Ice Nucleating Apparatus for Cryopreservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling ice formation during cryopreservation are inconsistent, leading to variable cell viability and increased costs due to the need for overfilling samples and limitations in high-throughput screening, as existing physical methods are difficult to standardize and integrate into conventional equipment.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a housing containing a permeable cavity and ice nucleating material, allowing for controlled ice nucleation by facilitating liquid contact with the nucleating material while preventing contamination of biological samples, compatible with various container types including multiwell plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical methods are used to induce ice nucleation, then ice formation can be controlled, but the methods are difficult to standardize and integrate into conventional equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice nucleation consistencyVSAvoidequipment integration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an ice nucleating material as an intermediary substance that facilitates controlled ice formation. This material acts as a mediator between the cooling system and the biological sample, providing consistent nucleation without requiring complex physical methods or equipment modifications. The nucleating material can be simply added to or integrated with existing cryopreservation containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ice nucleation is not controlled, then spontaneous nucleation occurs at variable temperatures, but this leads to excessive supercooling and reduced cell viability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell viabilityVSAvoidice nucleation temperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The ice nucleating material provides self-service functionality by automatically initiating ice formation at the appropriate temperature without requiring external intervention. The material inherently possesses the property to nucleate ice at consistent temperatures, eliminating the need for complex control systems or manual timing of nucleation events during the freezing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If samples are overfilled to compensate for viability variation, then sufficient viable cells are guaranteed, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveminimum viable cell guaranteeVSAvoidsample volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ice nucleating material provides feedback control for ice formation by ensuring consistent nucleation temperatures across all samples. This consistency reduces the variability in cell viability outcomes, allowing manufacturers to optimize sample volumes without excessive overfilling. The predictable nucleation behavior enables more accurate dosing and reduces the safety margin that would otherwise be required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If rapid thawing is performed, then cell recovery is improved, but the process requires precise temperature control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethawing speedVSAvoidtemperature control requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ice nucleating material performs preliminary action by controlling the freezing process to create more uniform ice crystal structures. This preliminary control of ice formation facilitates more efficient and uniform thawing later, as the pre-formed ice structure responds more predictably to heating, reducing the complexity of temperature control requirements during the thawing phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary 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

This solution enhances cell viability by inducing ice formation closer to the melting point, reducing damage to biological samples and enabling consistent ice nucleation across multiple samples, thus improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cryopreservation processes.

Implementation Method 1

it is also necessary to induce ice formation by controlled nucleation rather than allow spontaneous ice nucleation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIce nucleation: Nucleation

Implementation Method 2

an apparatus with a housing containing a permeable cavity and ice nucleating material, allowing for controlled ice nucleation by facilitating liquid contact with the nucleating material while preventing contamination of biological samples

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS10834917B2Methods for cryopreservation of biological materials

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 BIOSAFE SA

AI summary

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present technique provide apparatus for controlling ice formation, such as during the processes of cryopreservation and freeze drying. In particular, the apparatus provides a mechanism to deliver an ice nucleating material into a biological sample that is to be preserved, without allowing the ice nucleating agent to contact or contaminate the biological matter within the sample.