The present invention relates to a vial for the cryopreservation of biological samples, to an associated mounting base and to a cryopreservation kit comprising such a vial and such a mounting base. The present invention also concerns a method implemented with such a cryopreservation kit.

In the field of the medical or biological research, it is known to preserve biological samples by freezing these biological samples at low temperature, for example in a high speed freezer or by using directly liquid nitrogen, and then placing these frozen biological samples in a frozen storage cabinet at low temperature, for example a tank filled with cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen or a storage freezer. For the handling of these biological samples, each biological sample is placed separately in a respective cryopreservation vial, made out of a material resistant both to cold temperatures and to sudden temperature changes, such as polypropylene.

Each vial is referenced with a suitable coding system such as a bar code or physical marker, then several vials are placed together onto a rack, and then the rack is placed in a frozen storage cabinet. When an operator needs to retrieve a specific biological sample, the operator extracts the corresponding rack from the storage cabinet, identifies the corresponding vial, opens the vial then retrieves the sample. The operator must operate quickly in order to prevent the sample from thawing, which is not convenient since the operator usually wears protection gloves or mittens.

Each vial usually has a standardized shape with a given capacity, which is compatible with the rack. US-2019/092555-A1 describes, for example, vials having the shape of elongated tubes.

Interestingly, analysis technologies are moving towards miniaturization and require more rarely than previously large quantities of tissue or biological samples. When the biological sample itself has a size that is much smaller than the capacity of the vial, the vial contains more air than actual sample material and, as a result, the storage cabinet also contains more air than actual sample material, which is inefficient in term of place, energy and environmental impact. In other words, a ratio of unused volume within each vial or within the storage cabinet can be very high.

This problem is partially solved by WO-2016/178635-A1 , which describes vials having each a smaller length compared to elongated tubes, in order to save preserve biological samples with small sizes. Several vials can be stacked together for easier handling. However, the problem remains for samples whose size is still much smaller than a fraction of the size of the vial, since it is not possible to reduce indefinitely the size of the vial, as the handling of small vials while wearing gloves is not practical.

CN-206 565 163-U describes, for example, a vial for the cryopreservation of biological samples. The vial comprises a tube and a cap. The tube comprises inner partitions that divide the inner volume of the tube into several chambers.

US-2007/104617-A1 describes, for example, a vial for the cryopreservation of biological samples. This vial comprises a container closed by a threaded cap. The container comprises external protrusions configured to cooperate with a receptacle of a tube rack, in order to lock the container in rotation when the container is received in a receptacle. The cap comprises external protrusions configured to cooperate with a tool, enabling an operator to single handedly de-cap or re-cap the container received in a receptacle.

There is therefore a need for a vial for the cryopreservation of biological samples having each a size smaller than a fraction of the size of the vial, the vial offering improved capacity and easy handling.

To this end, aspects of the invention pertains to a vial for the cryopreservation of biological samples, this vial comprising:

- a container, made in one piece, defining an inner volume and an opening provided with a thread,

- a threaded cap, which cooperates with the thread of the opening so as to selectively close the inner volume, in a sealed configuration of the vial, or allow the access to the inner volume, in an unsealed configuration of the vial.

According to the invention, the container includes at least one inner partition, configured to divide the inner volume in at least two separated chambers, each chamber being accessible from the opening.

Thanks to the invention, several biological samples can be stored within each vial, with one sample stored in a respective chamber. A ratio of unused volume within each vial is reduced, while each vial remains big enough to be easily handled by an operator, particularly while wearing gloves or mittens. For example, for a container comprising two inner partitions that divide the inner volume in four chambers, the ratio of unused volume is four time smaller compared to known container according to the background art, such known container having the same inner volume, in one piece, but no inner partition. The vial can be sealed or unsealed at will, the separated chambers being readily accessible from the opening when the cap is removed from the container, so that after a user retrieves a sample from one of the inner chambers, the user can seal the vial and place the vial back in the storage cabinet, which is convenient.

