US3753357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the preservation of cells and tissues
Assignee: OVITRON RES CORP
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Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates a storage method and apparatus for biological substances by virtue of which solid phase storage is avoided by subjecting the substance to a precompression pressure above atmospheric, and thereafter the specimen is subjected to isovolumetric cooling below 0*C. Where desired, a storage period extension is achieved in solid phase by (a) permitting temperature equilibrium to take place throughout the substance maintained in liquid phase below 0*C as previously described; (b) decompressing the substance sufficiently to permit uniform freezing to take place; and (c) reducing the temperature of the substance to a cryogenic temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 R Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:25
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M45/00; C12M45/22; A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/16; A01N1/165; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: precompressing said biological substances to a pressure effectively above atmospheric in a series of successive stages and simultaneously reducing the temperature while maintaining the volume substantially constant, the temperature being maintained at all times above that at which freezing would take place, the precompression being applied at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients, and storing said biological substances at a reduced temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: precompressing said biological substances to a pressure effectively above atmospheric in a series of successive stages and simultaneously reducing the temperature while maintaining the volume substantially constant, the temperature being maintained at all times above that at which freezing would take place, the precompression being applied at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients, and storing said biological substances at a reduced temperature.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: wrapping said biological substances in a sterile gauze saturAted in an isotonically inert and compatible medium; precompressing said biological substances to a pressure effectively above atmospheric at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients and at a temperature above the freezing point thereof, said precompression pressure being dependent upon a predetermined lower temperature to be attained during the method; reducing the temperature of said biological substances to said lower temperature while maintaining its volume substantially constant, said lower temperature being above that which would permit freezing of said biological substances at the thereby generated pressure and at or below the normal freezing temperature of said biological substances at atmospheric pressure; and storing said biological substances at a reduced temperature.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: wrapping said biological substances in a sterile gauze saturAted in an isotonically inert and compatible medium; precompressing said biological substances to a pressure effectively above atmospheric at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients and at a temperature above the freezing point thereof, said precompression pressure being dependent upon a predetermined lower temperature to be attained during the method; reducing the temperature of said biological substances to said lower temperature while maintaining its volume substantially constant, said lower temperature being above that which would permit freezing of said biological substances at the thereby generated pressure and at or below the normal freezing temperature of said biological substances at atmospheric pressure; and storing said biological substances at a reduced temperature.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: precompressing said biological substance to a pressure above 1, 000P.S.I at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients and at a temperature above the freezing point thereof, said precompression pressure being dependent upon a predetermined lower temperature to be attained during the method; reducing the temperature of said biological substance to said lower temperature while maintaining its volume substantially constant, said lower temperature being above that which would permit freezing of said biological substance at the thereby generated pressure and at or below the normal freezing temperature of said biological substance at atmospheric pressure; and storing said biological substance at a reduced temperature.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: precompressing said biological substance to a pressure above 1, 000P.S.I at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients and at a temperature above the freezing point thereof, said precompression pressure being dependent upon a predetermined lower temperature to be attained during the method; reducing the temperature of said biological substance to said lower temperature while maintaining its volume substantially constant, said lower temperature being above that which would permit freezing of said biological substance at the thereby generated pressure and at or below the normal freezing temperature of said biological substance at atmospheric pressure; and storing said biological substance at a reduced temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method comprises the further step before precompression of immersing said biological substance directly in a pressure transmitting liquid medium, said precompression pressure being applied to said substance through said medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure and storing temperature are determined in accordance with the curve of FIG. 1 and the area to the left thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further steps of: storing said biological substance at said lower temperature for a time sufficient to permit it to achieve temperature equilibrium; decompressing said biological substance and medium at said lower temperature by an amount just sufficient to permit uniform freezing of said biological substance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 6, comprising the further steps following said freezing step, of lowering the temperature of said biological substance to a cryogenic temperature, and storing said biological substance thereat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further steps of: storing said biological substance and medium at said lower temperature for a time sufficient to permit them to achieve temperature equilibrium; and decompressing said biological substance and medium at said lower temperature by an amount just sufficient to permit complete freezing of said biological substance and medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 8, comprising the further steps, following said freezing step, of lowering the temperature of said biological substance and medium to cryogenic temperatures, and storing said biological substance and medium thereat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pressure transmitting liquid is an isotonically inert and compatible medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 4, wherein said immersing step comprises the initial steps of confining said biological substance and an isotonically inert and compatible medium in a plastic bAg, and thereafter immersing said bag in said pressure transmitting liquid medium.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: immersing said biological substance into a vessel containing a pressure transmitting liquid medium, said vessel having the ability to withstand the internal pressures to be generated and temperature variations to be effected during the method with substantially no change in volume; precompressing said medium and immersed substance in said vessel to a pressure above 1,000P.S.I. at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients and at a temperature above the freezing point thereof; reducing the temperature of said vessel and the contents thereof to a temperature of less than 0*C and more than -22*C; and storing said biological substance while immersed in said medium at a reduced temperature.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of storing living cell and cell-like biological substances without destroying their cellular integrity comprising the steps of: immersing said biological substance into a vessel containing a pressure transmitting liquid medium, said vessel having the ability to withstand the internal pressures to be generated and temperature variations to be effected during the method with substantially no change in volume; precompressing said medium and immersed substance in said vessel to a pressure above 1,000P.S.I. at a rate sufficiently low to avoid damaging pressure transients and at a temperature above the freezing point thereof; reducing the temperature of said vessel and the contents thereof to a temperature of less than 0*C and more than -22*C; and storing said biological substance while immersed in said medium at a reduced temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pressure transmitting liquid is an isotonically inert and compatible medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of storing biological substances as claimed in claim 12, wherein said immersing step comprises the initial steps of confining said biological substance and an isotonically inert and compatible medium in a plastic bag, and thereafter immersing said bag in said pressure transmitting liquid medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |