METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING TISSUE SAMPLES FOR HISTOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

Title:

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING TISSUE SAMPLES FOR HISTOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO2002076203

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. The material may either be directly plunged into the cooling fluid without preparation, or chemically prepared prior to freezing. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification) and allows the samples to maintain anatomical structure and remain biochemically active after thaw. The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between -20 degrees centigrade and -30 degrees centigrade, which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures and other artefacts in cell membranes due to thermal changes.

Inventors:

PRIEN SAMUEL D (US)
BLANTON JOHN (US)
WOOD BRIAN (US)
CASSELL ALLAN J (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2001/049595

Publication Date:

November 13, 2003

Filing Date:

December 28, 2001

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

SUPACHILL TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD (AU)
PRIEN SAMUEL D (US)
BLANTON JOHN (US)
WOOD BRIAN (US)
CASSELL ALLAN J (US)

International Classes:

A01N1/02; F25D31/00; G01N1/28; G01N33/48; G01N33/53; F25D25/00; G01N1/42; (IPC1-7): G01N1/42; A01N1/00; F25D17/02; F25D31/00

Domestic Patent References:

WO2001095716A2

2001-12-20

Foreign References:

US5191773A	1993-03-09
EP0275114A2	1988-07-20
GB2146418A	1985-04-17
US5003787A	1991-04-02
GB1395651A	1975-05-29

Other References: