Portable cryogenic workstation

Abstract

To provide a low-temperature workstation which can control the water content and gas entering a sample storage system, can perform low-temperature storage so as to minimum a thermal load and allows easy access.SOLUTION: A portable low-temperature workstation includes: a housing having an interior cavity configured to hold one or more samples; a cover for sealing the interior cavity such that the portable low-temperature workstation is configured for transporting a sample between an approximately room temperature environment and an approximately ultra-cold environment; at least one automation device interface disposed on one or more of the housing and the cover and configured for engagement with an automation manipulation device; and a process data acquisition unit coupled to the housing and configured to acquire process or temporary data corresponding to predetermined processing characteristic(s) of at least one of the samples consistent with the presence inside the portable low-temperature workstation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6C

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application is a regular application claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 929,306 filed on January 20, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] [Technical Field] Exemplary embodiments relate generally to sample transport containers, and more specifically to laboratory sample transport containers.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] In general, samples such as biological samples or cryogenic samples are delivered or transported using bottles (e.g., transported within a laboratory, facility or building, or transported between laboratories, facilities or buildings). One example of a delivery container is a Dewar-type bottle. To insert or remove samples from these conventional delivery containers, the top surface of the container is removed, and the samples are inserted into or removed from the container. However, the insertion and removal of samples from the delivery container, for example from the delivery container to a sample storage location, is performed in an open atmosphere.

[0004] Many cryogenic samples may require low storage temperatures to maintain biological or cryogenic viability. For example, a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of water, such as about -135°C, is known as a temperature that maximally stops biological degradation and preserves cell viability. As such, many samples are stored near the temperature of liquid nitrogen. However, since samples are loaded into and removed from conventional sample storage systems (e.g., liquid nitrogen (LN2) Dewars and -150°C freezers, etc.) at room temperature, the samples are exposed to temperatures about 200°C above their storage temperature. In general, large amounts of dry ice (e.g., at a temperature of about -78°C) are used to move samples across laboratories, but the samples are still exposed to room temperature during loading into and removal from the storage system.

[0005] Furthermore, in conventional storage systems, samples are subject to temperature fluctuations during storage. For example, conventional large freezers rated at -150°C expose most of the stored samples to temperature changes when the lid is opened and closed. With manual LN2 dewars, the sample stack is removed to room temperature to add or remove a single sample. [Overview of the project]

[0006] For example, it is advantageous to insert and remove samples from a delivery container that allows for easy access without thermal load in a controlled environment, while enabling low-temperature storage so that moisture and gases entering the sample storage system can be controlled and / or the thermal load introduced into the sample storage system can be minimized to a negligible level. It is also advantageous to protect the samples in the delivery container from temperature fluctuations during insertion and removal of samples into and from the sample storage system.

[0007] The aforementioned aspects and other features of the disclosed embodiments are described in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1A] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1B] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1C] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1D] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1E] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1F]This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1G] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1H] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1I] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1J] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1K] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1L] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1M] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation and a part thereof according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1N] This is a partial schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 10] This is a partial schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1P] This is a partial schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1Q] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1R] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1S] This is a partial schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 1T]is a partial schematic view of a portable low-temperature workstation according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 1U] is a schematic view of a portion of a portable low-temperature workstation according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2] is a schematic view of an exemplary automated sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2A] is a partial schematic view of a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2B] is a partial schematic view of a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2C] is a partial schematic view of a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2D] is a partial schematic view of a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2E] is a partial schematic view of a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 2F] is a partial schematic view of a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 3A] is a schematic view of a portable low-temperature workstation connected to a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 3B] is a schematic view of a portable low-temperature workstation connected to a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 4A] is a schematic view of a connection process between a portable low-temperature workstation and a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 4B] is a schematic view of a connection process between a portable low-temperature workstation and a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 4C] is a schematic view of a connection process between a portable low-temperature workstation and a sample storage system according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments. [Figure 4D]This is a schematic diagram of the connection process between a portable cryogenic workstation and a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 4E] This is a schematic diagram of the connection process between a portable cryogenic workstation and a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 4F] This is a schematic diagram of the connection process between a portable cryogenic workstation and a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 5A] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 5B] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 6A] This is a schematic diagram of the connection process between a portable cryogenic workstation and a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 6B] This is a schematic diagram of the connection process between a portable cryogenic workstation and a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 6C] This is a schematic diagram of the connection process between a portable cryogenic workstation and a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart showing an aspect of the disclosed embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a flowchart showing an aspect of the disclosed embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram illustrating access to samples in a portable cryogenic workstation separated from the sample storage system, and the transport of the portable cryogenic workstation to the storage system. [Figure 9A] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9B] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9C]This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9D] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9E] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9F] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9G] This is a schematic diagram of equipment incorporating an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9H] This is a flowchart showing an aspect of the disclosed embodiment. [Figure 9I] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9J] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 9K] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 10A] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 10B] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 10C] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 10D] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 11] This is an exemplary flowchart for assembling a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 12A] This is a schematic diagram of a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 12B] This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant replenishment station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 12C] This is a partial schematic diagram of a refrigerant replenishment system or refrigerant replenishment station for a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 12D] This is a partial schematic diagram of a refrigerant replenishment system or refrigerant replenishment station for a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram of a part of a refrigerant replenishment system or refrigerant replenishment station of a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 14A] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 14B] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 14C] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 14D] This is a schematic diagram of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 14E] This is a partial schematic diagram of a sample storage and transport system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 14F] This is a schematic diagram of a part of a refrigerant replenishment system or refrigerant replenishment station of a sample storage system according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 15] This is a schematic diagram of a portion of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram of a portion of a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17A] This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17B] This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17C] This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17D]This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17E] This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17F] This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 17G] This is a schematic diagram of a sample handling station according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 18] This is a flowchart showing an aspect of the disclosed embodiment. [Figure 19] This is a schematic diagram of communication for a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Figure 20] This is a schematic diagram of communication for a portable cryogenic workstation according to an embodiment of the disclosed model. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figures 1A–1I show sample delivery containers / carriers or portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' (hereinafter generally referred to as portable cryogenic workstations) and some of the embodiments of the disclosed embodiments. While the embodiments of the disclosed embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the embodiments of the disclosed embodiments may be carried out in various forms. Any suitable size, shape, or type of element or material may be used. It should also be noted that the blocks shown in the flowcharts described herein may be performed in any suitable order. It should also be noted that one or more blocks shown in the flowcharts described herein may be omitted or considered optional.

[0010] The portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be used to transport any suitable sample, such as biological samples and / or cryogenic samples, and may have any suitable shape and size to enable automated and / or manual transport of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' described herein. As can be understood by referring to Figure 9, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be freestanding workstations that allow cooling of the sample 150 between manual access to the sample 150 by an operator in any suitable location, such as a laboratory workbench. The portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may be transported to and from the portable cryogenic workstations as described herein, and / or to the sample storage systems 200, 200', 200'' for the transfer of samples to and from the portable cryogenic workstations, and / or for the replenishment of the refrigerant (which may be a phase-change refrigerant or a coolant such as a cryogenic liquid) within the portable cryogenic workstations as described herein. In another embodiment, also with reference to Figures 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F, the portable cryogenic workstations enable the delivery or transport of biological or cryogenic samples within or between laboratories, facilities, or buildings. For example, portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may be transported between two stations (Station 200 is shown in Figures 9A and 9B for illustrative purposes only, and is representative of other storage and / or refrigerant replenishment stations described herein) using one or more of two types of transport systems (e.g., external and internal).For example, an external transport system transports portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' between two stations from outside the housing of the two stations (for example, in this case the housing is, for example, the external housing of the sample storage system 200, 200', 200'', refrigerant replenishment station 163, sorting device 950, and / or sample selection device 991). An internal transport system transports portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' between two stations inside a housing which may include multiple holding stations for the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' and / or samples transported therein (for example, in this case the housing is, for example, the housing of the sample storage system 200, 200', 200'', refrigerant replenishment station 163, sorting device 950, and / or sample selection device 991). The two types of transport systems each include equipment such as automated operating devices (e.g., overhead gantry 1499A, shuttle 1499', 200S, automated guided vehicle 1499B, etc.).

[0011] Referring to Figures 9F and 9J, as an example, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' described herein include a transport shuttle 200S or any other suitable transport unit (such as a gantry 1499A, a shuttle 1499A' (which is substantially the same as the transport shuttle 200S), and / or an automated guided vehicle 1499B) within the sample storage system 200'', input / output ports 973, standby station 974 (including refrigerant replenishment in one embodiment), storage position 291, or any other suitable holding position for the portable cryogenic workstation (cryogenic storage unit or storage One or more portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may be transported within the sample storage system 200'' to move from one location, such as one or more vaults 291), to one or more cryogenic storage units or areas within the storage system adjacent to the storage unit 291 (for example, a transport shuttle 200S may transport portable cryogenic workstations from one area of ​​the sample storage system 200'' to another area of ​​the sample storage system 200'' for collecting or placing samples). In one embodiment, with reference to Figures 9E and 9F, the sample storage system 200'' may be substantially the same as that described in U.S. Patent No. 8,252,232, issued on 28 August 2012 (all of which are incorporated herein by reference), and U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 334,619, filed on 22 December 2011, publication number 2012 / 0163945, such that the area 954 on which the transport shuttle 200S operates can be maintained at a temperature higher than that of one or more cryogenic storage units 291, and that samples can be rapidly transferred between one or more cryogenic storage units 291 and portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'', while maintaining the temperature of the samples without the need to cool the area of ​​the transport shuttle 200S.

[0012] In one embodiment, the conveyor shuttle may be substantially the same as that described in U.S. Patent No. 8,252,232, issued on 28 August 2012, and U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 334,619, filed on 22 December 2011, publication number 2012 / 0163945. For example, referring to Figures 9I and 9K, the shuttle 200S includes a frame 1980 and one or more tracks 1981A, 1981B, the frame 1980 moves along the tracks 1981A, 1981B in the direction of arrow 1988. A conveyor unit 1983 is attached to the frame 1980 to move along the frame in the direction of arrow 1987. The conveyor unit 1983 includes an effector 1982 configured to engage with the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' for taking out and positioning the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' at predetermined holding positions as described herein. In one embodiment, the effector 1982 is configured to engage with the kinematic features of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' for definitively positioning the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' at predetermined holding positions, such as predetermined positions on the conveyor unit 1983. The workpiece holder conveyor 1983X is positioned on the conveyor unit 1983 for transporting workpiece holders, such as trays STR, to and from the cryogenic storage position or storage unit 291. A gantry picker GPKR with effector 1984 (movable in the directions of arrows 1988 and 1989) is positioned on conveyor unit 1983 to transfer samples between the workpiece holder and portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', and 100'''' held on conveyor unit 1983. As can be understood, the gantry picker GPKR, effector 1982, and workpiece holder conveyor 1983X are movable together with conveyor unit 1983 in the direction of arrow 1987.In one embodiment, the multiple degrees of freedom of the shuttle 200S allow the standby station 974 to hold portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array, where the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are located adjacent to each other and / or vertically.

[0013] As can be understood, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may enable the transfer of samples in a room temperature environment, a low temperature environment (e.g., -80°C), a very low temperature environment (e.g., below -150°C), or any other suitable environment having any suitable temperature. See also Figures 9C and 9D, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may also enable the transfer of samples 150 between two or more portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' and / or one or more cryogenic storage units 291 using any suitable automated transfer device (e.g., a transfer robot arm 933). A cryogenic buffer area 934 (e.g., another portable cryogenic workstation, a cryogenic plate, a refrigerant dewar, a refrigerated compartment, etc.) may be provided to enable the replacement of caps on sample containers without warming the sample 150, or any other operations that may be performed during the removal and placement of the sample 150.

[0014] Referring to Figure 9G, the exemplary setup is shown having one or more conveyors 961, 962 for transporting portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' between an overhead transport unit or shuttle system (such as gantry / shuttle 1499A, 1499A'), an automated guided vehicle 1499B, and an automated operating station (such as an automated sample storage system 200, 200', a refrigerant replenishment station 163, a sorting device 950, a sample selection device 991, etc., which transfers samples from one workstation to another as described herein by an automated unit such as a robotic arm 933) and a manual operating station 951 (such as a laboratory workbench), which may include a sample handling station 1700 as described below. In one embodiment, the sample selection device 991 may be substantially the same as that described in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 229,077, filed March 28, 2014, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be transported to a predetermined automated or manual operating station (Figure 9H, block 980). The transport of the portable cryogenic workstations may be through an automated article handling system 1499A (e.g., overhead transport unit), 1499B (e.g., automated guided vehicle), 961 (conveyor), 962 (conveyor), shuttle 1499A', or manually. As can be understood, the automated article handling system may be configured to transport or hand over the portable cryogenic workstations to or from one another. For example, the overhead transport unit 1499A, the shuttle 1499A', and the conveyors 961 and 962 may be configured such that one or more of the overhead transport unit 1499A and the shuttle 1499A' take portable cryogenic workstations from the conveyors 961 and 962, and place the portable cryogenic workstations onto the conveyors 961 and 962.In another embodiment, the overhead transport unit 1499A, the shuttle 1499A', and the automated guided vehicle (AGV) 1499B may be configured such that one or more of the overhead transport unit 1499A and the shuttle 1499A' retrieve a portable cryogenic workstation from the AGV 1499B and place the portable cryogenic workstation into the AGV 1499B. In yet another embodiment, the AGV 1499B and the conveyors 961, 962 may be configured such that the AGV retrieves a portable cryogenic workstation from the conveyors 961, 962 and places the portable cryogenic workstation into the conveyors 961, 962. In yet another embodiment, the overhead transport unit 1499A and the shuttle 1499A' are configured so that the portable cryogenic workstation is transported between the overhead transport unit 1499A and the shuttle 1499A'. As can be understood, the input / output ports 973 of the sample storage systems 200, 201', 200'' (and the input / output ports of other cryogenic workstation holding positions, such as replenishment stations) are configured to allow the transport of portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' between the transport systems described herein and the sample storage systems 200, 201', 200'' (and other cryogenic workstation holding positions). For example, referring to Figures 9K and 9J, the shuttle 1499A' (which is substantially the same as the shuttle 200S) positions the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' on any suitable support 974S of the input / output port 974, such as by moving the conveyor unit in one or more directions 1987, 1988, 1989. The support unit 974S is configured to transport the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' into their respective storage systems so that the shuttle 200S can retrieve the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' from the support unit 974S (for example, in queue 974), so that samples can be transferred between the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' and the cryogenic storage unit or storage unit 291.

