Closed-System Cryopreservation Device With Frustoconical Mechanical Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryopreservation methods face challenges such as contamination risks from non-aseptic cryogens like liquid nitrogen and potential cellular damage from heat sealing in closed systems, along with increased complexity and material mismatch issues in existing closed system cryocontainers.
Innovation Solution
A closed system cryopreservation device with a stick and cap made of the same rigid material, featuring a frustoconical design that maintains a seal without heat-sealing, ensuring uniform thermal expansion and preventing cryogen contact, using materials like medical grade polystyrene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat-sealing is used to seal the cryocontainer, then the container is sealed and aseptic, but the heat may injure the cell and additional sealing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal sealing mechanism with a mechanical sealing system. The cap features a frustoconical outer surface that engages with a corresponding frustoconical inner surface in the container body, creating a mechanical seal through friction and geometric interlocking. This mechanical engagement provides reliable sealing without exposing cells to heat damage from thermal sealing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The frustoconical interface acts as an intermediary sealing mechanism between the cap and container body. This geometric interface provides a gradual transition zone that distributes sealing forces and creates an effective seal without requiring extreme heat or pressure that would harm the biological specimen.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different materials are used for the container and cap, then the device can be manufactured with different properties, but they expand or contract at different rates which may disrupt the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that both the container body and cap be made from the same or substantially the same material, preferably polystyrene. This material homogeneity ensures that both components have identical or matched coefficients of thermal expansion, allowing them to expand and contract uniformly during temperature changes from room temperature to cryogenic storage conditions, thereby maintaining seal integrity without disruption.
3Speed
If open system is used for direct immersion in liquid nitrogen, then rapid chilling is achieved, but contamination risk increases due to non-aseptic cryogen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the biological specimen is placed inside a sealed container, which is then placed inside an outer container. This nested arrangement allows the inner container to be rapidly chilled while the outer container provides an additional barrier against contamination from the liquid nitrogen environment, enabling both rapid cooling and protection from harmful factors.
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
Provides a secure, aseptic seal and uniform temperature conduction, reducing contamination risks and eliminating the need for additional sealing steps while maintaining a stable seal across temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
The interior surface of the first section of the hollow chamber is in friction fit engagement with the exterior surface of the boss
Implementation Method 2
both the stick and the cap are made of the same rigid material so that both pieces exhibit the same coefficient of thermal expansion
Implementation Method 3
provides uniform temperature conduction
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5D
AI summary
A closed system cryopreservation device for vitrification of biological specimens includes an elongated body from one end of which extends a frustoconical boss and an elongated cap for sealably enclosing a biological specimen with an elongated hollow chamber. The interior surface of the chamber defines a frustoconical volume corresponding to the frustoconical boss, such that when the boss is inserted into the chamber, substantially the entire interior surface is in contact, with the exterior surface of the boss. The device farther comprises a substantially uniform coefficient of thermal expansion.