초록 ▼

A cryogenic storage apparatus comprises a housing with an automatically operated access door. A holder device disposed in the housing supports a plurality of specimen-containing ampules, while a conveyor moves the holder device, together with the plurality of ampules, through cooling fluid in the ho

A cryogenic storage apparatus comprises a housing with an automatically operated access door. A holder device disposed in the housing supports a plurality of specimen-containing ampules, while a conveyor moves the holder device, together with the plurality of ampules, through cooling fluid in the housing along a path preferably including a snaking portion with vertically extending folds. An inverted L-shaped cooling component with an opened upper side is disposed in the housing for maintaining the cooling fluid at a predetermined low temperature. An extraction mechanism disposed outside of the housing at the access door serves to remove a selectable ampule positioned in the housing in juxtaposition to the door. A tracking device automatically tracks the positions of the ampules during motion thereof along the snaking path, while a control unit connected to the tracking device, the drive mechanism, the conveyor and the extraction mechanism activates the conveyor to move a given ampule along the path to the access door, opens the access door, and operates the extraction mechanism to remove the given ampule from the holder device and out through the opened door.

대표청구항 ▼

A cryogenic storage apparatus comprising: housing means for defining a storage chamber and for containing a cooling fluid, said housing means having an access door; drive means operatively connected to said door for alternately opening and closing same; holder means in said chamber for supporting a

A cryogenic storage apparatus comprising: housing means for defining a storage chamber and for containing a cooling fluid, said housing means having an access door; drive means operatively connected to said door for alternately opening and closing same; holder means in said chamber for supporting a plurality of specimen-containing receptacles; conveyor means for moving said holder means, together with said plurality of receptacles, through said fluid in said chamber along a path including a snaking portion, said snaking portion having a plurality of vertically extending folds, said path including a segment juxtaposed to said door; cooling means at least partially in said chamber for maintaining said chamber at a predetermined low temperature; tracking means operatively connected to said conveyor means for automatically tracking the positions of said plurality of receptacles during motion thereof along said path under action of said conveyor means; extraction means disposed outside of said housing means at said door for removing a selectable one of said receptacles positioned in said chamber in juxtaposition to said door; selection means outside of said housing means for enabling a selection of one of said receptacles by an operator; and control means operatively connected to said selection means, said tracking means, said drive means, said conveyor means and said extraction means for operating said conveyor means, upon selection of a given one of said receptacles via said selection means, to move said given one of said receptacles along said path to said door, for operating said drive means to open said door, for operating said extraction means to remove said given one of said receptacles from said holder means and out through the opened door.