[0015] The samples may be handled in any suitable manner (such as being placed in a storage unit, analyzed, or transferred to another portable cryogenic workstation) by removing one or more samples from a portable cryogenic workstation in the manner described herein (Figure 9H, block 981). In one embodiment, any suitable automated unit may remove the sample tray 150T from the portable cryogenic workstation in the manner described herein in order to provide the samples to a storage unit or operator OPER. In one embodiment, the operator may remove the samples from the tray 150T and place the samples in the tray 150T, but in another embodiment, any suitable automated unit may remove the samples from the tray 150T and place the samples in the tray 150T as described herein. The samples may be returned to the portable cryogenic workstation (Figure 9H, block 982), and the workstation may be transported to another operating station or another part of the same operating system through one or more of the transport systems 1499A, 1499B, 961, 962, 933, 933A, or manually. If a portable cryogenic workstation is to be transported to another part of the same operating system 963, any suitable automated unit 933A, such as a robotic arm or other suitable transport unit, conveyor, or gantry inside the station, may be located at least partially within the operating system 963 to transport the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0016] Referring again to Figures 1A–1I, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be configured to maintain a sample 150 (e.g., located in a sample container or on a slide) near liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature (e.g., below about -150°C), while maintaining the sample (and the inside 110°C of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''') below about -150°C as described below. In some embodiments, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' maintain the sample at temperatures of about -196°C to about -30°C, about -196°C to about -120°C, about -196°C to approximately the glass transition temperature of water, or about -196°C to about -150°C.

[0017] As can be understood, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be configured to mitigate the effects of moisture and / or ice, including condensation, that builds up inside, on or around the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. For example, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be made of any suitable material that allows the portable cryogenic workstation to be heated or warmed in order to completely dry the internal cavity or exterior of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. In one embodiment, the heating element may be located inside the housing and / or lid walls of the portable cryogenic workstation so that the heating element can be connected to a power source in any suitable way to heat or warm the portable cryogenic workstation. In some examples, a drying gas is used to purge moisture in and / or around the environment of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. For example, if the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' are located in, for example, an automated storage system, a refrigerant replenishment station, or other partially or completely enclosed area, a dry gas can be used to purge moisture in and / or around the portable cryogenic workstation. In some embodiments, a portion of the refrigerant contained in the portable cryogenic workstation (e.g., a cryogenic liquid such as liquid nitrogen) evaporates to provide a dry purge gas (e.g., dry nitrogen gas). If the evaporation of the refrigerant from the portable cryogenic workstation is insufficient to achieve the desired dew point in and / or around the workstation, an additional dry gas may be provided, for example, by using a heater and / or cryogenic liquid to promote the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid and form a dry purge gas.

[0018] Portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may have a tendency to draw in moisture (typically forming ice) when filled with a refrigerant. Therefore, in some embodiments, a refrigerant (e.g., a cryogenic liquid) is added to one workstation, and one or more workstations are enclosed at least partially or completely in a housing, as described in more detail below. Within the housing, a dry purge gas as described above may be used to achieve a desired dew point within the housing and thereby prevent the drawing of undesirable moisture into the workstation.

[0019] The portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be connected to or configured to connect to an automated cryogenic storage system as described below. While the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are exemplified herein as top-loading portable cryogenic workstations having substantially rectangular, square, or cylindrical cavities, in another embodiment the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be configured as top, side, or bottom-loading portable cryogenic workstations having any suitable shape, and it should be noted that the storage system may include suitable side-loading and / or bottom-loading interfaces substantially similar to those described herein. In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstation may have a configuration of a Dewar-type bottle 100'' including the features described herein (see also Figures 1I, 1Q, and 1R) such that the flask 100'' fits into the automated storage system in substantially the same manner as described herein. In another embodiment, where the Dewar-type bottle includes a screw-on cap (not shown) for closing the bottle, the load port door described herein may be configured with a rotatable gripper for unscrewing the cap from the bottle, but the bottle may be fitted into the load port and the sample may be removed from the bottle in substantially the same manner as described herein. In another embodiment, as seen in Figures 1Q and 1R, the portable cryogenic workstation 100''' may have a substantially cylindrical housing 110CH (for example, forming a Dewar container). The portable cryogenic workstation 100''' may include the features described herein with respect to the workstation 100 so that the portable cryogenic workstation 100'''' fits into an automated storage system in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the workstation 100, and the lid 113 of the Dewar container includes a kinematic positioning feature 113A and a latch key engagement feature, or other suitable coupling feature for connecting to a sample storage system and / or refrigerant filling / replenishment station as described herein.Thus, the portable cryogenic workstation 100'' includes a deterministic placement feature on one or more of the housing 110CH and lid 113 to provide deterministic placement and automated opening / closing of the portable cryogenic workstation 100''. As can be understood, by maintaining the internal 110C at a suitable temperature such as below -150°C and maintaining the ability to connect the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' to the automated storage system, the automated storage system and samples can be protected from temperature fluctuations and water / frost ingress. In one embodiment, as seen in Figures 1S and 1T, the portable cryogenic workstation (workstation 100 is shown for illustrative purposes only) may be configured to hold one or more sample trays (tray 150T is shown for illustrative purposes only). For example, a portable cryogenic workstation may hold a single tray 150T, or it may hold N×N rows of trays 150T (for illustrative purposes only, a 1×4 row tray is shown in Figure 1S, while a 2×2 row tray is shown in Figure 1T). Although the trays 150T are shown arranged in a single plane (e.g., adjacent to each other), in another embodiment the trays may be located in different planes (e.g., vertically) in addition to or instead of adjacent to each other.

[0020] Portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may provide protection for samples 150 being placed in and removed from the storage area, and may also provide the ability for an operator to manually manipulate samples on a workbench while maintaining the samples at or near-low temperatures in a normal laboratory environment. In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' provide manual (or automated) access to the samples 150, any tray or rack 150T holding the samples 150, and / or one or more trays 150T, 150T', 150T'' / any suitable holder TH holding the samples 150. In one embodiment, the tray or rack 150T may be any suitable well plate for holding the samples. In one embodiment, the tray or rack 150T' may be composed of a thermally conductive material configured to maintain the sample at a predetermined temperature when the tray or rack 150T' is positioned substantially in contact with a cooling source (such as the absorbent pad 170, refrigerant unit 170' described below) which may be called a refrigerant or consuming medium accumulator, using a refillable or replaceable refrigerant / coolant (also referred to herein as a consuming medium). In one embodiment, also with reference to Figure 1N, the tray 150T' may include a cryogenic battery CB that operates through the conductive material rather than the air temperature around the sample. The cryogenic battery CB (shown on the side of the sample 150 for illustrative purposes) may act as a cryogenic heat sink to dissipate heat to the consuming medium source and cool the sample 150. As can be understood, the sample holding area may be located within the cryogenic battery CB as shown in Figure 1B. In another embodiment, the tray or rack 150T'' may include an interface 150TI between the tray or rack 150TP and a refrigerant or consumption medium configured to provide a uniform temperature distribution to the sample 150 in the tray or rack 150TP, which is connected to the interface 150TI.In one embodiment, also with reference to Figure 1O, trays 150, 150', 150'' (tray 150T' is shown in Figure 1O for illustrative purposes) may be separated from the consuming medium source by a thin insulating layer (e.g., an inner shell 1005 of the housing 110 as described below, see, for example, Figure 10A). Trays 150, 150', 150'' may abut the thin insulating layer to allow heat transfer from the sample 150 to the consuming medium source in order to cool the sample 150. In yet another embodiment, as seen in Figure 1P, trays 150, 150', 150'' may be or include substantially solid inserts in which the sample 150 is placed. Figure 1P shows, for example, tray 150T' having a substantially solid configuration in which the tray is inserted into a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' (workstation 100 is shown for illustrative purposes). In one embodiment, holder TH' may be a box having a housing THH with a cavity for holding sample 150 within the cavity, and a lid THL for closing the cavity. In one embodiment, tray TH may be configured to hold holder TH'. The cavity of holder TH' may include any suitable consuming medium accumulator, such as a refrigerant unit 170', configured to maintain the cavity and the sample 150 within it at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. The sample 150 in housing THH may be held in any suitable tray or rack 150'. In one embodiment, tray or rack 150' may be substantially the same as tray or rack 150T, 150T', 150T''.Manual (or automated) access may be provided for adding and removing trays 150T, 150T', 150T'' and / or holders TH to and from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', and / or for adding and removing individual samples 150 to and from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. This manual access may be provided by a lid 113 that can be easily removed manually. In one embodiment, the housing 110 may include a hinge 113H, and the lid 113 pivots around the hinge 113H between a closed position (shown in Figure 1K) and an open position (shown in Figure 1J), with the lid sealing the cavity 110C when in the closed position and locking substantially against the side of the housing 110 when in the open position. In some embodiments, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' include features that are mechanically or electronically controlled to maintain the security of the lid 113. For example, the workstation lid may be protected by a mechanical lock and key. In another embodiment, the workstation lid is released only when an electronic key code is received, either entered into the workstation by a user via an interface or transmitted to the workstation (e.g., wirelessly). In some embodiments, unauthorized opening of the workstation lid triggers the generation of an alarm, the sending of a notification, and / or the occurrence of a data logging event.

[0021] The portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be sized, shaped, and of any appropriate weight such that an operator can easily lift and transport them. For example, in one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstation (including the sample and cryogenic refrigerant / consumption medium) may weigh no more than 10 pounds. In another embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstation may have any appropriate weight. The housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH may include any appropriate operating features 111, 190, or any other appropriate features that enable a human or automated gripper to hold and transport the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. In one embodiment, a foldable handle 190 can provide manual (one-handed) transport of the portable cryogenic workstation 100. The foldable handle 190 may be similar to that on a beverage cooler, rotating approximately 90° between an extended and folded position (for example, resulting in the handle locking against the side of the portable cryogenic workstation). In another embodiment, a plurality of handles 111 located on both sides of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' can provide manual (two-handed) transport of the portable cryogenic workstation 100. In either case, the handles 190, 111 can be positioned so that an operator can hold the workstation with one hand and remove the lid 113 of the workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' with the other hand. The portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may also have any suitable height H to accommodate sample containers or slides of any suitable height.

[0022] According to embodiments of the disclosed models, portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may provide a substantially constant low-temperature environment for samples moving from the laboratory workbench to the storage area and back to the laboratory workbench. Furthermore, portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may provide linking of pre-storage operations and history (e.g., operating time, operating temperature, operating characteristics, etc.) to storage and / or post-storage operations and history, which can assist in temperature logging, tracking of samples moving through the laboratory, tracking of samples during transport outside the laboratory, protection of samples by restricting physical access to samples, and sample handling compliance over the lifetime of the samples.

[0023] In some embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the portable cryogenic workstation may include frames forming housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH. The housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH may be insulated and may include a cavity or interior 110C into which a cartridge 120 (see Figure 1H, e.g., a spaced shelf or holding area 121 holding a stack of samples 150 in a sample tray 150T) can be inserted. In another embodiment, the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH may include a single holding area 121 configured to hold a single sample tray 150T. In yet another embodiment, the tray 150T may be placed in any suitable removable holder TH configured to allow automated transport of the tray 150T to and from the cavity 110C. The cavity may be shaped and sized to allow operator access to the sample located within the cavity, such as with a gloved hand. The housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH may include a sealing surface 110S1 positioned around the periphery of the cavity 110C. The sealing surface 110S1 may connect or engage with a corresponding sealing surface of the automated storage system (described below) (see, for example, 201S in Figure 2A) to create or provide a seal between the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH and the opening or load port 207 of the automated storage system, for example, to minimize the ingress of moisture into the storage system and the transfer of heat loads.

[0024] The cavity 110C may be sealed by lids 113, 113'. The housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH and / or lids 113, 113' may be insulated in any suitable way (for example, using vacuum insulating material configured as a vacuum insulating panel, or any other suitable insulating configuration) to maintain one or more samples 150 placed in the cavity at a predetermined temperature, such as below -150°C, for a predetermined period, such as about 2 hours (or any period longer or shorter than about 2 hours), during the transport of one or more samples 150. In one embodiment, the insulating material may be sandwiched between an inner metal layer (for example, arranged along the portions of the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH and lids 113, 113' that form the cavity 110C) and an outer plastic layer that forms the outer surface of the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH and lids 113, 113'. In another embodiment, the isolation of the portable cryogenic workstation may be provided by any suitable method.

[0025] The lids may have any suitable shape and size, for example, to substantially seal the cavity 110C. The interface between the lids 113, 113' and the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH may be configured to allow easy removal of the lids from the housings through uniaxial movement of the lids relative to the housings. In one embodiment, the lids may be removed by uniaxial movement only. The interface between the lids 113, 113' and the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH may be tapered interfaces that substantially allow purging the cavity 110C (described below) while maintaining the controlled environment within the cavity 110C. For example, the lids 113, 113' may have tapered sides 113S that connect to corresponding tapered surfaces 110S2 positioned around the periphery of the cavity 110C (for example, to form interface IF4, described below). As can be understood, the two surfaces 113S, 110S2 may form a seal to substantially seal the inside of the cavity 110C from the environment outside the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. In another embodiment, the surfaces 113S, 110S2 may have any suitable shape and / or configuration to substantially seal the inside of the cavity 110C from the environment outside the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. Also as can be understood, the lids 113, 113' and / or the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH may be provided with any suitable vents or other openings, channels, and / or passages to allow any gas resulting from, for example, the boil-off of a low-temperature refrigerant / consumption medium (e.g., LN2, etc.) to be discharged from the cavity. In another embodiment, the surfaces 113S, 110S2 may allow gas generated from the low-temperature refrigerant to pass through the lids 113, 113'.It should be noted that the lids 113, 113' may be held or coupled to the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH in any suitable way, such as by a releasable passive or operable mechanical and / or magnetic coupling, which may be brought about by a uniaxial movement of the lids 113, 113' (for example, in the direction of arrow 198) that causes the lids 113, 113' to fit onto the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. In another embodiment, the folding handle 190 may have any suitable mechanical, magnetic and / or electrical locking features / actuators such that when the folding handle 190 is in the deployed position, the locking features engage with the corresponding locking features of the lids 113, 113'. Furthermore, the lids 113, 113' may include any suitable handle or gripping feature 114 that allows for operator and / or automated removal of the lid. In one embodiment, the lid and handle may be configured so that the operator can remove the lid without wearing gloves. The lid may include alignment and positioning features to connect the lid to an automated lid removal element / feature in an automated storage system. For example, the lids 113, 113' may include any suitable number of positioning / aligning features 113A (e.g., pins, recesses, magnets, etc.) that engage with the corresponding alignment feature 220A of the load port door 220 (see Figure 2C) to align the lids 113, 113' to the load port door 220. The lid may also include any suitable positioning / alignment feature 113AP (see Figures 1G and 1L) that mates with the corresponding alignment feature of the automated storage system for temporarily placing or storing the lid within the automated storage system during the transfer of samples to and from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. In another embodiment, the lids 113, 113' may be removed from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH before connecting the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH to the automated storage system.In yet another embodiment, the lids 113, 113' may be removed from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH after the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH have been connected to the automated storage system and before the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH have been sealed to the automated storage system (in a manner similar to that described below).