According to advantageous but optional aspects, such a vial may incorporate one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically allowable combination:

- when the vial is in the sealed configuration, each inner partition contacts the threaded cap, so that each chamber is sealed and is separated from the other chambers.

- The container comprises a bottom surface arranged opposite to the opening, whereas:

• the container is configured to be inserted in a reception volume of a mounting base along an insertion axis, the reception volume having a bottom wall with a reception relief,

• the bottom surface has a positioning relief, configured to cooperate with the reception relief, and

• the positioning relief is non-circular, so that the container is locked in rotation relative to the mounting base when the container fully inserted in the reception volume.

- The positioning relief has a shape configured so that the cooperation of the positioning relief with the reception relief is possible with only one angular position of the container relative to the mounting base around the insertion axis.

- The container has an outer surface, whereas the outer surface comprises marks, which are distributed on the outer surface for identifying each chamber, when the vial is in the sealed configuration and when the vial is in the unsealed configuration.

- The outer surface of the container comprises a peripheral surface, whereas the marks are reliefs, in particular parallel ribs:

• which are arranged on the peripheral surface, and

• for each chamber, the number of reliefs is equal to a ranking number of said chamber.

- The threaded cap has an external shape configured to cooperate with a tool, in order to screw / unscrew the cap onto / from the container by rotating the threaded cap relative to the container around a main axis of the container and wherein, preferably:

• the threaded cap comprises a closing portion, which is orthogonal to the main axis when the cap cooperates with the thread of the opening, • the closing portion comprises a recess, which is arranged in the closing portion and is oriented opposite to the inner volume in the sealed configuration of the vial,

• the recess is configured to cooperate with a tool to screw / unscrew the cap onto / from the container by rotating the threaded cap relative to the container around the main axis.

The invention also concerns a mounting base, comprising a plate with a top surface, and at least one recessed reception volume arranged in the plate, wherein each reception volume opens on the top surface and is configured to receive one container of a vial as previously defined.

According to advantageous but optional aspects, such a mounting base may incorporate one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically allowable combination:

- the base is made out of a material with high thermal capacity and high thermal conductivity, preferably from a stainless metal, for example from stainless steel, whereas the mounting base is configured to cool the separated chambers of a container after said container is fully received in the corresponding reception volume, after being cooled down prior to the insertion of said container in the corresponding reception volume.

- Each reception volume comprises a peripheral wall, which is configured to cover at least 50% of a peripheral surface of the container when said container is fully inserted in the corresponding reception volume, preferably at least 80%.

- Each reception volume defines an insertion axis and is configured to receive a container of a vial as previously defined, whereas each reception volume comprises a bottom wall with a reception relief, which is configured to cooperate with the positioning relief protruding from the bottom surface of the container, so that said container can be fully inserted in the corresponding reception volume with only one possible angular orientation of the container around the insertion axis.

- The top surface comprises sets of marks, for example a set of numbers, one set of marks being arranged around each reception volume, whereas each set of marks is arranged so that, when a vial is fully inserted in the corresponding reception volume, each chamber is facing a corresponding mark of the set of marks.

- The top surface is covered with protection layer, each reception volume extending through the protection layer, whereas the protection layer is made out of cold- resistant and non-sticky material, such as poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene. According to other aspects, the invention concerns further a cryopreservation kit for the handling of biological samples, the cryopreservation kit comprising at least one vial as previously defined and the mounting base as previously defined, wherein each reception volume of the mounting base is configured to receive the container of one vial.

The invention also concerns a method for the preservation of biological samples, the method being implemented with a cryopreservation kit as previously defined and comprising the following steps:

- cooling the mounting base,

- installing the mounting base on a support member so that its reception volumes are accessible for an operator,

- inserting a vial in a corresponding reception volume,

- keeping the vial frozen with the mounting base.

