U.S. patent application number 14/882070 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-15 for sample cryogenic storage pipe and device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shandong Shanda Hospital For Reproductive Medicine Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Zijiang Chen, Shandong Shanda Hospital For Reproductive Medicine Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Zijiang Chen, Cheng Li, Jinlong Ma, Keliang Wu.
Application Number | 20160363363 14/882070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54298380 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160363363 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Zijiang ; et
al. |
December 15, 2016 |
SAMPLE CRYOGENIC STORAGE PIPE AND DEVICE
Abstract
The present application discloses a sample cryogenic storage
pipe. The sample cryogenic storage pipe includes a pipe body and a
one-piece pipe cap removably assembled to the pipe body; the pipe
body has an upper opening and a lower opening at the bottom, a pipe
sleeve is provided below the upper opening inside the pipe body,
and the pipe body is provided with a weighting portion; the pipe
cap includes a pipe-cap mating portion and a sample loading rod
integrally formed with the pipe-cap mating portion, and the sample
loading rod, on at least one side thereof, is provided with a
storage groove for storing one or more samples; the pipe-cap mating
portion is removably assembled to the upper opening at the top, and
the sample loading rod is able to be inserted into the pipe sleeve
or be removed from the pipe sleeve. The present application also
discloses a sample cryogenic storage device. The sample cryogenic
storage pipe and device of the present application have no residual
liquid nitrogen trapped therein in use, so that the structure is
simple and the operation is easy.
Inventors: |
Chen; Zijiang; (Broadview
Heights, OH) ; Wu; Keliang; (Jinan, CN) ; Li;
Cheng; (Jinan, CN) ; Ma; Jinlong; (Jinan,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chen; Zijiang
Shandong Shanda Hospital For Reproductive Medicine Co.,
Ltd. |
Jinan
Jinan |
|
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Shandong Shanda Hospital For
Reproductive Medicine Co., Ltd.
Jinan
CN
|
Family ID: |
54298380 |
Appl. No.: |
14/882070 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/042 20130101;
B01L 2300/047 20130101; A01N 1/02 20130101; A01N 1/0268 20130101;
G01N 1/00 20130101; F25D 3/107 20130101; B01L 2300/0858 20130101;
B01L 3/00 20130101; B01L 2300/048 20130101; B01L 2200/0647
20130101; G01N 1/42 20130101; B01L 3/50825 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/10 20060101
F25D003/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2015 |
CN |
201510315624.7 |
Claims
1. A sample cryogenic storage pipe, comprising: a pipe body,
comprising: an upper opening, a lower opening, a pipe sleeve inside
the pipe body and below the upper opening, and a weighting portion,
and a pipe cap removably coupled to the pipe body, comprising: a
mating portion removably coupled to the upper opening of the pipe
body, a sample loading rod integrally formed with the mating
portion, configured to insert into and to remove from the pipe
sleeve, and a storage groove for storing one or more samples,
disposed on at least one side of the sample loading rod.
2. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the pipe sleeve comprises a funnel-shaped portion.
3. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the mating portion comprises a first magnetic portion for matching
and connecting an operating lever, wherein the first magnetic
portion is disposed on an upper surface of the mating portion.
4. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 3 wherein
the mating portion further comprises a position opening portion for
matching and positioning the operating lever, wherein the position
opening portion is disposed on the upper surface of the mating
portion.
5. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the weighting portion is a metal ball mounted on the pipe
sleeve.
6. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the pipe body further comprises a connection portion between the
upper opening and the pipe sleeve, wherein the mating portion
comprises: a top mating portion for matching and connecting an
operating lever, wherein the top mating portion covers the upper
opening, and a bottom mating portion for matching and connecting
the pipe body, wherein the bottom mating portion is removably
coupled within the connection portion.
7. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the mating portion further comprises a vent connecting an upper
surface and a lower surface of the mating portion, wherein the vent
is spaced apart from the sample loading rod.
8. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the storage groove has a cross-sectional of a U-shape or a
V-shape.