[0026] As described above, the cartridge 120 or holder TH may be located within the cavity 110C. The cartridge 120 or holder TH may include one or more spaced shelves or holding areas 121 configured to hold the sample 150 in any suitable spatial arrangement. In one embodiment, the sample 150 may be held within a tray 150T, and each shelf 121 is configured to securely hold one or more trays 150T in any suitable manner. As shown in Figure 1H, each shelf 121 may hold one tray 150T, but in another embodiment, each shelf may hold one or more trays in adjacent and / or front-to-back arrangements. The cartridge 120 (and / or holder TH described above) may include any suitable guide features that connect to corresponding guide features within the cavities of the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. The guide features 122 may be, for example, corresponding protrusions and recesses, guide rails and slots, pins and recesses, or any other suitable arrangement features. The guide feature 122 may be configured, for example, to allow the cartridge 120 to be positioned in the cavity in a predetermined orientation relative to the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH. The cartridge 120 (and / or holder TH) may be connected to the lids 113, 113' in any suitable way, or may be formed as an integral part with the lids 113, 113', so that when the lids 113, 113' are removed from the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH, the cartridge 120 is removed together with the lids 113, 113' for automatic or manual handling of the sample. In another embodiment, the cartridge 120 may be removable from the lids 113, 113' by any suitable feature on the outside of the lids 113, 113' (e.g., a latch key with a key and keyhole, a sliding pin, a magnetic latch, etc.) so that the cartridge 120 can be attached to the lids 113, 113' for automatic operation or removed from the lids 113, 113' for manual operation of the sample 150.In yet another embodiment, the cartridge 120 (and / or holder TH) may include a gripping feature that allows an automated gripping unit of the sample storage system to remove the cartridge or holder from the cavity 110C.

[0027] The cavity may also include a cryogenic refrigerant space in which a refrigerant (e.g., a consuming medium) is held within the cavity 110C to cool the inside of the cavity and the sample within it. The cryogenic refrigerant space may be located within the cavity 110C at an appropriate position relative to the sample 150. In one embodiment, the cryogenic refrigerant space 170S may be located below the sample, but in another embodiment, it may be located at any appropriate location. In one embodiment, a consuming medium accumulator, such as an absorbent pad or member 170 (Figures 1D and 1E), may be placed within the cryogenic refrigerant space. The absorbent pad 170 may be configured to hold or absorb LN2 (or any other appropriate cryogenic refrigerant / consuming medium) to prevent LN2 from sloshing around inside the cavity and to form a cooling unit of "dry liquid nitrogen". In some examples, the consuming medium accumulator, such as the absorbent pad 170, may attract moisture, for example, when the workstation lid is removed or before the consuming medium accumulator is placed in the cavity. Such moisture may adhere to the outer and / or inner surfaces (e.g., within the pores) of the consuming medium accumulator. Moisture attracted to the consuming medium accumulator may freeze when the refrigerant is subsequently filled, and may expand as ice forms. Therefore, in some embodiments, the consuming medium accumulator is formed of an elastic material that can be deformed without crumbling when ice forms and melts on and / or inside the consuming medium accumulator. In some embodiments, the consuming medium accumulator is an absorbent pad made from a porous elastic polymer material, such as an elastic polymer foam. In another embodiment, the low-temperature refrigerant space and / or consuming medium accumulator may include any suitable baffles and / or retaining members to prevent the refrigerant (e.g., LN2) from sloshing around inside the cavity. In yet another embodiment, the low-temperature refrigerant space and / or consuming medium accumulator may be a substantially sealed chamber with vents to allow gases resulting from the boil-off of the refrigerant (e.g., LN2) to escape into the cavity 110C.The sealed chamber may be formed from any suitable material that allows heat transfer between the sealed chamber and the cavity 110C in order to cool the inside of the cavity and the sample within it. In yet another embodiment, the cryogenic refrigerant space may form a consumption medium accumulator. As can be understood, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may be configured to allow manual or automatic replenishment of the refrigerant (e.g., LN2). For example, the cryogenic refrigerant space and pad 170 may be located within the cavity so that an operator or an automated replenishment station (of an automated storage system or refrigerant replenishment station as described herein) can inject or transfer the refrigerant into the pad 170 (see channel 1010 in Figure 10B, which is described in more detail below). In one embodiment, the cryogenic refrigerant space 170S may be separated from the internal cavity 110C by a separation wall or basket 1015 (Figure 10A). The separation wall 1015 may have holes or other openings in the wall that allow the refrigerant to pass between the internal cavity 110C and the low-temperature refrigerant space 170S, so that the refrigerant can be replenished by injecting the refrigerant into the internal cavity so that the refrigerant enters the absorbent member 170 through the holes. In another embodiment, a sealable coupling or port 170P (Figure 1E) may be provided at any suitable location on the workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'' (e.g., on the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH and / or on the lids 113, 113') to allow connection of any suitable refrigerant source to the portable low-temperature workstation for replenishment of the refrigerant while the lids 113, 113' remain on the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH and / or on the lids 113, 113', as described in more detail below.As can be understood, the sealable coupling 170P may be located on the side, top, or bottom of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', for example, to enable automatic refrigerant replenishment when the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are docked or connected to a sample storage system or at any other suitable refrigerant filling / replenishment station 163 (which may be substantially the same as the automated sample storage systems 200, 200' described herein). In another embodiment, a sealable coupling 170P may enable the portable cryogenic workstation to function as a controlled-rate freezer (for example, controlled by supplying nitrogen gas or atomized LN2 at a predetermined temperature into the cavity 110C, for example, a temperature sensor 169 which in one embodiment may be integrated with the portable cryogenic workstation, and in another embodiment may be located on station 163 and / or automated sample storage systems 200, 200', providing temperature feedback to a control device 164 which is configured to control the rate at which nitrogen gas enters the cavity 110C based on signals from the temperature sensor 169) and / or a defrosting device (for example, supplying high-temperature and low-temperature cycles of dry nitrogen into the cavity 110C). In another embodiment, the control device 164 (integrated with the portable cryogenic workstation) may communicate with any suitable central control device (described below), which is connected to station 163 and / or automated sample storage systems 200, 200' to control the rate at which refrigerant enters the cavity 110C. In yet another embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' can function as passive speed-controlled freezers without sensor feedback or additional gas supply.In this embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may cool the sample in a repeatable manner depending on the heat capacity of the sample and the sample container, which includes, for example, a tray in which the sample is positioned so that different passive cooling rate profiles are obtained by different trays. In yet another embodiment, a sealable coupling or port 170P may be configured to allow the injection of a refrigerant into the cryogenic refrigerant space.

[0028] Referring again to Figures 1B and 1C, the refrigerant in cavity 110C may provide a “pre-cooled” environment in which the sample is positioned so that, for example, moisture and gases entering the sample storage system can be controlled, and / or the heat load introduced into the sample storage system can be minimized while maintaining the sample at a predetermined temperature. It should also be noted that by venting evaporated refrigerant (e.g., evaporated LN2) into cavity 110C, the environment within cavity 110C is replenished with a nearly constant low-temperature dry gas. The low-temperature dry gas is dense and forms a “pool” in which the sample sinks, which allows for handling of the sample by a lid away from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' as the low-temperature dry gas accumulates around the sample. Although the environment within the cavity may be stirred and disturbed by the handling of the sample, the “pool” remains stable (as seen in Figure 1B, for example, the temperatures of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100’, 100'', 100'''' are naturally stratified as shown by the hierarchical line STR), and the sample is replenished while being maintained in a low-temperature, dry atmosphere (for example, the portion of the portable cryogenic workstation where the sample is located remains at a temperature below -150°C).

[0029] In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may include any suitable identification indicator and / or any suitable sensors for monitoring samples within the portable cryogenic workstation. For example, any suitable temperature sensor 169 (Figure 1C) may be placed in the cavity 110C in close proximity to the sample. The temperature sensor 169 can provide an estimate of the temperature of the sample 150 by sensing the temperature within the cavity. In another embodiment, the temperature sensor 169 may be in substantially direct contact with one or more sample containers (e.g., holding the sample 150) in the cavity 110C to provide substantially direct temperature readings for each of one or more samples and / or the average temperature of the samples in substantially direct contact with the sensor. In one embodiment, sensor 169 (and / or other sensors described herein) may be configured to wirelessly (or without contact) transmit temperature data (or any other suitable data described herein, generally referred to as transient or processing data) to any suitable receiving device, such as a display unit / user interface 169D located on the outer surface of a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''', in order to monitor processing data in the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. The display unit 169D may include a processing data acquisition unit configured to acquire transient or processing data corresponding to predetermined processing characteristics of at least one sample, in synchronization with the presence of a sample in the portable cryogenic workstation. The processing data acquisition unit DCU may be configured to acquire data relating to the status of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' (e.g., temperature, lid presence, handle position, consumption medium level), and / or date and time. In another embodiment, the processing data acquisition unit DCU may be configured to acquire data on a sample (or other item) in a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''''.For example, in one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstation may be used for organ transplantation (e.g., organ transport), blood sample transport, syringe transport, and / or as a delivery container for any other suitable biological or other sample requiring cryogenic transport. Each item (sample 150, organ, blood sample, syringe, etc.) within the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be identified by any suitable method (e.g., a barcode or other identifier as described herein). The identification of the items (and their positions within the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' when the items are located in tray 150T or other holding devices) may be transferred to a data acquisition unit DCU to enable the transport and / or tracking of items during analysis.

[0030] In one embodiment, the processing data acquisition unit DCU may communicate with any suitable data transmission unit 164T configured to send processing data and other transient data (as described herein) received from various sensors to a user interface located remotely from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', any suitable automated operating device located remotely from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', and / or an automated operating device to which the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are connected or connected to. Transient or processed data can be reviewed / analyzed in real time (for example, data is transmitted approximately every 250 milliseconds or at any other suitable time interval) on or remotely from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' as historical data (e.g., defining processing history) and / or from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. The display unit / user interface 169D may include, or be communicably connected to, a transmitter 164T, a control unit 164, a temperature sensor 169 (or any suitable sensor such as an accelerometer, position and / or location sensor (e.g., spatial orientation or GPS sensor), weight sensor, refrigerant level sensor, pressure sensor, sensor for detecting and / or measuring refrigerant gas release), and / or an identification display unit 168 (e.g., an RFID tag, barcode).In one embodiment, the processing data acquisition unit and transmission unit 164T may be configured to receive information from a user interface located remotely from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', any suitable automated operating device located remotely from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', and / or an automated operating device to which the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are connected or connected within them. For example, the identification of a sample placed into the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' (e.g., a barcode or other identifier), and / or the date and time of sample placement may be transmitted to or stored in memory 169M.

[0031] Referring to Figure 19, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may wirelessly communicate with the machine in which they are placed (e.g., automated sample storage systems 200, 200', refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163). For example, the portable cryogenic workstations may provide, for example, the machine's control unit 1900 with any appropriate transient, processing, or status data, such as the temperature of the sample 150, the temperature in the cavity 110C, the level of the consuming medium in the portable cryogenic workstation, the lid pressure, the handle position, the date, and the time. The portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may also be configured to wirelessly receive information from the machine, such as the identification of the sample 150T, the date and time the sample was prepared or placed in the portable cryogenic workstation. In another embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstation may include a data transfer port DTP (Figure 1C), such as a USB port, serial port, or Ethernet port, or other connections that enable data transfer to and from the portable cryogenic workstation. In one embodiment, a user may connect a remotely located computer to the portable cryogenic workstation through the data transfer port DTP to transmit the data described herein. In another embodiment, the machine into which the portable cryogenic workstation is inserted may communicate with the portable cryogenic workstation through the data transfer port DTP. For example, when the portable cryogenic workstation is inserted into a machine, a connector corresponding to the data transfer port DTP may engage with the data transfer port to wire a communication connection between the machine and the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0032] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 20, the data may be transferred to a remotely located computer RPCU or other device (via a wired connection, such as a data transfer port DTP, or both) enabling, for example, a physician / internist to acquire the location and / or status of a sample 150, organ, syringe, etc. (which may include data as described herein with respect to the portable cryogenic workstation). As an example, a blood sample may be provided in a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' for analysis and sent to a laboratory. The physician or other authorized person may access the data stored in the memory 169M of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' to acquire any appropriate information regarding the history, status and / or location of the provided sample, via communication with a remotely located computer and processing data acquisition unit DCU. For example, in one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be equipped with a clock and global positioning (or other position tracking function) so that a physician can obtain the physical location of the sample 150T. In another embodiment, as each sample is removed from and analyzed from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', the processing data acquisition unit (DCU) may be updated (for example, with respect to which sample has been removed, analyzed, and returned to the workstation) so that, for example, a physician can remotely determine which sample 150T is being analyzed. Also, a handle position indicator may be provided to show the physician the location of the sample, along with any unauthorized interference with the sample. Data updates may occur through any suitable long-range or short-range wireless or wired communication, such as RFID, Bluetooth, ZigBee, inductive or infrared wireless communication, ultra-wideband communication, cellular systems, satellites, Ethernet, USB, etc.In one embodiment, remote access to data from a portable cryogenic workstation may be provided through the Internet, the World Wide Web, or other suitable user interface accessible from a remotely located computer or other device.

