Biological Preservation Container With Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biological materials such as viruses, nucleic acids, proteins, and tissues are prone to damage when rapidly cooled for storage, as existing storage systems lack effective thermal insulation and materials that can withstand extreme temperature changes without compromising sample integrity.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a thermally insulated inner tube within a low-temperature tolerant outer wall, sealed with a matching cover to maintain vacuum and prevent air permeability, allowing for storage at temperatures as low as -80°C or -196°C without sample damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If biological materials are stored at low temperature (−80°C or −196°C), then the storage duration and preservation quality are improved, but the materials are severely and irreversibly damaged by the abrupt temperature drop from higher temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-cooled to low temperature before the biological sample is introduced. This preliminary cooling of the container structure ensures that when the sample is placed inside, the temperature drop is gradual and controlled, preventing thermal shock damage to the biological materials while maintaining the ability to store at ultra-low temperatures for extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates thermal insulation layers and vacuum spaces that act as thermal buffers. These structural elements cushion the thermal transition by reducing heat transfer rate, allowing the sample to gradually equilibrate to the low storage temperature without experiencing abrupt temperature changes that would cause irreversible damage
2Temperature
If conventional storage systems are used without thermal insulation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the thermal insulation performance is insufficient leading to temperature fluctuations and sample damage
Solution Approach 1:
The container introduces vacuum spaces and thermal insulation materials as intermediary layers between the outer environment and the inner sample chamber. These intermediaries block thermal conduction and convection pathways, providing superior thermal insulation performance while maintaining a relatively simple overall container structure consisting of nested chambers
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs thin-walled chambers and flexible sealing elements that provide effective thermal insulation without adding significant structural complexity. The thin film design minimizes thermal mass while maintaining structural integrity and sealability, achieving good thermal insulation with a simple yet effective layered structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container effectively preserves biological materials by maintaining a stable thermal environment and preventing structural or chemical changes during rapid temperature shifts, ensuring sample integrity and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the tube and the at least one outer wall are substantially thermally insulated
Implementation Method 2
sealed with a matching cover to maintain vacuum and prevent air permeability
Data Source
AI summary
A container is provided in the present disclosure. The container includes at least one outer wall that is made of a low temperature tolerant material where the at least one outer wall is arranged to substantially form the container with an opening end; a tube that is situated inside the at least one outer wall, where the tube and the at least one outer wall are substantially thermally insulated, and the tube is open at one end that is on a same side of the opening end of the container; and a container cover being shaped substantially to match the at least one outer wall, where the container over is capable of covering the opening end of the container.