9. The sample cryogenic storage pipe according to claim 1 wherein
the pipe body comprises a marking region.
10. A sample cryogenic storage device, comprising: a sample
cryogenic storage pipe, comprising: a pipe body, comprising: an
upper opening, a lower opening, a pipe sleeve inside the pipe body
and below the upper opening, and a weighting portion, and a pipe
cap removably coupled to the pipe body, comprising: a mating
portion removably coupled to the upper opening of the pipe body, a
sample loading rod integrally formed with the mating portion,
configured to insert into and to remove from the pipe sleeve, and a
storage groove for storing one or more samples, disposed on at
least one side of the sample loading rod, and an operating lever
configured to removably couple to the mating portion of the pipe
cap.
11. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10
wherein the pipe sleeve comprises a funnel-shaped portion.
12. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10
wherein the mating portion comprises a first magnetic portion for
matching and connecting an operating lever, wherein the first
magnetic portion is disposed on an upper surface of the mating
portion, wherein the operating lever comprises: a main body, a
connecting portion at an end of the main body, and a second
magnetic portion for matching the first magnetic portion, wherein
the second magnetic portion is disposed on the connection portion
of the operating lever.
13. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 12
wherein the mating portion further comprises a position opening
portion for matching and positioning the operating lever, wherein
the position opening portion is disposed on the upper surface of
the mating portion, and wherein the connecting portion of the
operating lever comprises a position protrusion for matching the
position opening portion.
14. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10
wherein the weighting portion is a metal ball mounted on the pipe
sleeve.
15. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10
wherein the pipe body further comprises a connection portion
between the upper opening and the pipe sleeve, wherein the mating
portion comprises: a top mating portion for matching and connecting
an operating lever, wherein the top mating portion covers the upper
opening, and a bottom mating portion for matching and connecting
the pipe body, wherein the bottom mating portion is removably
coupled within the connection portion.
16. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10
wherein the mating portion further comprises a vent connecting an
upper surface and a lower surface of the mating portion, wherein
the vent is spaced apart from the sample loading rod.
17. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10,
wherein the storage groove has a cross-sectional of a U-shape or a
V-shape.
18. The sample cryogenic storage device according to claim 10,
wherein the pipe body comprises a marking region.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application No. 201510315624.7, filed on Jun. 10, 2015, and
entitled "SAMPLE CRYOGENIC STORAGE PIPE AND DEVICE," which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to sample storage
technologies, and more particularly, to a sample cryogenic storage
pipe and a sample cryogenic storage device for storing all kinds of
tissues and cells of a biological, medical laboratory or the
like.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Currently, a loading tool, used to cryogenically store all
kinds of tissues, cells, oocytes and early embryos in an IVF
laboratory, mainly includes three categories: a cryoloop, a
cryostraw and a cryogenic loading rod.
[0004] There is a higher requirement for a ring mounting technique
when the cryoloop is in use. The respective operation can only be
smoothly completed by a strictly-trained and skilled operator. And
because the cryoloop is made of a plastic material and the loading
rod is made of a metal material, a certain gap is formed
therebetween, so that liquid nitrogen will reside in the gap.
During a melting process, a large amount of bubbles are released or
cracks are appeared due to volatilization of the liquid nitrogen,
causing loss of one or more samples.
[0005] The operation is very complicated when the cryostraw and the
cryogenic loading rod are in use. A longer pipe body occupies lots
of storage space and space utilization is low. The pipe body has a
smaller diameter and sample information cannot be marked clearly
and completely on the pipe body, and thus confusion and/or
uncertainty easily occurs in use.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present application discloses a sample cryogenic storage
pipe and a sample cryogenic storage device with features of simple
structure and easy operation where there is no residual liquid
nitrogen in use.