[0033] For example, as described herein, the sensor 169 may communicate with a fluid source (which may be under the control of the control device 164) connected to the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' so that a fluid (e.g., gas, vapor, liquid, etc.) can be introduced into the cavity to regulate the temperature inside the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' based on a signal from the temperature sensor 169. In another example, the fluid may be introduced into the cavity to regulate the temperature inside the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' based on signals from an ambient temperature (e.g., laboratory temperature) sensor, a weight sensor, a fluid level sensor, a gas pressure sensor, and / or a sensor for detecting and / or measuring the presence or absence of gas emission from the workstation or gas release from the workstation (e.g., from an evaporating refrigerant). Wireless or contactless communication may be inductive or through any suitable communication protocol such as RFID, Bluetooth, ZigBee, inductive or infrared wireless communication, ultra-wideband communication, or cellular.

[0034] As described above, an identification display unit 168 may be provided. The identification display unit may be in the form of any suitable barcode, RFID tag, reprogrammable memory device, or other display unit / device that identifies the sample 150 and / or rack 150T in the cavity to the operator, control device 164, and / or automated operating device. In another embodiment, the identification display unit 168 may be a reprogrammable memory device configured to store information about the sample 150 and / or rack 150T in the cavity 110C and to display or communicate the stored information to the operator and / or automated operating device such as a sample storage system. As can be understood, the reprogrammable memory device may be configured so that the sample storage system and / or operator can reprogram the memory device in any suitable way when a sample is added to or removed from a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''.

[0035] In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may include any other suitable sensors connected to memory 169M to sense and / or log any other suitable data, such as information regarding the on or off state of the lid (see sensor 169L in Figure 1C), the position of the handle (see sensor 169H in Figure 1E), information regarding the type of sample container (e.g., vial type, slide, etc.), a sample descriptor, and / or the height or type of the tray holder TH (or the type of cartridge 120).

[0036] Processing tracking data for sample 150 and / or portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' collected by sensors (e.g., temperature, time, state, sample location, sample identification, etc. for portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''') may be temporarily stored in memory 169M in a reprogrammable manner so that the stored processing tracking data is associated with a sample identifier (e.g., through sample identification by a control device using an RFID tag, another display unit, or appropriate user input). In one embodiment, the processing tracking data may be accessible to a user via display 169D (which may be a touch-enabled display or have any other appropriate user input device such as a keyboard 169DP, see Figure 1J) so that the user can analyze the processing tracking data from the portable cryogenic workstations by interfaceing with control device 164, processor 164P, and memory 169M. In another embodiment, other communication devices, such as a computer remotely connected to a portable cryogenic workstation via a wired connection such as Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, Ethernet, or a wireless computer link 169ML with memory 169M, as well as any suitable communication protocol, such as those described herein, may be used to analyze the processing tracking data. In yet another embodiment, the processing tracking data may be accessible to automated devices, such as a sample storage system described herein, for automated analysis of the processing tracking data. As can be understood, this information may be transferred in any suitable manner to any suitable laboratory software or other processing control and / or inventory software and / or database.

[0037] As can be understood, processing tracking data can be acquired by sensors and stored in memory 169M in any appropriate manner for any appropriate period. For example, in one embodiment, processing tracking data including, for example, the data described above, may be a “running” data log in which processing tracking data is collected substantially continuously and stored in memory 169M for any appropriate period to provide a processing history for sample 150. The data log may be reset periodically in any appropriate manner at any appropriate time, such as when a sample is removed from the portable cryogenic workstation and a different sample is inserted into the portable cryogenic workstation. In another embodiment, a trigger event may cause, for example, the control device 164 to start recording processing tracking data to create a historical data log. For example, when the temperature sensor 169 senses a temperature higher than a predetermined threshold, and / or when the lid sensor 169L senses that the lid has been removed (or in response to any other appropriate trigger event), a signal may be sent to the control device 164 to start recording processing tracking data from various sensors. As can be understood, the control unit 164 may be appropriately configured for power management such that the memory 169M, processor 164P, display 169D, and one or more of the other suitable powered components of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'' remain off until the control unit 164 receives a signal indicating the occurrence of a trigger event. After a predetermined period, and / or, for example, when the temperature returns to a value below a threshold and / or when the lid is replaced, the control unit 164 may turn off the memory 169M, processor 164P, display 169D, and one or more of the other suitable powered components until the next trigger event occurs.

[0038] Referring to Figure 1U, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may include one or more sample position sensors 172A, 172B to guide the operator to one or more predetermined samples to be removed from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. In one embodiment, the sample position sensors 172A, 172B may be any suitable (such as optical, ultrasonic, infrared, or capacitive) sensors configured to detect the location of a transfer tool TW (tweezers, gloved fingertip, or other tool configured to allow the operator to remove individual samples 150) relative to a sample 150 within the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. For example, as described herein, tray 150T is positioned in a predetermined location within the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' such that the location of each sample is known with respect to the coordinate system (ZX) of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. The tip of the transfer tool TW may be detected by sensors 172A, 172B, for example, user interface / display 164D (or another suitable user interface such as a personal computer or a user interface incorporated into glasses that communicates with sensors 172A, 172B) to determine the position of the tip of the transfer tool TW in coordinate system ZX. The user interface may provide positional feedback to the operator to confirm that the operator is taking one or more predetermined samples 150 to be taken out from the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''.

[0039] Referring next to Figures 10A-10D, an exemplary structure of a portable cryogenic workstation 100 is shown. As can be understood, portable cryogenic workstations 100', 100'' may have a similar structure. In one embodiment, the housing 100 may include an outer shell 1000, an inner shell 1005, and a bottom layer 1002. The inner shell 1005 may be nested within the outer shell 1000 (for example, the portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing that encloses the nested walls), may be formed by molding as a single component (e.g., a single piece) in any suitable way, or may be formed as multiple components assembled together in any suitable way (Figure 11, block 1100). The inner and outer shells 1005, 1000 may be made of any suitable material, such as any suitable plastic, composite or metal. The outer shell 1000 may include an outer peripheral surface 1000P1, and the inner shell may include an inner peripheral surface 1000P2 (forming the side walls and bottom of the cavity 110C). At least one of the outer shell 1000 and the inner shell 1005 may include an upper peripheral surface that joins the outer shell 1000 and the inner shell 1005. The upper peripheral surface 1000P3 may connect to the lid 113 and be configured to provide a mounting surface for any suitable component of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, such as a handle 190. Any suitable insulating material 1003 may be placed between the inner and outer shells 1000 and 1005. In one embodiment, the insulating material 1003 may be an insulating foam, but in another embodiment, the insulating material 1003 may be one or more insulating panels 1020 placed inside a vacuum-sealed bag to form a single flat panel (for example, a folded vacuum insulating panel layer placed inside or between nested walls) having joined bottom and side panels BP, SP.The bottom and side panels BP, SP may be folded to form an open box 1003B (or any other suitable shape) having a cavity 1003C, such that the open box 1003B can be positioned between the outer and inner shells 1000, 1005, and the inner shell 1005 is positioned within the cavity 1003C (Figure 11, block 1101). Any suitable cushioning / insulating medium 1002, such as polyurethane foam, may be injected or inserted between the inner and outer shells 1000, 1005 and at least partially around the insulating material 1003 (Figure 11, block 1102). To completely enclose the cushioning medium 1002 and the insulating material 1003, the bottom layer 1001 (including, in one embodiment, the kinematic positioning features and the pressing features described herein) may be fixed to the outer shell 1000 by any suitable method (such as by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, etc.) (Figure 11, block 1103).

[0040] In one embodiment, a consuming medium accumulator, such as an absorbent / container pad 170 (e.g., having a communicating bubble structure, a baffle structure, a sponge, foam, a cooling block, or any other suitable structure for holding the consuming medium), may be positioned in the inner shell 1005 to form an integrated dispersed cooling interface with a portable cryogenic workstation, as described below. The absorbent pad 170 may be formed to position a separation wall 1015 in a predetermined position relative to the kinematic arrangement features 112, 112', 112'', 112'''' of the housing 100. In another embodiment, the separation wall 1015 may be positioned relative to the kinematic arrangement features of the housing in any suitable way, such as fixing the separation wall 1015 to the inner shell 1005. The separation wall may form a cooling interface or shield using a conductive wall, which may be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum, configured to provide a dispersed cooling surface (e.g., substantially uniform conductive heat transfer brought about by contact with the consuming medium accumulator and container 150 located within the cavity 110C). In one embodiment, the separation wall may include an arrangement feature 119 (Figure 1B) for arranging the tray 150F and / or tray holder TH (or cartridge 120) within the housing as described herein. In one embodiment, the separation wall 1015 may be shaped to provide a channel or passage 1010 through which refrigerant can pass. The channel 1010 may be aligned with the opening RA of the lids 113, 113', 113'', and refrigerant may be introduced into the channel 1010 through the opening RA for a passage to the absorbent pad 170 so that refrigerant can be replenished (or, for example, directly into the channel without the lids).

[0041] The lids 113, 113', 113'', 113'''' may be constructed in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the lid may have a surface layer 113S and a core 113C. In one embodiment, the surface layer 113S may be overmolded on the core 113C, but in another embodiment, the lid may be formed from any suitable number of panels assembled in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the housing 110. Any suitable electronic components, connectors, joints, etc. described herein may be fixed to the assembled lids 113, 113', 113'', 113'''' and housing 110 in any suitable manner.

[0042] As described above, and also with reference to Figures 2, 3A, 3B and 6A, the housings 110, 110' may be configured to connect, for example, to automated sample storage systems 200, 200'. It should also be understood that the housings 110'', 110CH may be configured to connect, for example, to automated sample storage systems 200, 200' in substantially the same manner as described above for the housings 100, 110'. In one embodiment, the automated sample storage systems 200, 200' (only a portion of which is shown in Figures 2A and 2B) may include a load port or input unit 201, 201', an optional suitable automated sample transfer unit 290, and one or more cryogenic storage units or storage sections 291 connected to communicate with the automated sample transfer unit 290. The input units 201, 201' may include an optional suitable load port door 220 configured to seal the opening 207A of the input unit, as described below. It should be noted that when the opening 207A is opened, the cavity 110C may be connected to communicate with the interior of the transfer unit 290 in order to transfer the sample 150 and / or tray 150T between the cavity 110C and the transfer unit 290. The load port door 220 may include any suitable features or members 208, such as fins, to substantially prevent frost formation between the door 220 and the load port frame LPF (see, for example, Figure 2A).

[0043] One or more cryogenic storage units 291 may be any suitable storage unit, such as a Dewar-type storage unit having any suitable shape. One or more cryogenic storage units 291 may be constructed with a high-vacuum insulator for long-term storage of samples and may include high-density storage shelves and trays. The trays may move in and out of one or more cryogenic storage units 291 through any suitable openings, such as automated access doors, and all heating motors for automated parts (e.g., doors and conveying parts) are located outside one or more cryogenic storage units 291 and connected to internal robots through low-thermal-conductivity connections. In another embodiment, the motors may be located inside the storage unit 291 but are thermally shielded from the internal atmosphere of the storage unit 291. Cooling for one or more cryogenic storage units 291 may be provided by liquid nitrogen (LN2) through a closed evaporating coil or by any other suitable method. Used LN2 may be discharged from the storage unit 291 by any suitable method. In another embodiment, one or more cryogenic storage units may be cooled by mechanical cooling. As described above, one or more cryogenic storage units may be “ultra-low temperature” storage units configured to maintain the temperature inside the storage unit at approximately -150°C or below, but in another embodiment, any suitable temperature may be maintained within one or more cryogenic storage units. In one embodiment, one or more cryogenic storage units 291 and transfer units 290 may be connected to each other in any suitable way or integrated within a common housing. As can be understood, the automated sample transfer unit 290 may include a sample handling area including any suitable transfer unit 290T configured to transfer one or more samples 150 and / or trays 150T of samples 150 between the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' connected to the input units 201, 201' and one or more storage units 291. In another embodiment, the samples 150 may be transferred between one or more portable cryogenic workstations.In one embodiment, the transport unit 290T may be a common transport unit common to both the sample handling area and the cryogenic storage unit 291. As can be understood, the sample handling area may be maintained at any suitable temperature, such as low temperature or cryogenic temperature. In one embodiment, the input units 201, 201' may be insulated, but in another embodiment, the housing may not be insulated. In one embodiment, the transport unit 290T may be configured to reach from top to bottom within the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH of a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' to grasp and remove one or more samples 150, trays 150T, or tray holders TH (for example, as shown in Figures 6A-6C). In another embodiment, the tray holder TH may be connected in any suitable way to the lids 113, 113', 113'' such that when the lid is removed into the transfer unit (for example, as described later with respect to Figures 3A-4F), the tray 150T moves with the lid so that the tray 150T and the sample 150 contained therein are removed by a lateral transfer operation, exposing the side of the tray holder TH. In one embodiment, the tray holder TH may be detachably connected to the lids 113, 113', 113'' by any suitable latching mechanism, such as a rotary latch-actuated locking rod, a rack and pinion latch, or an extrusion rod actuated by contact with a kinematic pin.

[0044] In one embodiment, the transfer unit 290 may include a separate and independently cooled cryogenic (e.g., -150°C) area (e.g., a sample handling area) separated from one or more storage units 291 by a sealed, insulated automatic door or any other suitable method. In one embodiment, the independently cooled area may have any suitable temperature. To enable samples to be input into or output from the storage system, the transfer unit 290 may be configured to connect to a portable cryogenic workstation as described herein. The transfer unit 290T may be configured to transfer individual vials, tubes, or cassettes (e.g., sample containers) between a standard laboratory rack / tray 150T (e.g., an SBS rack and / or a cryogenic vial box) and any suitable high-density rack / tray. In one embodiment, the SBS rack may be configured, for illustrative purposes only, to hold 48, 96 sample / sample containers, or any other suitable number of sample / sample containers. In another embodiment, the cryogenic vial box may be configured, for illustrative purposes only, to hold 81, 100 sample / sample containers, or any other suitable number of sample / sample containers. The transport unit 290T may be configured to remove the sample / tray from the cavity 110C and / or to insert the sample / tray into the storage unit 291. The transport unit 290 may also include any suitable sensors and / or cameras configured to read the barcode and location of the sample, and may act as a staging area where any small amount of water entering during the sample input or supply operation is captured and managed, keeping the storage unit 291 substantially frost-free.When sample 150 is input, the interface of the portable cryogenic workstation (e.g., IF3) is configured to seal against the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH, and the transport unit 290T (or its components) may be configured to automatically remove the lids 113, 113', and 113'', remove the tray 150T of sample 150, optionally return the empty tray 150T to the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', and put the lids 113, 113', and 113'' back in place as described below. Conversely, when sample 150 is output, the transport unit 290T may be configured to optionally remove the empty sample tray 150T from the cavity 110C, carry the tray 150T of sample 150 to the cavity 110C, and put the lids 113, 113', and 113'' back in place. As can be understood, during these input and output processes, the sample handling area is sealed from the external atmosphere (e.g., the laboratory environment) so as to communicate only with the interior of the cavity 110C. As described herein, the interior of the cavity 110C is at a low temperature (e.g., approximately LN2 temperature) so as to have virtually no temperature fluctuations (e.g., the sample handling area is also at a low temperature, and samples entering the sample handling area are pre-cooled by the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''') and so as to have virtually no water ingress into the sample handling area. The motor of the transport unit 290T may be located outside the sample handling area, or it may be thermally isolated from the sample handling area and connected to the internal robot through low thermal conductivity connections as described above with respect to the storage unit 291.

