Automated cryogenic storage and retrieval system

US11828516B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Azenta US, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Lingchen Sun · Milford, US
• Bruce S. Zandi · Lexington, US
• Frank Hunt · Shrewsbury, US
• Aaron Plaisted · Chelmsford, US
• Tiffany Holmes · Chelmsford, US
• Matthew Albert · Hollis, US
• Fang Cui · Chelmsford, US
• Yuri Rubenchik · Newton, US
• Daniel Lamothe · Chelmsford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 15, 2019
• Grant date: Nov 28, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 21, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2035/00435
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A cryogenic storage system includes a transfer module configured to service one or more cryogenic storage freezers. The transfer module includes a working chamber that maintains a cryogenic environment for the transfer of sample tubes between different sample boxes. One or more freezer ports enable the transfer module to receive a sample box extracted from a respective freezer. An input/output (I/O) port enables external access to samples. A box transport robot operates to transport sample boxes between the freezer ports, the working chamber, and the I/O port. A picker robot operates to transfer sample tubes between sample boxes within the working chamber.