[0007] In one exemplary embodiment, a sample cryogenic storage pipe
includes a pipe body and a one-piece pipe cap removably assembled
to the pipe body; the pipe body has an upper opening at the top and
a lower opening at the bottom, a pipe sleeve is provided below the
upper opening inside the pipe body, and the pipe body is provided
with a weighting portion; the pipe cap includes a pipe-cap mating
portion and a sample loading rod integrally formed with the
pipe-cap mating portion, and the sample loading rod, on at least
one side thereof, is provided with a storage groove for storing one
or more samples; the pipe-cap mating portion is removably assembled
to the upper opening, and the sample loading rod is able to be
inserted into the pipe sleeve or be removed from the pipe
sleeve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description and accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary sample
cryogenic storage pipe;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary pipe body;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the pipe body of FIG. 2, wherein
the pipe body includes a marking region;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary pipe cap;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of the pipe cap of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary sample
cryogenic storage device;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a side view of an exemplary operating lever;
and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a top view of an exemplary operating lever.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Detailed embodiments of the present application are
hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein identical reference numerals being used to represent
identical elements. It should be noted that the words "front",
"back", "left", "right", "up", "top" and "bottom", used
hereinafter, mean orientations in the drawings, and the words
"inside" and "outside" respectively mean the orientations toward
and away from geometric center of a certain portion.
[0018] The sample cryogenic storage pipe and the sample cryogenic
storage device of the present application are mainly used to
cryogenically store all kinds of tissues, cells, oocytes and early
embryos in a biological or medical laboratory. A tissue or cell to
be cryogenically stored is called as a sample, and the pipe and
device for cryogenically storing the tissue or cell are
correspondingly called as the sample cryogenic storage pipe and the
sample cryogenic storage device, respectively.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary sample cryogenic storage
pipe 100 includes a pipe body 1 and a one-piece pipe cap 2
removably assembled to the pipe body 1.
[0020] The pipe body 1 has an upper opening 11 on the upper end
thereof and a lower opening 12 on the lower end thereof. A pipe
sleeve 13 is provided below the upper opening 11 within the pipe
body 1. The pipe body 1 also includes a weighting portion 3.
[0021] The pipe cap 2 includes a pipe-cap mating portion 21 and a
sample loading rod 22 integrally formed with the pipe-cap mating
portion 21. The sample loading rod 22, on at least one side
thereof, is provided with a storage groove 221 for storing one or
more samples.
[0022] The pipe-cap mating portion 21 removably assembles to the
upper opening 11. The sample loading rod 22 is able to be inserted
into the pipe sleeve 13 or be removed from the pipe sleeve 13.
[0023] That is to say, the sample cryogenic storage pipe 100 mainly
consists of the pipe body 1 and the pipe cap 2. The pipe cap 2 is a
one-piece pipe cap, which is integrally formed as a whole, so that
there is no gap between all of connection portions of the pipe cap
2, preventing residual liquid nitrogen from being trapped in the
pipe cap 2.
[0024] The pipe body 1 is provided with the upper opening 11 on the
upper end thereof and the lower opening 12 on the lower end
thereof. The pipe sleeve 13 is also provided within the pipe body
1, which is located below the upper opening 11. When the sample
cryogenic storage pipe 100 is inserted into the liquid nitrogen,
the liquid nitrogen, may enter the pipe body 1 through the lower
opening 12, so as to reduce or maintain the temperature of the
sleeve 13, the sample loading rod 22 within the sleeve 13 and the
one or more samples therein. Further, the pipe body 1 is provided
with the weighting portion 3 for counteracting the buoyant force of
the sample cryogenic storage pipe 100 within the liquid nitrogen.
The weighting portion 3 may be any object which has weight and can
be arranged at any position on the pipe body 1.
[0025] The pipe cap 2 includes the pipe-cap mating portion 21 and
the sample loading rod 22. The sample loading rod 22 is integrally
formed with the pipe-cap mating portion 21, so as to form the above
one-piece pipe cap 2. There is no gap between the sample loading
rod 22 and the pipe-cap mating portion 21. Therefore, any residual
liquid nitrogen is prevented from being trapped when the pipe cap
is taken out of the liquid nitrogen. No residual liquid nitrogen is
trapped in use, to avoid the defect, i.e. the loss of a sample
caused by a large amount of bubbles released by the volatilization
of the liquid nitrogen or caused by cracks occurred in the
volatilization of the liquid nitrogen during cryogenic storage.