[0045] The loading units 201, 201' may have a housing 201H and a closable input / output port sealed interface or load port 207 configured to provide a sealed connection to a portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'' that seals the cryogenic storage unit 291 (and transfer unit 290) from the external atmosphere. See also Figures 2A, 2B and 2C, the sealed interface 207 may include any number of suitable interfaces configured to seal one or more storage atmospheres and storage temperatures of the cooling unit 291, transfer unit 290 and cavity 110C from the external atmosphere and temperature of the storage atmosphere and storage temperature. In one embodiment, the sealed interface includes an interface IF1 of the load port door 220 / (e.g., around the outer periphery of the opening 207A) of the load port frame LPF, an interface IF2 of the load port door 220 / portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' door, an interface IF3 of the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH / (e.g., around the outer periphery of the opening 207A) of the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''', and an interface IF4 (as described above) of the door or lid 113, 113', 113'' / housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. Interfaces IF1 to IF4 are shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C with respect to the door or cover 113 and housing 110, but it should be understood that interfaces IF1 to IF4 for doors 113', 113'', 113'''' and housings 110', 110'', 110CH may be substantially the same.

[0046] The loading units 201, 201' include a closable opening 207A that can be sealed or closed by an input / output or load port door 220. The load port door 220 may include a sealing surface 220S that connects to one or more suitable sealing portions 286A, 286B of the load port frame LPF (for example, forming an interface IF1). In one embodiment, one or more sealing portions 286A, 286B may be attached to an insert 287 that is connected to the load port frame LPF, but in another embodiment, one or more sealing portions may be attached substantially directly to the load port frame LPF around the outer circumference of the opening 207A. In one embodiment, one or more sealing portions may include radial sealing members 286B and 286A which may be made of any suitable material, but in another embodiment, the sealing portions may have any suitable configuration and arrangement. In one embodiment, sealing member 286A may be a magnetic sealing portion configured to hold the surface 220S such that the surface 220S applies a compressive force on the sealing member 286B. In another embodiment, the compressive force may be provided in any suitable manner to form a seal between the sealing member and the door 220.

[0047] For example, referring to Figures 1A, 1H, 1I, 1J, 1K, 1L, 1M, and 2E (as well as Figures 1Q and 1R), the portable cryogenic workstations and feeding units 201, 201' may be configured to connect with each other in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the exterior of the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH may include interface / positioning features 112, 112', 112'', 112'''' such as kinematic recesses, kinematic globes, kinematic slot openings, kinematic pins, and / or one or more other suitable positioning features that connect to the corresponding / mating kinematic interface / positioning features 212, 212', 212'' of the feeding units 201, 201' (see also Figures 1H and 5B). As can be understood, multiple sets of interface / placement features may be provided on the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH to enable the transfer of a portable cryogenic workstation between automated devices, where one effector / gripper engages the first set of interface / placement features and a second effector / gripper engages the second set of interface / placement features. Placement features 112, 112', 112'', 112'''' may be spatially related to (e.g., have known relationships to) placement features within the housing, such as placement feature 119 (Figure 1B) for arranging tray 150F and / or tray holder TH (or cartridge 120) within the housing, and gripping / placement features 114, 114', 113A for lids 113, 113', 113''. The known spatial relationships between the externally positioned feature sections 112, 112', 112'', 112'''' and feature sections 119, 114, 114', 113A may enable automation, as described herein, for removing the lids 113, 113', 113'' and the sample from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. As can be understood, any suitable fixtures or fasteners may be provided to adjust or position the feature sections 112, 112', 112'', 112'''', 114, 114', 113A, 119 relative to each other.In one embodiment, the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH and / or lids 113, 113', 113'' may include retaining features (which may be integrated with kinematic placement features when kinematic slots and grooves are used, for example, as shown in Figures 1H, 3A, and 3B) that secure the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH to the feeding units 201, 201' and the lids 113, 113', 113'' to the grippers or transport sections of the feeding units 201, 201'. In another embodiment, the retaining features may include kinematic grooves and slots in addition to the kinematic grooves and slots. For example, the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH may include a latch keyhole LKH that mates with a latch key LK (Figure 1A) on the feeding unit platform 201TP (Figure 5B). To clamp and hold housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH to platform 201TP, latch key LK may be inserted into latch keyhole LKH and rotated through any suitable angle. Lids 113, 113', and 113'' may also include latch keyhole LKH' which mates with latch key LK' of load port door 220 in substantially the same manner as described above.

[0048] The load port frame LPF may include one or more sealing members 201S that connect to the sealing surface 110S1 of the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH (for example, to form interface IF3). In another embodiment, the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH may include any suitable sealing member for connecting to the load port frame LPF. In yet another embodiment, both the load port frame LPF and the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH may include a sealing portion for connecting to the other of the load port frame and housing. One or more sealing members 201S may be any suitable sealing member having any suitable configuration. In one embodiment, the sealing member 201S is a compressible sealing member such that when the housings 110, 110', 110'', and 110CH are pressed against the load port frame (as described below), the sealing portion is compressed to seal the space or gap SP between interfaces IF1, IF2, and IF3.

[0049] Referring to Figures 1F, 1H, and 2C, the load port door 220 and the lids 113, 113', 113'' (shown diagonally in Figure 2C) may be configured to connect with each other in any suitable manner (for example, to form interface IF2). In one embodiment, the load port door 220 may include one or more suitable gripping features 266A, 266B that mate with or connect with one or more corresponding gripping / positioning features 114, 114' of the lids 113, 113', 113''. Note that the gripping features 114, 114' of the lids may also be configured to allow an operator to grasp the gripping features for manual removal of the lids 113, 113', 113'' from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. In one embodiment, for example, the gripping features 266A, 266B, 114, 114' may include movable and / or fixed gripping features (e.g., with substantially no moving parts), such as mechanical gripping features, pneumatic gripping features, magnetic gripping features, and / or any other suitable gripping / clamping features that enable the door 220 to be detachably coupled to the lids 113, 113', 113''. As can be understood, the clamping of the door 220 to the lids 113, 113', 113'' may cause passive or active detachment of the lids 113, 113', 113'' from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH in any suitable manner. In another embodiment, the covers 113, 113', 113'' may be detached from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH in any suitable manner, in order to allow the covers 113, 113', 113'' to be removed from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 2C, one or more gripping features 266A, 266B may be permanent magnets. One or more gripping features 266A, 266B may be attached to the door 220 in any suitable manner, such as by using a bracket 265 that is fixed or fitted (for example, so that the surface of the magnet can be automatically oriented to substantially seat against the corresponding surface of the cover). The bracket 265 may be connected to the door 220 in any suitable manner.To attach the lids 113, 113', 113'' to the door 220, the gripping features 114, 114' may be made of any suitable ferrous material configured to react with one or more gripping features 266A, 166B. In another embodiment, the gripping features 114, 114' may be magnetic, while the gripping features 266A, 266B are made of any suitable ferrous material. In yet another embodiment, one or more gripping features 266A, 26B may be electromagnets configured to selectively connect with the interface features 114, 114' to attach the door 220 to the lids 113, 113', 113'' and to remove it from the lids 113, 113', 113''.

[0050] As can be understood, the interfaces IF1 to IF4 described above are configured to operate in low-temperature or ultra-low-temperature environments such that the integrity of the seals formed by the interfaces IF1 to IF4 is maintained. For example, ambient air outside one or more cryogenic storage units 291, transfer units 290 and / or portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' passes through the seals and enters the low-temperature / ultra-low-temperature environment through the opening 207A (for example, if the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' are mated with an input / output port sealing interface 207 which can be closed through the opening 207A), and / or enters the cavity 110C of the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. As can also be understood, if the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are mated with a sealed interface 207 to transport a sample to and from one or more cryogenic storage units 291, then one or more of the cryogenic storage units 291 and transfer units 290 extend into a cavity 110C to transport the sample 150, such that the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' form a load lock (for example, the housing 110, 110', 110'', 110CH has an environment with substantially the same temperature and atmosphere as one or more of the cryogenic storage units 291 and transfer units 290, substantially blocking the path of moisture and temperature into the cryogenic storage units 291 and / or transfer units 290).As described above, in one embodiment, the lids 113, 113', 113'' may be removed from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH before connecting the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH to the automated storage system, but in another embodiment, the lids 113, 113', 113'' may be removed from the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH after the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH have been connected to the automated storage system and before the housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH have been sealed to the automated storage system (in a manner substantially similar to that described later). In these examples, the lids 113, 113', 113'' do not need to be connected to the door 220.

[0051] In one embodiment, the sealed interface 207 may be configured to purge one or more spaces or gaps SP between the cavity 110C and interfaces IF1 to IF4. For example, in one embodiment, the connection between the lids 113, 113', 113'' and the door 220 may include a purge port connection 276P to automatically connect the inlet and outlet gas lines 276A, 276C to the interior of the cavity 110C when the door 220 is connected to the lids 113, 113', 113''. As can be understood, the lids 113, 113', 113'' may also include fluid passages 276B, 276D (each including appropriate one-way valves) that connect to one of the fluid lines 276A, 276C, respectively, through the connection 276P. One fluid line 276A may be connected to a fluid / refrigerant source (a refrigerant supply unit (e.g., a replenishment system) 1300, described later in relation to Figure 13, or any suitable purge gas source), while the other fluid line 276C may be connected to a vacuum source. Here, any suitable fluid and / or refrigerant may be introduced from the fluid source into the cavity 110C through one pair of lines / passages 276A, 276B, while the fluid and / or refrigerant is removed from the cavity by the vacuum source using the other pair of lines / passages 276C, 276D. In another embodiment, the purge lines 276A', 276C' may pass through or be incorporated into the load port frame LPF, so that the gas and / or refrigerant can be introduced from the gas / refrigerant source into the space SP between interfaces IF1-IF4 by line 276A', while the fluid and / or refrigerant is removed from the space SP by the vacuum source through line 276C'. As can be understood, also referring to Figure 2D, purge lines 276A' and 276C' can also be used to empty cavity 110C.For example, a door 220 connected to lids 113, 113', 113'' may move in the direction of arrow 262 so that the seal between lids 113, 113', 113'' and housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH is broken and a purge gas (e.g., fluid) can flow through the passage formed between lids 113, 113', 113'' and housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. Since space SP can now be purged, cavity 110C can be purged through the removal or partial removal of lids 113, 113', 113'' from housings 110, 110', 110'', 110CH. In another embodiment, the door 220 may be configured to move lids 113, 113', 113'' in the direction of arrow 262 to purge the inside of cavity 110C while maintaining the seal at interface IF1. For example, the door may include drive units connected to the gripping features 266A, 266B in order to move the gripping features 266A, 266B and the lids 113, 113', 113'' relative to the door 220. In another embodiment, the lids 113, 113', 113'' may be moved relative to the door in any suitable manner to empty the cavity 110C while maintaining a seal at interface IF1.

[0052] Next, with reference to Figures 3A, 3B and 4A-4D, an exemplary loading of the portable cryogenic workstation 100' into the loading unit 201 and the transfer of a sample from the portable cryogenic workstation 100' to the storage unit 291 will be described. The portable cryogenic workstation 100' is positioned in the interface area 300 of the loading unit 201 to connect the portable cryogenic workstation 100' to the transfer unit 291, which in this example is integrated with the loading unit 201. In one embodiment, as described above, the housing 110' includes an interface / positioning feature section 112' which may have the form of rails and / or slots configured to mate with the corresponding rails and slots 212' of the loading unit 201. In this embodiment, the interface / positioning features 112', 212' engage with each other to position and / or hold the portable cryogenic workstation 100' against the closable / sealable opening 207A of the loading unit 201, such that the feature sections 112', 212' engage with each other to position and / or hold the portable cryogenic workstation 100' against the closable / sealable opening 207A of the loading unit 201, so that the portable cryogenic workstation 100' is loaded or positioned onto the loading unit 201 by moving the housing 110' in the direction of arrow X (Figure 7, block 700). In another embodiment, the housing 110' and / or the loading unit 201 may include any suitable positioning and / or holding feature sections to hold and position the portable cryogenic workstation 100' against the opening 207. As described above, any suitable information held in the memory 169ML and / or sensors of the portable cryogenic workstation may be transmitted to and logged by the loading unit (and vice versa) (Figure 7, block 700A).

[0053] The housing 110' may be clamped to the input unit 201 in any suitable way such that a seal is formed at the interface IF3 between the input unit 201 and the housing 110' as described above (Figure 7, block 701). Clamping of the housing 110' to the input unit 201 may be carried out in any suitable way, such as by any suitable clamp feature 216, which in one embodiment may be similar to the latch key described above. The clamp feature may be a mechanical clamp feature, a pneumatic clamp feature, a magnetic clamp feature and / or any other suitable clamp feature. As can be understood, a seal is formed between the input unit 201 and the housing 110', and when the lid 113' is removed from the housing 110' (e.g., a cavity in the housing), it can form part of the input unit 201.

