Method and system for nucleation control in a controlled rate freezer (CRF)
US8794013B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 2011 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D29/001
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and system for controlled rate freezing and nucleation of materials is provided. The presently disclosed system and method provides the ability to rapidly cool the materials contained in vials or other containers within a cooling unit via forced convective cooling using a laminar and uniform flow of cryogen in proximity to the plurality of vials disposed within the cooling unit. The rapid cooling of the biological materials is achieved by precisely controlling and adjusting the temperature of the cryogen being introduced to the system as a function of time. The presently disclosed methods to systems also provide nucleation control via temperature quench and depressurized nucleation control.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.