초록 ▼

For the controlled cooling of specimens which are at least partially of liquid form, especially biological specimens, it is important that crystallization at the freezing point takes place locally, without supercooling, and preferably with absorption of the latent heat of fusion. A cooling device wh

For the controlled cooling of specimens which are at least partially of liquid form, especially biological specimens, it is important that crystallization at the freezing point takes place locally, without supercooling, and preferably with absorption of the latent heat of fusion. A cooling device which comprises at least one module which operates in accordance with the Peltier effect, with the “cold”faces of the modules connected by a conductive metal strip, has the specimen container in contact with the strip. The device is mounted in a working chamber which has its temperature/time profile controlled. At a temperature which is a predetermined amount above a given critical temperature for the specimen, e.g. its freezing point, the Peltier effect modules are energized to effect supplementary cooling at a local area, for example one end of the specimen.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of modifying the cooling rate of an article which comprises a container at least partially filled with contents at least partially of liquid form and constituting a finite specimen, which comprises the steps of progressively cooling the specimen as a whole down to, through and below a given

A method of modifying the cooling rate of an article which comprises a container at least partially filled with contents at least partially of liquid form and constituting a finite specimen, which comprises the steps of progressively cooling the specimen as a whole down to, through and below a given critical temperature for that specimen, and at a temperature level which is close to and above said critical temperature subjecting the specimen to supplementary cooling at only a localized part of the specimen by passing an electric current through Peltier effect means in thermal contact with only said localized part of the specimen, and triggering the initiation of said supplementary cooling by the specimen reaching said predetermined temperature level.