[0054] As described above, the opening 207A of the input unit 201 may be sealed by the door 220. In one embodiment, the interface IF1 between the door 220 and the input unit frame LPF may be a tapered interface substantially similar to the interface IF4 between the lid 113' and the housing 110'. In another embodiment, the interface IF1 may have any suitable configuration as described above. The door 220 may connect to and clamp (or connect) to the lid 113' in any suitable way (as described herein) once the housing 110' is clamped to the input unit 201 (Figure 7, block 702). The space SP (Figure 2A) and / or cavity 110C of the portable cryogenic workstation 100' may be purged as described above using any suitable gas, such as nitrogen or any other inert gas, so that, for example, moisture and any other contaminants can be removed from the space SP and / or cavity 110C (Figure 7, block 703). For example, as described above, the door 220 and lid 113' may be configured such that the door 220 can remove the lid 113' from the housing 110' in order to empty the cavity of the housing while substantially maintaining a seal between the door 220 and the opening 207A. In another embodiment, as described above, the lid 113' and door 220 may include a pneumatic connector 276P such that when the lid 113' is connected to the door 220, a pneumatic connector is connected to allow the cavity to be emptied without removing the lid 113' from the housing 110'. In yet another embodiment, a seal may be formed between the lid 113' and the door 220 so that any area of ​​the interface between the unemptied portable cryogenic workstation 100' and the loading unit 201 is sealed from the internal environment of the sample handling area of ​​the cryogenic storage unit 291 and / or the transfer unit 290.

[0055] The door 220 (clamped to the lid 113') may be driven, for example in the direction of arrow Y, by any suitable door drive unit 230 (which may be a component or module of the transport unit 290T described above) to remove the lid 113' from the housing 110' (Figure 7, block 704). As described above, once the lid 113' is removed from the housing 110', the cartridge 120 or holder TH (and the sample held therein) may be coupled to the lid 113' so that the cartridge 120 or holder TH (and the sample held therein) is removed from the cavity 110C of the housing 110' (see also Figure 2F, showing at least two trays 150T of holder TH coupled to the lid 113'', block 705). In this embodiment, the door 220, the lid 113' and the cartridge 120 or holder TH are removed from the opening 207A, the housing 110', and the cavity 110C, respectively, in a single operation along a single axis. In one embodiment, the door drive unit 230 may move incrementally to align one or more trays 150T of the sample 150 with a tray removal device 330 (which may be a component or module of the transport unit 290T) configured to remove one or more trays 150T from the cartridge 120 or holder TH (for example, the door drive unit may include a suitable encoder and / or sensor configured to sense the location of the shelf 121 in order to position the cartridge 120 or holder TH). Optionally, once each tray is aligned in a predetermined position within the housing, the tray removal device 330 may remove one or more trays 150T from the cartridge 120 or holder TH in the lateral direction of arrow X1 (Figure 7, block 706). Note that the cartridge 120 or holder TH may provide a suitable effector or gripper automation interface for manipulating the cartridge 120 or holder TH across the storage system.The tray 150T may be moved by a tray removal device 330 to position the sample 150 so that the sample 150 can be scanned for any appropriate analysis or identification, such as identifier (dmx) reading, any acquired information can be logged in the storage system's memory, and the sample 150 can be automatically removed (Figure 7, block 707). For example, a camera 310 or other optical scanner may be positioned within or adjacent to the sample handling area of ​​the transfer unit 291 so that the camera 310 can view the sample 150. In one embodiment, the sample 150 may be transferred to a high-density tray (not shown) and then transferred into the cryogenic storage unit 291 by a transfer unit 290T, while in another embodiment, the tray 150T may be moved into the cryogenic storage unit 291 by a transport unit 290T (Figure 7, block 708). Transfer of the sample from the cryogenic storage unit to a portable cryogenic workstation 100' may occur in substantially the opposite manner to that described above. As can be understood, before and after the tray 150T, which has already been removed, is moved to the storage unit, the door drive unit 230 may further index the cartridge 120 for the removal of the remaining tray 150T carrying the sample 150 (Figure 7, block 706) in substantially the same manner as described above (Figure 7, block 704). See also Figures 4E and 4F, the transfer of the sample 150 as described above with respect to Figures 3A, 2B and 4A-4D is shown with respect to a portable cryogenic workstation having a lid 113'' and housing 110, which connects to an automated sample storage system using kinematic pins as described above with respect to Figures 1L, 1M, 2E and 2F for illustrative purposes only.

[0056] Next, with reference to Figures 5A, 5B and 6A-6C, an exemplary loading of the portable cryogenic workstation 100 into the loading unit 201 and the transfer of the sample from the portable cryogenic workstation 100 to the storage unit 291 will be described. In this embodiment, the loading unit 201' (shown in Figures 5A and 5B without the housing 201H) includes a container shuttle 201T. The container shuttle 201T includes a platform 201TP that is movable in the direction of arrow 500. As described above, the platform 201TP may include any suitable alignment features 212, 212'' that mate with the corresponding alignment features 112, 112'', 112'''' of the portable cryogenic workstation 100. In this embodiment, the alignment features 112, 112'', 112'''', 212, 212'' may be located on or adjacent to the bottom and / or sides of the housing 110, but in another embodiment, the platform 201TP may be configured to hold or support the housing 110 in any suitable way so that the alignment features 112, 112'', 112'''', 212, 212'' can be positioned at any suitable position on the housing 110 and / or platform 201TP. In this embodiment, the housing 201H of the loading unit may include a movable door 600 that, when opened, allows an operator to access the shuttle platform 201TP when the platform is in the loading position. To load the portable cryogenic workstation into the loading unit 201', the operator can open the door 600 so that the alignment features 112, 112'', 112'''', 212, 212'' engage with each other, and the portable cryogenic workstation 100 can be placed on the shuttle platform 201TP (Figure 8, block 800). As described above, any appropriate information held in the memory 169ML and / or sensors of the portable cryogenic workstation may be transmitted to and logged by the loading unit (and vice versa) (Figure 8, block 800A).For example, the portable cryogenic workstation 100 may have any suitable sensors as described above, which may communicate with the loading unit 201'. A sensor such as sensor 169H may inform the loading unit 201' that the handle 190 is in the lowered position. The loading unit 201' may also include any suitable sensor 610 that can indicate that the door 600 is closed and / or that the portable cryogenic workstation 100 is aligned and seated on the shuttle platform 201TP. Once certain criteria are met (e.g., the door 600 is closed and the portable cryogenic workstation is properly seated on the shuttle platform), any suitable indicator 650 (e.g., an LED may light up or an audible sound may be emitted) may be presented to the operator to indicate that the loading unit 201' is ready for operation (note that the loading unit 201 may similarly be configured with any suitable sensor indicating the proper alignment of the portable cryogenic workstation 100'). The loading unit may include appropriate lockouts that can prevent the container shuttle 201T from moving from and to the loading position until certain criteria are met.

[0057] The container shuttle 201T (driven by any suitable drive mechanism) may move the portable cryogenic workstation 100 in the direction of arrow 500 to the closable input / output port sealing interface 207 (Figure 8, block 801). The container shuttle 201T may be configured to apply a clamping force to the housing 110 to form a seal at interface IF3 (Figure 8, block 802). Removal of the lid 113 (for example, before the seal at interface IF3 is formed, or after the seal at interface IF3 is formed as described above) and transport of the sample into the cryogenic storage unit 290 may be substantially the same as described above with respect to Figure 7 and the portable cryogenic workstation 100'.

[0058] As can be understood, the engagement between the portable cryogenic workstation 100'' and the input unit 201, and the transfer of samples from the portable cryogenic workstation 100'' to the storage unit 291, may be carried out in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the portable cryogenic workstation 100'. However, the lid 113 may be removed using the gripping feature 114 in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the portable cryogenic workstation 100. In another embodiment, the lid for the portable cryogenic workstation 100'' may be provided with a gripping feature 114' so that it can be removed in the same manner as described above with respect to the portable cryogenic workstation 100'.

[0059] As described herein, the refrigerant in the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may be replenished manually (for example, by injecting or inserting the refrigerant into the portable cryogenic workstation) or automatically through the automated sample storage system 200, 200' or the refrigerant filling / replenishment station 163. Referring now to Figure 12A, the automated sample storage system 200 may include a refrigerant filling port or replenishment member 1200, such as a nozzle or other fluid passage that engages with an opening on the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' and may be configured to communicate with a consumption medium accumulator in the portable cryogenic workstation. For example, the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 may connect to the opening RA of the lid 113 (for example, when the loading unit platform 201TP transports the portable cryogenic workstation for engagement with the load port frame LPF) to provide refrigerant to the refrigerant source in the portable cryogenic workstation, as described above. In another embodiment, the door 113 may include a fluid coupling system substantially similar to fluid passages 276B, 276D that connect to a refrigerant replenishment member (which may be similar to the fluid lines 276A, 276C described above). As can be understood, if the opening RA is on the lid 113, the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 may be located on the load port door 220 such that it remains engaged with the lid 113 when the lid is removed from the housing 110. It should be noted that the transfer of refrigerant into the portable cryogenic workstation may occur using a lid 113 attached to the housing 110 (for example, a vacuum source or vent located in the lid 113 or the housing 110 provides the release of gas from the cavity 110C), and / or using a lid 113 separated from the housing 110.As can be understood, the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 may be positioned relative to the kinematic positioning feature 212' of the input unit platform 201TP in order to substantially align the refrigerant exiting the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 with, for example, the channel 1010 (Figure 10B) of the housing 110 (which is positioned on the input unit platform 201TP by the kinematic positioning feature 212') or any other suitable location within the housing 110.

[0060] Referring also to Figure 12B, a refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 is shown, which may be substantially similar to the automated sample storage systems 200, 200'. For example, the refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 may include a frame 163F that forms a chamber in which the input unit platform 201TP is located. The chamber may include an input opening that, when opened, is sealed by a door 600 that allows the transport of one or more portable cryogenic workstations 100 into the chamber (either manually or through an automated transport unit). Relative movement between each of the one or more portable cryogenic workstations 100 and one or more refrigerant replenishment members 1200 (for example, the portable cryogenic workstations may be transported individually or as a unit in the direction of arrow 500 to engage with their respective refrigerant replenishment members 1200 (and vice versa), and both the refrigerant replenishment members 1200 and the portable cryogenic workstations may be moved toward each other) causes the refrigerant replenishment members 1200 to engage with their respective portable cryogenic workstations 100. The portable cryogenic workstation 100 and the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 may be joined together via one or more movements of the apparatus by an operator or an automated unit. For example, in some embodiments, insertion of the workstation into the refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 by the user simultaneously connects the workstation to the refrigerant replenishment member. In another embodiment, referring to Figure 12C, the portable cryogenic workstation 100 may be moved in the direction of arrow X (in addition to, or instead of, movement in the direction of arrow 500) within the automated sample storage system 200, 200' and / or station 163 so that the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 engages (in any suitable way) with a sealable coupling or port 170P located on the side of the housing 110. In some embodiments, referring to Figure 9F, the refrigerant charging / replenishment station may be a component of the sample storage system 200''.For example, a refrigerant filling / replenishment station may be located within the sample storage system 200'' to fill workstations transported by a transport shuttle 200S or any other suitable transport unit. In some embodiments, the filling / replenishment station may form part of an input / output module or buffer module for the sample storage system 200'' so that portable cryogenic workstations are brought into and out of the sample storage system 200'' and kept awaited within the sample storage system 200''.

[0061] See also Figure 12D, in one embodiment, the automated sample storage system 200, 200' and / or station 163 may include a manifold for refrigerant replenishment members 1200, where the refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 is shown as having a chamber for holding N×N examples (3×3 rows are shown for illustrative purposes) of portable cryogenic workstations 100. As can be understood, each N×N row may be positioned in different planes (e.g., up and down) to form a three-dimensional row of portable cryogenic workstations 100. Each portable cryogenic workstation 100 may be connected to the respective refrigerant replenishment member 1200 of the manifold 1250 in substantially the same manner as described above for replenishing and / or maintaining (e.g., freezing at a controlled rate) refrigerant within the portable cryogenic workstation 100. In one embodiment, approximately equal amounts of refrigerant may be transferred to each portable cryogenic workstation approximately simultaneously, but in another embodiment, one or more control valves 1303 may be provided in the manifold 1250 to control the amount / rate of refrigerant transferred to each portable cryogenic workstation 100 in a manner substantially similar to that described later.

[0062] As described above, the control unit 164 may be connected to communicate with the refrigerant supply unit 1300 to control the flow of refrigerant REF into one or more portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' (workstation 100 is shown for illustrative purposes only). In one embodiment, the control unit 164 may communicate with a central control unit 164C to control the flow of refrigerant REF into one or more portable cryogenic workstations. In one embodiment, the refrigerant supply unit 1300 may include a fluid storage unit 1300R, a control valve 1303, a refrigerant level detector / sensor, and a refrigerant source valve 1302. A thermocouple 1301 or other suitable sensor may be connected to the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 and configured, for example, to monitor the presence of liquid refrigerant at the outlet of the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 after any refrigerant gas has been discharged from the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 (the refrigerant gas is produced, for example, by the boiling of refrigerant in the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 before the refrigerant replenishment member 1200 cools to the temperature of the liquid refrigerant).

[0063] As described above, whether the cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are replenished individually or together through a manifold or the like, portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' tend to draw in condensate and frost. Within a single or multiple cryogenic workstation replenishment station as described above, in one embodiment, exhaust gas EG (Figure 12D) such as nitrogen N2 from the cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' dries the air around the cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' to substantially prevent condensate and frost formation. Here, the exhaust of exhaust gas EG is controlled in any suitable way, such as any suitable valve EGV for releasing the exhaust gas from the housing of the replenishment station. In one embodiment, the dryness (or dew point) of the atmosphere around the cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' is controlled in any suitable way, such as by a heater or by adding an auxiliary cooling gas to the atmosphere (in addition to what is exhausted from the cryogenic workstations).