The invention will be better understood, and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly, in light of the following description of one embodiment of a vial for the cryopreservation of biological samples, of an associated mounting base, of a cryopreservation kit comprising such a vial and such a mounting base and of a method for the cryopreservation of biological samples, provided solely as a non-limiting example and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- [Fig 1] figure 1 is a perspective view of a cryopreservation kit according to the invention and comprising a mounting base and two vials, shown respectively in a sealed and in an unsealed configuration;

- [Fig 2] figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view, along arrow II on figure 1 , of a detail of the mounting base of Figure 1 ;

- [Fig 3] figure 3 is a perspective view of a vial of the cryopreservation kit of figure 1 , shown in the unsealed configuration, this vial being according to the invention;

- [Fig 4] figure 4 is a perspective view according to another angle, along arrow IV on figure 3, of the container of the vial of figure 3, and

- [Fig 5] figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, along section V-V on figure 1 , of the cryopreservation kit of Figure 1 .

A cryopreservation kit 10 according to the invention is shown on figure 1 .

The cryopreservation kit 10, also simply called “kit” 10 in short, comprises a mounting base 20 and at least one vial 100.

The mounting base 20 comprises a plate 22 with a top surface 24. At least one recessed reception volume 26 is arranged in the base 22. Each reception volume 26 is configured to receive one vial 100. The top surface 24 is preferably flat. In the illustrated example, the plate 22 has a parallelipedic shape and the top surface 24 has a rectangular shape. In use, the mounting base 20 is usually installed on a support member so that the reception volumes 26 are accessible for an operator. When the mounting base 20 is installed on a horizontal support member, for example a table, the top surface 24 is facing upwards and is preferably horizontal.

The mounting base 20 comprises preferably several reception volumes 26, which are advantageously regularly arranged on the top surface 24. In the illustrated example, the mounting base 20 comprises twelve reception volumes 26. On figure 1 , one of the twelve reception volumes 26 receives a closed vial 100, another one of the twelve reception volumes 26 receives an open vial 100, and the other ten reception volumes 26 are empty.

All reception volumes 26 of the mounting base 20 work in a similar way. Preferably, all the reception volumes 26 of the same mounting base 20 are identical to each other.

Only one reception volume 26 is described, in reference to figure 2. This description applies to the other reception volumes 26.

The reception volume 26 has a cylindrical shape centered on an insertion axis A26 with a circular cross-section. Each insertion axis A26 is preferably orthogonal to the top surface 24. Each reception volume 26 opens on the top surface 24 and is configured to receive one vial 100.

Each reception volume 26 comprises a cylindrical peripheral wall 28 and a bottom wall 30. A reception relief 32 is arranged in each bottom wall 30, each reception relief 32 being configured to cooperate with a vial 100, as explained here below.

The reception volumes 26 are preferably regularly arranged on the top surface 24, so that each reception volume 26 can be easily accessed by an operator without interfering with the adjacent reception volumes 26. In the illustrated example, the twelve reception volumes 26 are arranged in a rectangular array, with four columns 34 and three rows 36 in the illustrated example. For an easier use, the columns 34 and the rows 36 are preferably identified by alphanumeric signs. The four columns 34 are here identified by alphabet letters from “A” to “D”, while the three rows 36 are identified here by a Roman numbers from Ί” to “III”.

The top surface 24 comprises several sets of marks 38, one set of marks 38 being arranged around each reception volume 26. Each set of marks 38 comprises here Arabic numbers from 1 to 4, that are arranged radially to the insertion axis A26 around each reception volume 26 so that, when a vial 100 is fully inserted in the corresponding reception volume 26, each mark of the set of marks 38 is facing a corresponding chamber of this vial 100, as explained here below.

According to one embodiment, the set of marks 38 are engravings made onto the top surface 24. Alternatively, the set of marks 38 are printed onto the top surface 24. In the shown example, the top surface 24 is made by a protection layer 40 applied on the plate 22, each reception volume 26 extending through the protection layer 40. The protection layer 40 is made out of cold resistant and non sticky material, preferably made from polymer material, for example from polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE in short and also known under the brand name “Teflon”.