[0026] The sample loading rod 22 includes a storage groove 221 on
at least one side for storing one or more samples. In some
embodiments, the storage groove 221 is located at a lateral side of
the sample loading rod 22. In other embodiments, the sample loading
rod 22 may include two or more storage grooves 221 that in some
cases are symmetrical in shape and/or position. The one or more
samples are placed in the storage groove 221 in use. The one or
more samples are not lost from the storage groove 221 during the
movement of the storage groove 221.
[0027] During the connecting operation, the pipe-cap mating portion
21 is configured on the upper opening 11 and removably connected
with the upper opening 11, namely, the pipe-cap mating portion 21
can be mounted on the upper opening 11 or removed from the upper
opening 11. The connection between the pipe-cap mating portion 21
and the upper opening 11 may be any kind of connection, such as,
for example a threaded connection, a keyed connection, a pin
connection, or any other suitable connection.
[0028] After the connecting operation, the sample loading rod 22 is
inserted into the pipe sleeve 13, the bottom of the sleeve 13 is
sealed and the storage groove 221 is also located in the pipe
sleeve 13, so as to prevent the one or more samples from being
polluted by contacting with an environment. When the pipe-cap
mating portion 21 is removed, the sample loading rod 22 is moved
with the pipe-cap mating portion 21, so as to enable the sample
loading rod 22 to be pulled out of the pipe sleeve 13.
[0029] Preferably, the pipe body 1, which is of a cylindrical shape
or a cuboid shape, is made of a plastic material. The pipe cap 2 is
made of a metal material or plastic material, all portions (such as
the pipe-cap mating portion 21 and the sample loading rod 22) of
which are made of the same material, to ensure that all portions
can be integrally formed.
[0030] One of various metals (such as copper, iron, stainless
steel, aluminum magnesium alloy, aluminum, tin, etc.) can be used
as the metal material; and one of various plastics (such as
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
polystyrene (PS), ABS, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyamide
(PA), etc.) can be used as the plastic material.
[0031] In conclusion, in the sample cryogenic storage pipe of the
present application, the pipe cap is arranged in a one-piece
manner, the pipe-cap mating portion thereof is integrally formed
with the sample loading rod, and there is no gap therebetween, to
prevent any residual liquid nitrogen being trapped in the gap when
the pipe cap is taken out of the liquid nitrogen, so as to avoid
the defect, i.e. the loss of a sample caused by a large amount of
bubbles released by the volatilization of the liquid nitrogen or
caused by cracks occurred in the volatilization of the liquid
nitrogen during storage. During the movement, the loss of one or
more samples is avoided.
[0032] Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, preferably, the pipe sleeve 13
has a funnel shaped portion 131 that is wide at the top and narrow
at the bottom. When the sample loading rod 22 is inserted into the
sleeve 13, the funnel shaped portion 131 plays a guiding role, so
as to facilitate the sample loading rod 22 being inserted into the
pipe sleeve 13.
[0033] Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, preferably, a first magnetic
portion 25 for matching and connecting an external operating lever
4 is provided on an upper surface of the pipe-cap mating portion
21. By providing the first magnetic portion 25, the operating lever
4 is magnetically attracted to the pipe-cap mating portion 21
during the connecting operation, so that the operating lever 4 and
the pipe cap 2 are connected together. It is convenient for the
operating lever 4 to move the pipe cap 2, so as to insert the pipe
cap 2 into the liquid nitrogen or to remove the pipe cap 2 from the
liquid nitrogen.
[0034] Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, preferably, a position
opening portion 26 for matching and positioning the operating lever
4 is also provided on the upper surface of the pipe-cap mating
portion. The position protrusion 44 on the operating lever is
inserted into the position opening portion 26 during the connecting
operation, so that the operating lever 4 and the pipe cap 2 are
firmly connected together.
[0035] Now turning to FIGS. 1-3, preferably, the weighting portion
3 is a metal ball mounted on the pipe sleeve 13 of the pipe body to
counteract the buoyant force of the sample cryogenic storage pipe
100 in the liquid nitrogen.