[0064] Referring also to Figures 14A-14D, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' and / or automated sample storage systems 200, 200' and / or station 163 may include any suitable refrigerant level sensors / detectors 1400A, 1400B, 1400C, 1400D which may communicate with, for example, a control device 164 (or any other suitable control device such as a central control device 164C) to bring about an automatic supply of refrigerant to the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. In one embodiment, sensor 1400A may be one or more thermocouples or temperature sensors 1400A (subtly similar to temperature sensor 169 described above) which are substantially located in or adjacent to the refrigerant source (such as an absorption pad 170 or cooling unit 170') and configured to measure temperature at one or more measuring heights or vertically stacked measuring levels of the refrigerant source. In one embodiment, sensor 1400A may be a stacked series of thermocouples, where each thermocouple in the stack corresponds to one of each of the vertically stacked measurement levels. In another embodiment, sensor 1400B may be a capacity sensor configured to measure the amount of refrigerant based on the capacity of the refrigerant source. In yet another embodiment, sensor 1400C may be an ultrasonic sensor configured to read the level of liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant source (for example, through an opening provided in the refrigerant source). In yet another embodiment, sensor 1400D may be a float-type sensor in which a float moves in the direction of arrow 500 according to the level of liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant source (a channel through which the float moves and a suitable sensor for detecting the position of the float may be provided). In yet another embodiment, the location of the portable cryogenic workstation is provided on any suitable scale 1440 (see Figure 14E), and the refrigerant level is determined based on the weight of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''''.As can be understood, sensors 1400A–1400D may be located within portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''', but in another embodiment, sensors 1400A–1400D may be part of an input unit 1470 substantially similar to the sample storage workstations 200, 201' and / or refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 described herein, such that they extend into the housing to sense or detect refrigerant levels. As can be understood, when the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' are transported in direction 500 within the automated sample storage system 200, 200' to engage with the sealed portion of the load port frame LPF (Figure 2A), for example, or transported in the direction of arrow 500 within station 163 for refrigerant replenishment, a sensor 1400 (similar to one or more of sensors 1400A-1400D), which may be in the form of a probe, is inserted through an opening into the housing 110 or lid 113 (and at least partially into, for example, channel 1010 or any other suitable channel or passage that allows contact with the refrigerant holding area of ​​the housing 110) to detect the refrigerant level in the housing 110.

[0065] In one embodiment, the refrigerant level sensors 1400A to 1400D may be communicatively connected to the control unit 164 by any suitable method, such as via a wireless or wired connection. Note that the control unit 164 may be communicatively connected to the central control unit 164C via a wired or wireless connection. If the connection between the control unit 164 and the central control unit 164C is a wired connection, the housing 110 may include a coupling or connector 1450 that connects to the corresponding coupling or connector of the automated sample storage system 200, 200' or refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 in order to provide communication between the control unit 164 and the central control unit 164C.

[0066] As can be understood, refrigerant level sensors 1400A-1400D may provide remote monitoring of the refrigerant level of each portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. For example, the sensors may detect or sense a low refrigerant level and provide an appropriate signal to the control unit 164. In one embodiment, the control unit 164 may provide the operator with visual or auditory indication (for example, through a display 169D or speaker integrated with the portable cryogenic workstation) that the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' require refrigerant replenishment, so that the operator can transport the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' to an appropriate refrigerant replenishment station (for example, an automated sample storage system 200, 200', or station 163). In another embodiment, the control unit 164 may communicate with a central control unit 164C, for example, to indicate a low refrigerant level. See also Figure 14E, the central control unit 164C may provide control commands to any suitable automated transport unit 1499 (e.g., an overhead gantry system, an automated transport vehicle, a transport system for the automated sample storage system 200, 200', or any other suitable automated transport unit) to transport the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' to the automated sample storage system 200, 200' or the refrigerant replenishment station of the refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163. For example, the portable cryogenic workstation 100 may be stored or on standby in any suitable buffer or stocker 1490. Low refrigerant signals may also be sent to the control unit 164 by sensors 1400A-1400D, which may result in the transmission of control signals to the transport unit 1499. The transport unit 1499 may remove the portable cryogenic workstation 100 from the buffer 1490 and transport it to the refrigerant charging / replenishment station 163 or the automated sample storage system 200, 200' for refrigerant replenishment. In this way, a predetermined level of refrigerant can be maintained within the portable cryogenic workstation 100.

[0067] As described above, the refrigerant levels in each portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be communicated to a central control unit 164C (which may be a control unit for an automated sample storage system and / or a refrigerant charging / replenishment station) and / or to a control unit 164 of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''. One or more of the control units 164 and the central control unit 164C may communicate with one or more flow control valves 1303 of the refrigerant supply unit 1300, which may result in the opening and closing of the valves to control the release of refrigerant into one or more portable cryogenic workstations based on indications of low refrigerant levels from their respective sensors 1400A-1400B (or scale 1440). For example, an indication of a low refrigerant level may be transmitted from the portable cryogenic workstation 100A so that one or more of the control devices 164 and the central control device 164C cause the flow control valve 1303A to open (with the flow control valves 1303B, 1303C closed) in order to allow the passage of refrigerant RE from the storage unit 1300R into the portable cryogenic workstation 100A. As can be understood, when one or more of the portable cryogenic workstations 100B, 100C transmit a low refrigerant signal to the control devices 164 and / or the central control device 164C, their respective flow control valves 1303b, 1303C may also open to allow the flow of refrigerant into one or more of the portable cryogenic workstations 100B, 100C.

[0068] In one embodiment, the amount of refrigerant transferred to each portable cryogenic workstation 100A, 100B, 100C may be based on a low refrigerant signal (for example, the refrigerant capacity of the workstation is known and the amount of refrigerant in the workstation is known when there is a low refrigerant signal, such that the amount of refrigerant transferred is a predetermined difference between the refrigerant capacity and the refrigerant in the workstation). In another embodiment, sensors 1400A-1400D (or scale 1440) may send signals to the control unit 164 and / or central control unit 164C substantially continuously (or at some predetermined time intervals) indicating the amount of fluid in each portable cryogenic workstation, such that when a predetermined fluid level is reached, the respective flow control valves 1303 are closed to stop the flow of refrigerant into the portable cryogenic workstation. In yet another embodiment, the amount of refrigerant to be transferred to one or more portable cryogenic workstations may be determined by any suitable method. The amount of refrigerant in the storage unit 1300R may also be monitored by any suitable method (as described above with respect to sensors 1400A-1400D and scale 1440). In one embodiment, for illustrative purposes only, a float 1302 and a valve 1302 may be provided such that when the refrigerant level in the storage section 1300R decreases, the float 1302 descends, triggering the opening of the valve 1302 and causing the refrigerant REF to flow into the storage section 1300R. As the refrigerant flows into the storage section 1300R, the float rises, and when the refrigerant reaches a predetermined level, the float 1302 causes the valve 1302 to close.

[0069] Referring next to Figures 15 and 16, in one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstation may be configured to maintain the sample 150 at any suitable predetermined temperature, such as about -80°C or any other suitable temperature higher or lower than about -80°C. In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'' (workstation 100 is shown for illustrative purposes only) may include an insulated cooling tank 1500 (or any other suitable container) to hold a predetermined amount of refrigerant REF. In one embodiment, the tank 1500 may be replenished or refilled with refrigerant REF in substantially the same manner as described above. Referring to Figure 15, the base 1501 may be at least partially located within the cavity 110C and include a base portion 1501B and a support portion 1501P extending into the tank 1500 to contact the refrigerant REF. The support portion 1501P may be shaped and sized such that the base portion and the sample held thereon are maintained at a predetermined temperature, such as about -80°C (or any other suitable temperature), at least through thermal conduction (e.g., heat transfer through the base 1501). In one embodiment, the sample can also be cooled by evaporating the coolant around the sample 150. In one embodiment, the insulated tank 1500 may be configured to substantially prevent the temperature in the cavity 110C from stabilizing, for example, at the phase change temperature of the coolant. The base portion 1501B may include a tray 150T arrangement feature substantially similar to that described above with respect to the tray holder TH. In one embodiment, the base portion 1501B may be configured to hold the tray 150T in the manner described above. In another embodiment, referring to Figure 16, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' may include a fan 1600 in the cavity 110C to circulate evaporated coolant (coolant vapor) in addition to, or instead of, the conductive cooling provided by the base 1501, in order to cool the sample 150.

[0070] Referring next to Figures 17A-17G, a sample handling station 1700 for operating a portable cryogenic workstation is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed design. The sample handling station 1700 may be configured to isolate a human operator from inside the portable cryogenic workstation and / or from the transfer of samples to and from the portable cryogenic workstation. In one embodiment, the sample handling station 1700 may be automated or manually operated as described below. The transfer of samples 150 from portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' by the sample handling station 1700 may be substantially the same as the transfer of samples 150 by the sample storage system described above. In one embodiment, the sample handling station 1700 may be equipped with or included within a sample storage system such that an automated transfer unit, such as a robotic arm 933 (Figures 9C and 9D), transfers trays 150T from, for example, one or more cryogenic storage units or storage units 291 of the sample storage system or portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' to the sample handling station 1700. In another embodiment, the sample handling station 1700 may be a freestanding unit placed on a laboratory workbench or other work surface.

[0071] According to aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the sample handling station 1700 may include a frame or housing 1700H that forms a chamber within it. The housing may include a container loading opening CLA sealed by a door 201TPM and a sample access opening SAA sealed by a door 1701. A platform 201TP (substantially the same as described above), a lid removal unit 220' (substantially the same as the load port door described above), and a tray removal device 330 (substantially the same as described above) may be at least partially located within the chamber formed by the housing 1700H. In one embodiment, the door 201TPM may be mounted on the platform 201TP such that when the platform moves in the direction of arrow Z1, the door 201TPM also moves with the platform 201TP to open the container loading opening CLA. In another embodiment, the door 201TPM may be hinged or connected to the housing 1700H in any suitable manner to open and close the opening CLA and allow the platform 201TP to extend through the opening CLA to mount and detach the portable cryogenic workstation to and from the platform 201TP. In one embodiment, one or more motors or drive units 1700M may be included to open and close the door 201TPM and move the platform 201TP in the manner described herein. In another embodiment, any suitable handle 1707H may be provided to allow an operator to open and close the door 201TPM and move the platform 201TP in order to insert the portable workstation into and from the sample handling station 1700H.

[0072] Platform 201TP may include one or more kinematic interface / positioning features 212, 212', 212'' and latch key LK (see, for example, Figure 1A) as described above, for connection to the corresponding kinematic and pressing features (see, above, e.g., Figures 1L, 1M, 1Q, 2E, and 2F) of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''''. The lid removal unit 220' may also include one or more kinematic interface / positioning features and latch key for connection to the corresponding kinematic positioning feature 113A and latch keyhole LKH' of the lid 113. Note that the kinematic positioning features may be located on any suitable side of the portable cryogenic workstation to connect to the corresponding kinematic features of the sample handling station 1700, so that the portable cryogenic workstation is deterministically positioned within the sample handling station 1700. One or more of the lid removal units 220' and the platform 201TP are movable in the directions of arrows Y1, Y2 to cause relative movement between the lid removal unit 220' and the platform 201TP in order to remove the lid 113 from the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''''. The tray removal device 330 may be configured to move in the directions of arrows X1, X2 to extend into, for example, a tray holder TH connected to the lid 113 in order to remove the tray 150T and align the tray 150T (and the sample 150 in it) with the sample access opening SAA. In one embodiment, the tray removal device 330 may be connected to a cooling block or other cooling source so that the sample tray 150T and the sample 150 in it are cooled by conduction while being held by the tray removal device 330. In another embodiment, the sample handling station 1700 may be cooled by any suitable method.In one embodiment, one or more motors 1700M may provide one or more operations of the lid removal unit 220', platform 201TP, and tray removal device 330, but in another embodiment, any suitable number of handles may be provided to allow an operator to move the lid removal unit 220', platform 201TP, and tray removal device 330 in the manner described herein, with the doors 1701, 201TP closed.

[0073] Referring to Figure 18, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may also be placed inside the sample handling station 1700 (Figure 18, block 1800). For example, the door 201TPM and platform 201TP may be moved in the direction of arrow Z1 (Figure 17B) so that the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' can be positioned on and relative to platform 201TP through the kinematic feature section 212' (Figure 17C). In one embodiment, the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be pressed onto platform 201TP by a latch key LK in a manner similar to that described above. The portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be transported into the housing, and the platform 201TP and door 201TPM are moved in the direction of arrow Z2 such that the door 201TPM seals the opening CLA and the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' are positioned in any location relative to, for example, the lid removal unit 220' and the tray removal device 330.

[0074] Relative movement toward each other between the lid removal unit 220' and the platform 201TP may be provided such that the lid removal unit 220' connects with the lid 113 (in substantially the same manner as described above) so that the lid 113 is connected to the lid removal unit 220' (Figure 18, block 1801). In this embodiment, the lid removal unit is configured to move in the direction of arrows Y1, Y2 to connect with the lid (Figure 17D), but in another embodiment, the platform 201TP may be configured to move in the direction of arrows Y1, Y2 to connect the lid 113 to the lid removal unit 220'. In yet another embodiment, both the platform 201TP and the lid removal unit 220' may be movable in the direction of arrows Y1, Y2. The lid 113 may be removed from the portable cryogenic workstation 100, 100', 100'', 100'''' by providing relative movement toward each other between the lid removal unit 220' and the platform 201TP (Figure 18, block 1802). As described above, one or more of the lid removal units 220' and the platform 201TP may be configured to move in the direction of arrows Y1, Y2 to remove the lid 113 (Figure 17E). Also as described above, the tray holder TH may be connected to the lid 113 so as to be moved out of the chamber 110C to provide access to one or more trays 150T held by the tray holder TH when the lid 113 is moved away from the housing 110 (Figure 17E). In this embodiment, the trays 150T and the samples 150 held therein may be removed from the tray holder TH by the tray removal device 330 (Figure 18, block 1803). Here, the tray removal device 330 may be configured to move in the direction of arrows X1, X2 (lateral to the portable cryogenic workstation and tray holder) so that the tray removal device 330 is inserted through the side of the tray holder TH to transfer the tray 150T from the tray holder TH and position the tray 150T and the sample 150 within it toward the sample access opening SAA (Figure 174E).In another embodiment, the tray holder TH may not be connected to the lid 113 so that the tray removal device 330 can reach into the cavity 110C to remove the tray 150T and / or the sample 150 from the cavity. In one embodiment, the lid 113 may be returned to the housing 110 before the door 1701 is opened to help preserve the low temperature inside the chamber 110C. One or more samples 150 can be removed from the tray 150T by opening the door 1701 (Figure 17G) (Figure 18, block 1804). Opening the door 1701 provides operator access to the sample (or access to the sample by any appropriate automated unit). In one embodiment, the sample handling station 1700 may include sample tracking (as described above) and may communicate with portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100'' so that samples 150 removed from tray 150T and samples 150 inserted into tray 150T can be updated in the memory 169M of the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''''. In a similar manner to that described above, sample position sensors 172A, 172B may be provided in the sample handling station 1700 to result in the removal of a given sample 150 from tray 150T, and the sample position information is provided to the operator through the display 7169D. In another embodiment, the display 7169D may also provide the operator with transient information / data relating to one or more of the sample 150, sample tray 150T, and portable cryogenic workstations in the manner described herein. The sample tray 150T and the sample 150 contained therein may be returned to the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''', and the portable cryogenic workstations 100, 100', 100'', 100''' may be removed from the sample handling station 1700 in substantially the opposite manner to that described above.

