Biological Material Storage Using Phase Change Materials and Vacuum Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transportation of biological materials requires maintaining a narrow temperature range, which is challenging due to the inaccessibility or unreliability of refrigeration power sources, and existing methods rely on cryogenic conditions using liquid nitrogen or dry ice, necessitating an alternative for safe storage and transport at high sub-zero temperatures without these substances.
Innovation Solution
The use of phase change materials (PCMs) in combination with insulation materials like vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and aerogels to maintain biological materials at a target temperature range of 8° C. to −40° C. for extended periods without powered refrigeration, ensuring the integrity and viability of the samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid nitrogen or dry ice is used for cryogenic storage, then temperature maintenance is achieved, but accessibility and reliability of refrigeration power source deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the refrigeration power source requirement from the storage system by using passive cooling methods. Instead of relying on active refrigeration equipment, the system uses pre-cooled containers and phase change materials that maintain temperature without requiring continuous power supply, thus eliminating the reliability issue associated with powered refrigeration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the storage containers and preparing phase change materials before the actual storage period. The containers are pre-chilled to target temperatures and phase change materials are pre-positioned to activate at specific temperature thresholds, ensuring temperature maintenance begins immediately without requiring active refrigeration during storage.
2Reliability
If cryogenic conditions are used, then biological material preservation is achieved, but device complexity increases due to specialized equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from extreme cryogenic conditions (liquid nitrogen at -196°C) to high sub-zero temperatures (0°C to -40°C) that are achievable with simpler equipment. This parameter change allows the use of conventional refrigeration systems and phase change materials instead of specialized cryogenic infrastructure, reducing device complexity while maintaining biological material preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable or single-use phase change material packs and pre-cooled containers that can be easily replaced after use. These consumable cooling elements eliminate the need for complex, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain permanent cryogenic infrastructure, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable biological material preservation during transport and storage.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If passive temperature maintenance is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of water and other substances as passive temperature control mechanisms. Phase change materials undergo phase transitions at specific temperatures, automatically absorbing or releasing heat to maintain the storage environment at the target temperature without requiring active control systems. This provides both energy efficiency and temperature control precision through the inherent thermal properties of phase changing materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces phase change materials as intermediary substances between the external environment and the biological material. These intermediaries absorb excess heat or cold through phase transitions, buffering temperature fluctuations and maintaining stable conditions around the stored material. This intermediary approach achieves precise temperature control without direct active refrigeration, reducing energy consumption while maintaining temperature precision.
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
This solution effectively preserves biological materials at the target temperature range for at least 4 hours to 10 days, preventing temperature deviations within a predefined tolerance, thus ensuring the safety and viability of DNA, RNA, proteins, cells, tissues, and organs during transport.
Implementation Method 1
The use of phase change materials (PCMs) in combination with insulation materials like vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and aerogels to maintain biological materials at a target temperature range of 8° C. to −40° C. for extended periods without powered refrigeration
Implementation Method 2
insulation materials like vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and aerogels to maintain biological materials at a target temperature range
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to apparatuses and methods for preserving biological material, for example cryopreserved biological material, such as cells, tissues, and organs for storage and/or transport. Apparatuses and methods of the present technology preserve biological material at a target temperature within a range of 8° C. to −40° C. for extended periods of time, for example at least 4 hours. The target temperature and extended period of time may be achieved with the use of cold sources such as phase change materials (PCMs) in combination with insulation materials, such as vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and/or aerogels.