Biological sample cooling device and multifunctional cooling system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biological sample storage methods fail to achieve slow gradient cooling, leading to potential damage from rapid temperature changes, particularly when using liquid nitrogen.

Innovation Solution

A biological sample cooling device with a cooling adjusting assembly and circulation cooling assembly that adjusts temperature gradients by heating gas to mix with liquid nitrogen, ensuring slow cooling and temperature control for multiple samples.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If liquid nitrogen is used directly for cooling biological samples, then cooling efficiency is improved, but sample damage occurs due to rapid temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling speedVSAvoidsample damage
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gas-phase nitrogen intermediary between liquid nitrogen and biological samples. The system vaporizes liquid nitrogen to create a gas-phase cooling medium that indirectly cools samples, preventing direct thermal shock while maintaining cooling effectiveness through controlled heat transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts cooling parameters by controlling the phase transition of nitrogen (liquid to gas) and regulating gas flow rates. This allows precise control of temperature gradients, enabling slow gradient cooling that protects sample integrity while achieving desired cooling speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If multiple biological samples are stored together, then storage efficiency is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of samplesVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into multiple independent temperature zones, each capable of separate temperature control. Samples are distributed across different grillages and zones, allowing individualized temperature management that maintains precision even when storing large quantities of samples simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a multi-functional temperature control mechanism that can simultaneously manage multiple zones with different temperature requirements. The circulation cooling assembly can selectively cool different regions, providing universal temperature control capability across the entire storage system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If liquid nitrogen temperature is increased to prevent sample damage, then sample safety is improved, but cooling capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample inactivationVSAvoidcooling temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic cycles of direct liquid nitrogen cooling and gas-phase cooling. During gas-phase phases, temperature is allowed to rise slightly to prevent sample damage; during liquid nitrogen phases, stronger cooling is applied. This periodic alternation maintains sample safety while preserving overall cooling capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The circulation cooling assembly maintains continuous cooling action through the nitrogen vapor circulation system. Even when liquid nitrogen is not directly applied, the gas-phase nitrogen continues to absorb heat from samples, ensuring uninterrupted cooling protection that prevents sample inactivation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables intelligent temperature adjustment and slow gradient cooling, preventing sample inactivation and allowing multiple samples to be stored efficiently with controlled temperature adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

a gas in the cavity assembly is sucked into the heating module to be heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

the cooling barrel member controls the temperature of the liquid nitrogen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4692694A1Biological sample cooling device and multifunctional cooling system
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SHANGHAI ORIGINCELL BIOLOGICAL CRYO EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP4692694A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4692694A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4692694A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a biological sample cooling device and a multi-functional cooling system. The biological sample cooling device comprises a cavity assembly, a cooling adjusting assembly, a circulation cooling assembly and biological grillages. The multi-functional cooling system comprises a transport assembly, a lifting assembly, a support rack assembly, a cover opening assembly, a rotatory liquid adding assembly, a grillage grabbing assembly, a pipette assembly, a sample temporary storage box, a barcode scanner and a transfer tank. The present invention has the beneficial effects that a whole-plate biological sample is slowly cooled through the cooling adjusting assembly; the temperature of liquid nitrogen is detected by the circulation cooling assembly; when the temperature is too low, a gas in the cavity assembly is sucked into a heating module to be heated, and multiple groups of biological samples are stored in the circulation cooling assembly; the lifting assembly drives the transfer tank to rise to be docked with the cavity assembly; and the biological grillages and biological single-tube samples are grabbed by utilizing the grillage grabbing assembly and the pipette assembly, thereby placing the biological grillages or the biological single-tube samples into the cooling adjusting assembly or the circulation cooling assembly, so as to achieve the cooling of the biological samples.