the cooling temperature of the sample caused by differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation rack 1 in the storage space K, differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation boxes 200 relative to the multiple rack sections 2, and differences in the arrangement of the cryopreservation containers 300 within the cryopreservation box 200.

[0067] Therefore, the pre-freezing method using the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to reduce the temperature difference that occurs for each sample during cooling, thereby maintaining and standardizing the quality of the samples.

[0068] Furthermore, the pre-freezing method using the cryopreservation rack 1 of this embodiment is not necessarily limited to the examples shown in Table 1. For example, the arrangement of the fan 103 and the exhaust port 10 can also change the cooling tendency in the storage space K. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the cooling in accordance with such changes in the cooling tendency.

[0069] It should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the pre-freezing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not necessarily limited to the programmed freezer described above, but may also be a mechanical refrigerator, for example, as long as it pre-freezes the sample using the pre-freezing method with the above-described cryopreservation rack. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1…Cryogenic storage rack 2…Rack section 3…Rack body 4…Bottom plate 4a…Opening 5…Top plate 5a…Opening 6a,6b…Support column 7…Handle section 8A~8F…Base plate 8a…Opening E…Opening area K…Storage space k…Storage space 100…Pre-freezing device 200…Cryogenic storage box 300…Cryogenic storage container

Claims

1. A freezing storage rack comprising a rack body having multiple rack sections arranged in the vertical direction, wherein each of the rack sections is capable of housing a freezing storage box, The rack body comprises a plurality of bottom plates that constitute the bottom surface of each rack section and have an opening in the center of the bottom surface, four support columns that support the four corners of the plurality of bottom plates, and base plates that are detachably installed on the surface of each of the plurality of bottom plates. A cryopreservation rack characterized in that, when the rack body is housed in the storage space of a pre-freezing device for pre-freezing samples stored in the cryopreservation box, one of several types of base plates is selectively installed or removed from each of the rack sections according to the degree of cooling for each of the rack sections.

2. The aforementioned cryopreservation box has multiple storage spaces partitioned for each sample stored inside, The freezing storage rack according to claim 1, characterized in that when the rack body is housed in the storage space of the pre-freezing device, one of the multiple types of base plates is selectively installed or removed according to the degree of cooling in the multiple storage spaces of the freezing storage box.

3. The freezing storage rack according to claim 2, characterized in that the rack body has plate materials located at the four corners of the freezing storage box that face the storage space.

4. The freezing rack according to claim 3, characterized in that the aforementioned plate material constitutes the aforementioned support column.

5. The rack for freezing and preserving according to claim 1, characterized in that the rack body has a top plate that forms the upper surface of the rack section located at its uppermost level and has an opening in the center of the top surface, and the four corners of the top plate are supported by the four support columns.

6. The freezing rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of types of base plates include any of a mesh-like base plate, a porous base plate, a base plate having an opening smaller than the opening of the bottom plate, and a base plate that closes the opening of the bottom plate.

7. A freezing rack according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A pre-freezing apparatus having a storage space for housing the aforementioned cryopreservation rack, characterized in that it pre-freezes the samples stored in the cryopreservation box.

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