[0036] Now referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, preferably, the pipe-cap
mating portion 21 includes a top mating portion 23 for matching and
connecting the external operating lever 4 and a bottom mating
portion 24 for matching and connecting the pipe body 1.
[0037] A connection portion 14 of the pipe body is provided between
the upper opening 11 and the pipe sleeve 13, and the bottom mating
portion 24 is removably connected within the connection portion 14
of the pipe body, and the top mating portion 23 covers the upper
opening 11.
[0038] The connection between the bottom mating portion 24 and the
connection portion 14 of the pipe body may be any kind of
connection, such as, for example, a threaded connection, a keyed
connection, or a pin connection, or any other suitable connection,
so that the bottom mating portion 24 can be mounted in the
connection portion 14 of the pipe body, and also can be removed
from the connection portion 14 of the pipe body.
[0039] In some embodiments, the pipe body 1 and the pipe cap 2 each
have a circular cross section. The pipe body 1 may have a diameter
of 4-22 mm and a height of 9-115 mm. The top mating portion 23 of
the pipe cap 2 may have a diameter of 4-22 mm and a height of 1-11
mm; the bottom mating portion 24 may have a diameter of 2-19 mm and
a height of 1-11 mm; and the sample loading rod 22 has a diameter
of 0.4-17 mm and a height of 4-95 mm. In some embodiments, these
dimensions are selected to maximize usage of the cryogenic storage
space.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 5, preferably, the pipe-cap mating portion
21 is provided with a vent 27 being offset from the sample loading
rod 22, which runs through upper and lower surfaces of the pipe-cap
mating portion 21. The vent 27 is specifically provided at the
bottom mating portion 24 and runs through upper and lower surfaces
of the bottom mating portion 24. The vent 27 is offset from the
sample loading rod 22 and is not in line with the sample loading
rod 22. The vent 27 can be provided on a body of the bottom mating
portion 24 or also can be provided at an edge of the bottom mating
portion 24. The vent 27 maintains a balance between a pressure in
the sleeve 13 of the pipe body and the pressure outside, which
avoids the situation that the pipe cap 2 is pushed out or the pipe
body bursts due to high pressure in the sleeve 13 of the pipe body
when the liquid nitrogen volatilizes, and avoids the lost of the
one or more samples.
[0041] The storage groove 221 may have a length of 0.5-82 mm and a
depth of 0.2-8 mm, and may have any cross-sectional shape. In some
embodiments, a cross-section of the storage groove 221 is in a
shape of U or in a shape of V. In use, the one or more samples are
placed within the V-shaped or U-shaped storage groove 221. When the
sample loading rod 22 is moved, the one or more samples remain
within the V-shaped or U-shaped storage groove 221 and are not
lost.
[0042] Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, preferably, the pipe body 1 is
provided with a marking region 15. During the operation,
information of the sample to be processed can be recorded firstly
on the marking region 15 to avoid confusion. The marking region 15
may be rectangular or square, and the marking region 15 may
comprise a transparent or colored coating. Preferably, a white
coating is adopted. The marking region 15 may cover an area of
about 20 mm2 to an area of about 6000 mm2.
[0043] In conclusion, the sample cryogenic storage pipe of the
present application, has no residual liquid nitrogen trapped
therein, and is easy to operate. The height and width of the pipe
body and the pipe cap allow full use of the cryogenic storage
space, and sufficient surface area so that detailed sample
information can be marked in the marking region to avoid confusion
and uncertainty.
[0044] Now referring to FIG. 6, a sample cryogenic storage device
200 of the present application includes the sample cryogenic
storage pipe 100 described above and the operating lever 4.
[0045] The structure, construction and working principle of the
sample cryogenic storage pipe 100 have been introduced in detail
above and will not be described redundantly herein.
[0046] The operating lever 4 is removably connectable to the
pipe-cap mating portion 21, so that the operating lever 4 can be
connected to the pipe-cap mating portion 21 to move the pipe cap 2.
