Storage device for biological samples
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid nitrogen tanks for biological samples suffer from high nitrogen volatility, poor temperature retention, and inefficient storage and retrieval of cryopreservation tubes or racks, leading to reduced storage efficiency and sample activity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid nitrogen tank with a dual cavity layer insulation system, including a vacuum cavity and a heat-insulating cavity with thermal insulation materials, and a drive component that allows the storage rack to rotate and move, enabling precise positioning of cryopreservation tubes or racks for easy access and improved temperature retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple liquid nitrogen tank structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the temperature retention is poor and nitrogen volatility is high
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is divided into multiple cavity layers including a vacuum cavity layer and a heat-insulating cavity layer, with each layer serving a specific thermal insulation function. This segmentation allows the system to achieve superior temperature retention through combined vacuum and material insulation mechanisms while maintaining a manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite insulation structures combining vacuum space with heat-insulating materials (such as PIR, PUR, EPP, EPS, or aerogel) in the heat-insulating cavity layer. This composite approach leverages both the thermal vacuum barrier and the insulating properties of specialized materials to maximize temperature retention effectiveness.
2Productivity
If cryopreservation tubes are stored in fixed positions, then the storage structure is simple, but the storage and retrieval efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The storage rack is designed with rotatable and vertically movable capabilities, transforming a static storage structure into a dynamic one. The drive component enables the storage rack to rotate and move up and down, allowing rapid access to any cryopreservation tube position without manual manipulation of individual tubes, thereby significantly improving storage and retrieval efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive component automatically positions the storage rack and cryopreservation tube racks to the access door position, reducing the need for manual intervention. The system can self-position the required storage locations, making the storage and retrieval process more efficient and less labor-intensive.
3Productivity
If manual storage and retrieval operations are used, then the device complexity is low, but the storage efficiency and sample activity maintenance are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated drive component system that includes a drive motor, driving gear, driven gear, shift fork, and control lead screw. This mechanical automation system efficiently controls the storage rack's rotation and vertical movement, improving storage efficiency while maintaining sample activity through precise, controlled operations that minimize temperature fluctuations.
4Ease of operation
If the access door is opened frequently for storage and retrieval, then the operation convenience is high, but the temperature retention deteriorates and nitrogen volatility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive component acts as an intermediary mechanism that brings the storage rack and cryopreservation tubes to the access door position rather than requiring the access door to be opened to reach tubes. This intermediary positioning system allows the access door to remain closed during most operations, maintaining temperature retention while still providing easy access when needed.
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 dual cavity layer insulation significantly reduces nitrogen volatility, enhances storage efficiency, and maintains the activity of biological samples by improving temperature retention and facilitating easy storage and retrieval without disrupting the cryopreservation environment.
Implementation Method 1
the vacuum cavity layer is provided on a periphery of the heat-insulating cavity layer
Implementation Method 2
the heat-insulating cavity layer is provided on a periphery of the storage cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A liquid nitrogen tank includes a tank (1), a storage rack (2) and a drive component (3). The tank (1) includes a tank cover (4), a tank body (5), a vacuum cavity layer (6) and a heat-insulating cavity layer (7). The tank cover (4) is disposed to cover on the tank body (5). An access door (8) is provided on the tank body (5). A storage cavity (9) is provided in the tank body (5). The heat-insulating cavity layer (7) is provided on a periphery of the storage cavity (9). The vacuum cavity layer (6) is provided on a periphery of the heat-insulating cavity layer (7). The storage rack (2) is provided in the storage cavity (9). A plurality of cryopreservation tube racks (10) are stored in the storage rack (2). The drive component (3) can drive the storage rack (2) to rotate and move up and down in the storage cavity (9), and can drive the plurality of cryopreservation tube racks (10) to move to a position corresponding to the access door (8).