Cryogenic storage bag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cryogenic storage bags face issues with hermetic integrity, particularly at cryogenic temperatures, due to excessive RF energy causing material thinning and potential leakage, and require precise cutting for compartment separation, which is error-prone and wasteful in terms of storage space.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic storage bag design featuring multiple compartments connected by frangible tabs that are durable at room temperature but fracture easily at cryogenic temperatures, allowing for reliable separation without direct fluid channels or RF sealing, thereby maintaining hermetic integrity and optimizing storage space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RF sealing is used to seal liquid flow channels between compartments, then hermetic integrity is achieved, but material thinning occurs and fragility increases at cryogenic temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the RF sealing step entirely from the process. Instead of sealing liquid flow channels with RF energy that causes material thinning, the invention uses self-sealing valve mechanisms that open and close based on pressure differentials, eliminating the need for permanent sealed channels while maintaining hermetic integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compartments are filled through sealed valve mechanisms before final compartment separation. The valves are designed to remain closed during storage, maintaining hermetic seals without requiring RF sealing of channels. This preliminary sealing action through mechanical valves avoids the material thinning problem of RF sealing.
2Reliability
If precise cutting is used to separate compartments, then hermetic integrity is maintained, but the process becomes error-prone and storage space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is designed with distinct compartment sections connected by frangible bridges. These bridges are intentionally designed to break at predetermined locations, allowing clean separation of compartments without requiring precise cutting. The segmentation includes self-sealing valves in each compartment that maintain hermetic integrity independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Frangible bridges with predetermined break points are built into the compartment connections during manufacturing. This preliminary design ensures that when separation is needed, the bridges will break cleanly at the correct location without requiring operator skill or precision cutting, while the self-sealing valves maintain hermetic seals.
3Reliability
If liquid flow channels are sealed with RF sealer, then compartments are hermetically sealed, but excessive RF energy causes material thinning and potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates RF sealing and liquid flow channels entirely. Instead, each compartment has its own sealed environment with self-sealing valve mechanisms that open only when pressure differentials dictate. This removes the source of excessive RF energy and material degradation while maintaining hermetic seals through mechanical valve design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the RF sealing mechanical system with a pressure-driven self-sealing valve system. The valves use elastic deformation and pressure differentials to open and close, eliminating the need for RF energy application and the associated material thinning and degradation problems.
4Reliability
If DMSO cryoprotectant is present in blood product, then cell preservation is achieved, but electric arc creation occurs during RF sealing that can puncture compartment walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes RF sealing from the process entirely, eliminating the electric arc problem. Compartments are filled through self-sealing valve mechanisms that do not require RF energy application, thus preventing arc creation and compartment wall puncture while maintaining cell preservation through proper cryogenic storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the RF sealing system with a mechanical self-sealing valve system that uses pressure differentials and elastic deformation. This mechanical system does not involve electromagnetic energy or electric arcs, eliminating the risk of puncturing compartment walls while allowing DMSO cryoprotectant to remain in the blood product for cell preservation.
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 design ensures hermetic integrity and easy compartment separation at cryogenic temperatures, reducing the risk of leakage and contamination, while minimizing storage space requirements, thus enhancing the cost-effective storage of biological specimens.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of frangible tabs provides connections between the compartments at cryogenic temperatures to enable strong, reliable bonds at room temperature but simultaneously allow easy and reliable separation of the storage compartments from one another with a simple intentional rotating motion at cryogenic temperatures
Data Source
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AI summary
A cryogenic storage bag for preserving various biological specimens at low temperatures for sustained periods. The storage bag comprises a plurality of storage compartments and a plurality of frangible tabs. At least two of the plurality of frangible tabs connect each of the plurality of storage compartments to an adjacent storage compartment. Each of the plurality of frangible tabs includes at least one notch and a narrowest portion located equidistant from at least two adjacent storage compartments. The at least one notch connects to walls of the at least two adjacent storage compartments utilizing a joining portion of each of the plurality of frangible tabs. The plurality of frangible tabs enables separation of the plurality of storage compartments from one another at cryogenic temperatures while retaining an effective hermetic integrity to each of the plurality of storage compartments.