[0075] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing having an internal cavity configured to hold one or more samples; a lid for sealing the internal cavity so that the portable cryogenic workstation is configured to transport samples between a substantially room temperature environment and a substantially ultra-low temperature environment; at least one automation interface disposed on one or more of the housing and lid and configured to engage with an automated operating device; and a processing data acquisition unit coupled to the housing and configured to acquire processing or transient data corresponding to at least one predetermined processing characteristic of a sample in synchronization with the presence within the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0076] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the processing data acquisition unit is configured to define a processing history using acquired processing or transient data, enabling the analysis of at least one predetermined processing characteristic of the sample.

[0077] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the processing data acquisition unit is communicably connected to a control device and at least one sensor connected to the control device, the at least one sensor being configured to provide one or more of the following: sample position data, sample identification data, temperature data, and the physical state of the lid relative to the housing.

[0078] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a consumption medium level detector.

[0079] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing having an opening forming an internal cavity configured to hold one or more racks of cryogenic samples, a workstation interface, and a lid interface positioned around the outer periphery of the opening; and a lid configured to close the opening and substantially seal the internal cavity, having a housing interface configured to engage with a lid interface so that the lid results in a seal of the internal cavity, and to disengage the lid interface and release the seal of the internal cavity by uniaxial movement of the lid relative to the housing, wherein the housing is configured to engage with closable input / output ports of the workstation.

[0080] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the engagement of the housing with the input / output ports provides a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface, such that when the lid is opened, the internal cavity is in sealed communication with the inside of the workstation.

[0081] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a consumption medium level detector.

[0082] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the housing is configured to provide a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is engaged with the housing.

[0083] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the housing is configured to provide a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is separated from the housing.

[0084] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the housing is configured such that a seal is provided between the input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is engaged with and separated from the housing.

[0085] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation is configured to record processing data relating to one or more predetermined features of a sample, housing, and lid.

[0086] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation is connected to a control device, memory is connected to the control device, at least one sensor is connected to the control device, and the control device is configured to bring about the recording of processing trace data into the memory based on signals from at least one sensor.

[0087] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the control device is configured to bring about the recording of processing trace data in response to a trigger event.

[0088] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the control device is configured to enable analysis of processing trace data.

[0089] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the control unit, memory, and at least one sensor are integrated with one or more housings and covers.

[0090] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the cryogenic portion of the workstation includes a storage module having a cryogenic storage section configured to store racks of cryogenic samples, and a loading module located outside the storage module and including a load port and a closable opening, the closable opening connecting the loading module to the storage module so as to be communicable, and cryogenic samples being transported between the storage module and the loading module through the closable opening, the load port including a closable input / output port configured to engage with a portable cryogenic workstation, the engagement of the load port with the portable cryogenic workstation resulting in a seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation such that when the load port is opened, the interior of the loading module is in sealed communication with the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0091] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the cryogenic sample is transferred between the storage module and the loading module through or within a rack.

[0092] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the inside of the loading module from the external atmosphere.

[0093] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation from the external atmosphere.

[0094] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the load port includes a load port door configured to engage with the lid of a portable cryogenic workstation.

[0095] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the engagement is a magnetic engagement.

[0096] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the movement of the load port door opens and closes the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0097] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the load port is configured such that when the load port is opened, the housing of the portable cryogenic workstation closes an input / output port that can be closed.

[0098] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation provides a thermal block against the intrusion of a thermal load through a load port into the cryogenic portion of the workstation.

[0099] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the cryogenic workstation includes a storage module having a cryogenic storage section configured to store racks of cryogenic samples, and a loading module located outside the storage module and including a load port and a closable opening, the closable opening connecting the loading module to the storage module so as to communicate with the storage module, and cryogenic samples being transported between the storage module and the loading module through the closable opening, and the load port including a closable input / output port, and a portable cryogenic workstation module configured to engage with the closable input / output port.

[0100] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, engagement with a closable input / output port of the portable cryogenic workstation provides a seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation so that when the load port is opened, the loading module is in sealed communication with the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0101] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the cryogenic sample is transferred between the storage module and the loading module through or within a rack.

[0102] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the inside of the loading module from the external atmosphere.

[0103] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation from the external atmosphere.

[0104] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the load port includes a load port door, the portable cryogenic workstation includes a lid, and the load port door is configured to engage with the lid of the portable cryogenic workstation in order to remove the lid from the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0105] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the movement of the load port door opens and closes the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0106] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing configured to close input / output ports that can be closed when a load port is opened.

[0107] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation is configured to provide a thermal block against the intrusion of a thermal load into the cryogenic workstation through a load port.

[0108] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing having an opening that forms an internal cavity configured to hold one or more racks of cryogenic samples, and a lid interface positioned around the outer periphery of the opening; and a lid configured to close the opening and substantially seal the internal cavity, having a housing interface configured to engage with a lid interface so that the lid results in a seal of the internal cavity, and to disengage the lid interface and release the seal of the internal cavity by uniaxial movement of the lid relative to the housing.

[0109] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the lid is configured to disengage the lid interface and release the seal on the internal cavity by only a uniaxial movement of the lid relative to the housing.

[0110] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the housing and lid are thermally insulated.

[0111] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the internal cavity includes a low-temperature refrigerant cooling unit.

[0112] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the cryogenic refrigerant cooling unit includes an absorbent pad configured to hold the cryogenic refrigerant within a cryogenic refrigerant holding space.

[0113] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the internal cavity is configured to hold one or more trays of cryogenic samples.

[0114] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the portable cryogenic workstation includes a handle connected to the housing, configured to allow the portable cryogenic workstation to be carried with one hand.

[0115] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a portable cryogenic workstation includes a temperature sensor located in an internal cavity and a temperature display located on the outer surface of the housing that communicates with the temperature sensor.

[0116] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, an interface device for a portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing forming an internal chamber and at least one portable cryogenic workstation interface at least partially located within the internal chamber, the at least one portable cryogenic workstation interface configured to access the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation, to load samples into the interior and to remove samples from the interior, and the portable cryogenic workstation is configured to port in and out of the housing of the interface device while maintaining a cryogenic atmosphere within the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0117] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed models, the interface device is configured to isolate a human operator from the inside.

[0118] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the interface device is configured as a freestanding device for desktop placement.

[0119] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the interface device may be integrated with an automated article handling system or a refrigerant replenishment station.

[0120] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, at least one portable cryogenic workstation interface is configured for manual operation.

[0121] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, at least one portable cryogenic workstation interface is configured for automated operations.

[0122] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the interface device includes a display and a processor for transmitting processed or transient data to and from a portable cryogenic workstation.

[0123] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, at least one portable cryogenic workstation interface includes one or more kinematic positioning features for deterministically positioning a portable cryogenic workstation relative to a predetermined reference frame of the interface device.

[0124] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, an automated article handling system for transporting a portable cryogenic workstation includes a first cryogenic workstation location and a second cryogenic workstation location different from the first cryogenic workstation, and an automated transport unit configured to move between the first and second cryogenic workstations and having an effector for transporting at least one workstation, wherein the at least one portable cryogenic workstation is a housing configured to maintain a cryogenic environment within an openable cavity of the housing through a removable closure, and includes a first interface configured to engage with the automated transport unit, and a second interface configured to deterministically position at an interface station at one of the first and second cryogenic workstation locations, and an automated workpiece transport unit configured to automatically retrieve or position at least one workpiece within the at least one portable cryogenic workstation.

[0125] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the automated workpiece transport unit comprises a robotic arm having an end effector configured to pick up a workpiece.

[0126] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the automated transport unit includes an overhead transport system.

[0127] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the automated transport unit includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV).

[0128] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the automated transport unit includes a conveyor.

[0129] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the automated transport unit comprises two different types of transport units configured to transport at least one portable cryogenic workstation between two different types of transport units.

[0130] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, two different types of transport units comprise one or more external and internal transport units relative to a storage unit housing, and include at least two overhead transport systems, conveyor systems, and automated guided vehicles.

[0131] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the automated article handling system includes a portable cryogenic workstation transport unit having an effector configured to engage with and transport a portable cryogenic workstation, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation includes a housing that forms an internal cavity and a lid configured to substantially seal the internal cavity; and an automated sample handling system configured to transport samples into and out of the internal cavity, wherein at least one of the automated sample handling system and the transport unit has a lid removal system configured to engage with a kinematic coupling feature of the lid in order to deterministically position the lid relative to the lid removal system.

[0132] According to one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the effector is configured to engage with a kinematic coupling feature of the housing in order to definitively position the housing relative to an automated sample handling system.

[0133] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, a consumption medium replenishment station includes a filling port configured to pass a consumption medium through the interior of a portable cryogenic workstation, and a kinematic positioning feature configured to connect to a portable cryogenic workstation in order to deterministically position the portable cryogenic workstation relative to the filling port.

[0134] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the consumption medium replenishment station is located at the load port of the automated cryogenic sample handling station.

[0135] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the consumption medium replenishment station is a self-contained replenishment station.

[0136] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the filling port comprises a manifold configured to connect to two or more portable cryogenic workstations.

[0137] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, the cryogenic workstation includes a storage module having a cryogenic storage section configured to store racks of cryogenic samples; a loading module located outside the storage module and including a load port and a closable opening, the closable opening connecting the loading module to the storage module so as to be communicable, and cryogenic samples being transported between the storage module and the loading module through the closable opening; the load port includes a closable input / output port configured to engage with a portable cryogenic workstation, the engagement of the load port with the portable cryogenic workstation resulting in a seal between the load port and the portable cryogenic workstation such that when the load port is opened, the interior of the loading module is in sealed communication with the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation; and a consumption medium replenishment filling port located in the load port and configured to communicate with a filling channel of the portable cryogenic workstation.

[0138] It should be understood that the above description is merely illustrative of the embodiments of the disclosed embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the embodiments of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments of the disclosed embodiments are intended to include all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the fact that different features are detailed in different dependent or independent claims does not mean that combinations of these features cannot be used advantageously, and such combinations remain within the scope of the embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable cryogenic workstation, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation is A housing having an opening that forms an internal cavity configured to hold one or more racks of low-temperature samples, a workstation interface, and a lid interface positioned around the outer periphery of the opening, A lid configured to close the opening and substantially seal the internal cavity, wherein the lid has a housing interface, the housing interface is configured to engage with the lid interface so that the lid results in a seal of the internal cavity, and a uniaxial movement of the lid relative to the housing disengages the lid interface and releases the seal of the internal cavity; Equipped with, The workstation interface of the housing is configured to engage with the closable input / output ports of the workstation. A portable cryogenic workstation.

2. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 1, wherein the engagement of the housing between the workstation interface and the input / output ports provides a seal between the closable input / output ports and the workstation interface, thereby allowing the internal cavity to be in sealed communication with the interior of the workstation when the lid is opened.

3. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 1, wherein the workstation interface of the housing is configured to provide a seal between the closable input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is separated from the housing.

4. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 3, wherein the workstation interface of the housing is configured to provide the seal between the closable input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is engaged with the housing and when the lid is separated from the housing.

5. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 3, wherein the seal between the closable input / output port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the inside of the workstation's input module from the external atmosphere.

6. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 3, wherein the seal between the closable input / output port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the interior of the portable cryogenic workstation from the external atmosphere.

7. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 3, wherein the housing is configured to provide a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is engaged with the housing.

8. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 1, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation includes a consumption medium level detector.

9. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 1, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation is configured to record processing data relating to one or more predetermined features of the sample, the housing, and the lid.

10. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit, memory and at least one sensor, wherein the memory and the at least one sensor are connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to cause the recording of processing tracking data into the memory based on signals from the at least one sensor.

11. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 10, wherein the control device is configured to record the processing tracking data in response to a trigger event.

12. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 10, wherein the control device is configured to enable analysis of the processing tracking data.

13. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 10, wherein the control device, the memory, and the at least one sensor are integrated with one or more of the housing and the lid.

14. The portable cryogenic workstation according to claim 1, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation provides a thermal block against the intrusion of a thermal load through the input / output ports into the cryogenic portion of the workstation.

15. A method for transferring a low-temperature sample, wherein the method is: To provide a housing for a portable cryogenic workstation, wherein the housing has an opening that forms an internal cavity for holding one or more racks of cryogenic samples, a workstation interface, and a lid interface positioned around the outer periphery of the opening. A lid is provided for closing the opening and substantially sealing the internal cavity, wherein the lid engages with a lid interface such that the lid provides a seal over the internal cavity, and a housing interface is provided for disengaging the lid interface and releasing the seal over the internal cavity by uniaxial movement of the lid relative to the housing. The workstation interface of the housing is to be engaged with the closable input / output ports of the workstation. Methods that include...

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the engagement of the housing between the workstation interface and the input / output ports results in a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface, so that when the lid is opened, the internal cavity is in sealed communication with the inside of the workstation.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the workstation interface of the housing providing a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is separated from the housing.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising providing a seal between the input / output ports and the workstation interface when the lid is engaged with the housing and when the lid is separated from the housing.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the seal between the input / output port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the inside of the workstation's input module from the external atmosphere.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the seal between the input / output port and the portable cryogenic workstation seals the inside of the portable cryogenic workstation from the external atmosphere.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the housing providing a seal between the input / output port and the workstation interface when the lid is engaged with the housing.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation includes a consumption medium level detector for detecting the level of the consumption medium within the portable cryogenic workstation.

23. The method according to claim 15, further comprising recording processing data relating to one or more predetermined features of the sample, the housing, and the lid.

24. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a control device, a memory, and at least one sensor, wherein the memory and the at least one sensor are each connected to the control device, and the control device, memory, and at least one sensor cause the recording of processing tracking data into the memory based on a signal from the at least one sensor.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the control device causing the recording of the processing tracking data in response to a trigger event.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising analyzing the processing tracking data using the control device.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the control device, the memory, and the at least one sensor are integrated with one or more of the housing and the lid.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein the portable cryogenic workstation provides a thermal block against the intrusion of a thermal load through the input / output ports into the cryogenic portion of the workstation.

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