Tissue Container System for Cryopreserved Skin Equivalents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preserving and storing engineered tissues face challenges due to the need for controlled conditions, leading to high operational costs and tissue viability issues, as cryopreservation can cause damage through ice formation and osmotic imbalance.
Innovation Solution
The development of tissue container systems with a unique design featuring a perimeter wall and planar bottom surface, allowing for efficient thawing and storage of cryopreserved human skin equivalents, using a porous tray and compatible liquid medium to dilute cryoprotectants, enabling storage and transport under routine conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If cryopreservation is used to store engineered tissues, then long-term storage is achieved, but tissue damage occurs through ice formation and osmotic imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the storage medium by incorporating specific cryoprotectants (such as glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide, or ethylene glycol) at optimized concentrations. These chemical parameter changes prevent ice crystal formation and osmotic imbalance, thereby protecting tissue viability during long-term frozen storage while enabling extended storage duration beyond the previous 15-day limitation.
2Productivity
If engineered tissues are produced in batches, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the tissues must be used quickly after manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary cryopreservation action during the manufacturing process itself. Tissues are frozen and stored in cryopreserved state immediately after production using the optimized cryoprotectant-containing medium. This preliminary freezing action allows batch-produced tissues to be stored indefinitely in frozen state, eliminating the pressure to use them within days of manufacture while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
3Reliability
If specialized storage conditions are required, then tissue viability is maintained, but storage and transport costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable, single-use cryopreserved tissue package that contains pre-formulated cryoprotectant solution. This disposable system eliminates the need for expensive, specialized storage infrastructure at the point of use. The tissue arrives pre-cryopreserved in a stable state, requiring only simple thawing at the destination, thereby dramatically reducing storage and transport costs while maintaining tissue viability through the built-in cryoprotectant system.
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 tissue container system effectively maintains tissue viability and reduces storage and transport costs by allowing cryopreserved tissues to be thawed and used efficiently, with improved handling and reduced cryoprotectant exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The reservoir is configured to receive a liquid medium that mixes with the cryoprotectant-containing solution, thereby diluting the cryoprotectant concentration to levels safe for tissue handling and storage
Implementation Method 2
The stacked configuration of first and second containers facilitates efficient thermal transfer during the freezing and thawing processes, with the liquid medium in the reservoir acting as a thermal conduit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to tissue container systems that find use in the transport of tissues and methods of using the tissue container systems. In particular the present invention relates to systems that support the transport, thawing and use of cryopreserved human skin equivalents, and methods of their use by a health care provider.