When storing the one or more samples, the operating lever 4 is
removed from the pipe cap 2, and the pipe cap 2 is placed in the
pipe body 1, so as to cryogenically store the one or more
samples.
[0047] Preferably, the operating lever 4 may be the metal material
or the plastic material. One of various metals (such as copper,
iron, stainless steel, aluminum magnesium alloy, aluminum, tin,
etc.) can be used as the metal material; one of various plastics
(such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), polystyrene (PS), ABS, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),
polyamide (PA), etc.) can be used as the plastic material.
[0048] In conclusion, in an exemplary sample cryogenic storage
device of the present application, the pipe cap is arranged in a
one-piece manner, the pipe-cap mating portion thereof is integrally
formed with the sample loading rod, and there is no gap
therebetween, so that no residual liquid nitrogen is trapped in the
gap when the pipe cap is taken out of the liquid nitrogen, so as to
avoids the defect, i.e. the loss of a sample caused by a large
amount of bubbles released by the volatilization of the liquid
nitrogen or caused by cracks occurred in the volatilization of the
liquid nitrogen during storage. During the movement, the loss of
the one or more samples is avoided. The pipe cap is moved by the
operating lever, so that it is convenient for operation to
cryogenically store the one or more samples.
[0049] Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, preferably, the sleeve 13 has a
funnel shaped portion 131 that is wide at the top and narrow at the
bottom. When the sample loading rod 22 is inserted into the sleeve
13, the funnel shaped portion 131 plays a guiding role, so as to
facilitate the sample loading rod 22 being inserted into the sleeve
13.
[0050] Now referring to FIGS. 5-8, preferably, the first magnetic
portion 25 for matching and connecting an external operating lever
4 is provided on an upper surface of the pipe-cap mating portion
21.
[0051] The operating lever 4 includes a main body 41 and a
connection portion 42 provided at one end of the main body 41, and
a second magnetic portion 43 for matching the first magnetic
portion 25 is provided on the connection portion 42 of the
operating lever.
[0052] Both the first magnetic portion 25 and the second magnetic
portion 43 may be magnets. The first magnetic portion 25 and the
second magnetic portion 43 stick together during the connecting
operation, and thus the operating lever 4 is attracted to the
pipe-cap mating portion 21, so that the operating lever 4 and the
pipe cap 2 are connected together. Thus, it is convenient for the
operating lever 4 to move the pipe cap 2, so as to insert the pipe
cap 2 into the liquid nitrogen or to remove the pipe cap 2 from the
liquid nitrogen.
[0053] Now referring to FIGS. 5-8, preferably, the position opening
portion 26 for matching and positioning the operating lever 4 is
also provided on the upper surface of the pipe-cap mating
portion.
[0054] Correspondingly, the connection portion 42 of the operating
lever is provided with the position protrusion 44 for matching the
position opening portion 26.
[0055] The position opening portion 26 is a notch, which may have a
plurality of types such as in a square or circular shape, and the
position of the notch corresponds to that of the position
protrusion. The notch may have a circular shape with a diameter of
about 0.4 to about 6 mm and a depth of about 0.4 to about 6 mm.
[0056] The position protrusion 44 is made of a metal material or
plastic material, coupled with the position notch 26, which is
preferably cylindrical with a diameter of about 0.4 to about 6 mm
and a depth of about 0.4 to about 6 mm.
[0057] The position protrusion 44 is inserted into the position
opening portion 26 during the connecting operation, so that the
operating lever 4 and the pipe cap 2 are firmly connected
together.
[0058] Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, preferably, the weighting
portion 3 is a metal ball mounted on the sleeve 13 of the pipe body
to counteract the buoyant force of the sample cryogenic storage
pipe 100 in the liquid nitrogen.
[0059] Now referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, preferably, the pipe-cap
mating portion 21 includes the top mating portion 23 for matching
and connecting the external operating lever 4 and the bottom mating
portion 24 for matching and connecting the pipe body 1.
[0060] The connection portion 14 of the pipe body is provided
between the upper opening 11 and the pipe sleeve 13, and the bottom
mating portion 24 is removably connected within the connection
portion 14 of the pipe body, and the top mating portion 23 covers
the upper opening 11.
[0061] The bottom mating portion 24 can be connected with the
connection portion 14 of the pipe body by a connection way such as
the thread connection, the key connection or the pin connection, so
that the bottom mating portion 24 can be mounted in the connection
portion 14 of the pipe body, and also can be removed from the
connection portion 14 of the pipe body.
[0062] Now referring to FIG. 5, preferably, the pipe-cap mating
portion 21 is provided with the vent 27 that is offset from the
sample loading rod 22 that runs through upper and lower surfaces of
the pipe-cap mating portion 21. The vent 27 is specifically
provided at the bottom mating portion 24, and runs through upper
and lower surfaces of the bottom mating portion 24. The vent 27 is
offset from the sample loading rod 22 and is not in line with the
sample loading rod 22. The vent 27 can be provided on a body of the
bottom mating portion 24 or also can be provided at an edge of the
bottom mating portion 24. The vent 27 maintains a balance between a
pressure in the sleeve 13 of the pipe body and the pressure
outside, which prevents the pipe cap 2 from pushed out or the pipe
body from bursting due to high pressure in the sleeve 13 of the
pipe body when the liquid nitrogen volatilizes, and avoids the loss
of the one or more samples.
[0063] The storage groove 221 may have a length of 0.5-82 mm and a
depth of 0.2-8 mm, and may have any cross-sectional shape. In some
embodiments, a cross-section of the storage groove 221 is in a
shape of U or in a shape of V. In use, the one or more samples are
placed within the V-shaped or U-shaped storage groove 221. When the
sample loading rod 22 is moved, the one or more samples remain
within the V-shaped or U-shaped storage groove 221 and are not
lost.
[0064] Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, preferably, the pipe body 1 is
provided with a marking region 15. During the operation,
information of the sample to be processed can be recorded firstly
on the marking region 15 to avoid confusion. The marking region 15
may be rectangular or square, and the marking region 15 may
comprise a transparent or colored coating. Preferably, a white
coating is adopted. The marking region 15 may cover an area of
about 20 mm2 up to area of about 6000 mm2.
[0065] The sample cryogenic storage device 200 of the present
application may be used in the following way: [0066] 1. filling or
pasting the sample information in the marking region 15 of the pipe
body 1; [0067] 2. connecting the operating lever 4 and the pipe cap
2 together through the first magnetic portion 25 and the second
magnetic portion 26, and the position opening portion 26 and the
position protrusion 44, and removing the pipe cap 2 from the pipe
body 1 through the operating lever 4, and then setting the pipe cap
2 aside along with the pipe body 1, waiting to be used; [0068] 3.
processing the one or more samples with a cryoprotective agent;
[0069] 4. placing the one or more samples and an amount of the
cryoprotective agent within the storage groove 221 with a
transferring tool; wherein the transferring tool may be held in one
hand of an operator and the operating lever 4 may be held in the
other hand of the operator; and wherein the operator may orient the
storage groove 221 of the sample rod 22 so that it faces towards
the operator; [0070] 5. placing the whole pipe cap within clean
liquid nitrogen by the operating lever in the hand, placing the
pipe body 1 below the surface of the liquid nitrogen, and holding
both the pipe cap and pipe body below the surface of the liquid
nitrogen for some time; [0071] 6. connecting the pipe cap 2 with
the pipe body 1 below the surface of the liquid nitrogen; [0072] 7.
removing the operating lever 4 from the pipe cap 2 and placing the
sample cryogenic storage pipe 100 in a storage position with a pair
of tweezers or forceps; and [0073] 8. making a record of the
operation.
[0074] The technical solutions mentioned above can be combined as
required to reach best technical effect.
[0075] The foregoing is merely a principle and preferred
embodiments of the present invention. It should be pointed out that
several other variants also can be made on the basis of the
principle of the present invention, which shall be included in the
protection scope of the present invention.
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