Cryogenic Container Insulation and Access Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a cryogenic container that can maintain the cold chain for frozen particles over long periods, particularly for biological materials stored at very low temperatures, while being easy to handle and protect against contamination during storage and transport.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic container with a thermally insulating design, featuring a cavity with an outlet opening and a closure device that can be actuated from the inside, along with an insulation element for maintaining temperature and preventing contamination, ensuring the frozen particles remain frozen during storage and deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the container uses thick thermally insulating walls to maintain temperature, then temperature maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container element comprises a container wall with an outer wall layer and an inner wall layer made of different materials. The outer wall layer is made of a material with low thermal conductivity for thermal insulation, while the inner wall layer is made of a material compatible with frozen particles. This composite structure achieves effective thermal insulation without requiring excessive wall thickness, thus maintaining temperature while controlling device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the outlet opening is opened from the inside using an opening element, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of particle contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is designed to be opened from the inside of the receiving space by an opening element before the container is actually needed. This preliminary action allows the system to be prepared in advance while maintaining the sealed state during storage and transport, thus improving ease of operation without increasing contamination risk during critical storage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure device acts as an intermediary between the opening element and the frozen particles. It provides a controlled interface that can be opened from the inside while maintaining the integrity of the receiving space, thus enabling easy operation while preventing direct contact between external contaminants and the frozen particles.
3Ease of operation
If the container is designed for easy handling and quick access, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into distinct functional components: a container element for thermal insulation, a closure device for controlled access, and an opening element for operation. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function - the container element maintains temperature while the closure device and opening element provide ease of operation, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature maintenance and ease of operation.
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 maintains the cold chain for extended periods, preventing thawing and contamination, and facilitates easy handling and deposition of frozen particles, ensuring their integrity and usability in biological and medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally insulating container element which has at least one receiving space for frozen particles
Implementation Method 2
an insulation element for thermal insulation of the closure device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cryogenic container being suitable for the storage and provision of frozen particles, comprising a thermally insulated container element having at least one accommodation chamber for frozen particles, and at least one outlet opening, a locking device, by means of which the at least one outlet opening can be closed, at least one opening element, which can be actuated in order to open the outlet opening, thus providing the frozen particles outside of the outlet opening, and an insulation element for the thermal insulation of the closing device. The invention further relates to a depot for providing frozen particles for a deposition device, a deposition device having a depot, and a method for providing frozen particles for a deposition.