A vial 100 is illustrated on figure 3. The vial 100 comprises a container 110 and a cap 150.

The container 110 is made in one piece, that is monobloc, from a material suitable for long term cryopreservation, such as polypropylene. Each container 110 presents a cylindrical shape extending along a main axis A110 and delimits an inner volume 112 with an opening 114.

Advantageously, each container 110 as an external shape that remains compatible with the handling tools used to handle known cryopreservation vials. Such handling tools, not shown, may include racks, for example used to store cryopreservation vials within a storage cabinet, tongs, etc.

In the illustrated example, the opening 114 is located within a plane that is orthogonal to the main axis A110. When the vial 100 is open, in other words when the cap 150 is not mounted on the container 110, the main axis A110 is considered to be vertical, with the opening 114 facing upwards.

The container 110 comprises an outer surface 116, which is opposite to the inner volume 112. The outer surface 116 comprises a peripheral surface 118 and a bottom surface 120. The peripheral surface 118 is globally cylindrical with a circular section around the main axis A110 and extends along the main axis A110, while the bottom surface 120 is arranged opposite to the opening 114 and perpendicular to the main axis A110.

Each container 110 is configured to be inserted in one reception volume 26 of the mounting base 20 along the corresponding insertion axis A26, in an inserted configuration of the container 110. By extension, a vial 100 is also said to be “in the inserted configuration” when the container 110 of this vial 100 is in the inserted configuration.

In the inserted configuration of the container 110, the peripheral surface 118 is facing the peripheral wall 28, the bottom surface 120 is facing the bottom wall 30 and the main axis A110 is aligned with the insertion axis A26.

As shown on figure 4, the container 110 comprises a positioning relief 122, which is arranged on the bottom surface 120. The positioning relief 122 has a shape that is complementary to the reception relief 32 of the bottom wall 30 and is configured to cooperate with the reception relief 32, preferably by male-female cooperation, in order to increase a contact surface between the container 110 and the plate 22, as explained here below.

Preferably, the positioning relief 122 is a protrusion, which protrudes from the bottom surface 120, so as to avoid encroaching on the inner volume 112 of the container 110, while the reception relief 32 is a recess arranged in the bottom wall 30.

Preferably, the positioning relief 122 has a non-circular shape relatively to the main axis A110 so that, when the positioning relief 122 cooperates with the reception relief 32, the rotation movement of the container 110 relative to the mounting base 20 around the insertion axis A26 is prevented.

The container 110 is said to be “fully inserted” in the corresponding reception volume 26 when the positioning relief 122 cooperates with the reception relief 32 and prevents the rotation of the container 110 relative to the base 20 around the insertion axis A26.

When a sealed vial 100, with a cap 150 screwed on the container 110, is received in a reception volume 26 in the fully inserted configuration, the cap 150 protrudes upwardly, at least partially, with respect to the top surface 24, so that the operator is able to grab the sealed vial 100.

Preferably, the positioning relief 122 has a shape configured so that the cooperation of the positioning relief 122 with the reception relief 32 is possible with only one angular position of the container 110 relative to the mounting base 20 around the insertion axis A26.

In the example shown on figure 4, the positioning relief 122 has the shape of a “T” and, as shown on figure 2, the reception relief 32 also has the shape of a “T”.

As seen on figures 3 and 5, the container 110 includes at least one inner partition 124. Each inner partition 124 is configured to divide the inner volume 112 in at least two separated chambers 126, the two chambers 126 being accessible from the opening 114.

Each chamber 126 is configured to receive one biological sample. The biological samples are not represented. Biological samples include samples that are solid at ambient temperatures, such as pieces of vegetal tissue or animal tissue collected by biopsy, or samples that are liquid at ambient temperature, such as blood, plasma, etc. The chambers 126 belonging to the same container 110 may receive biological samples of the same type, or alternatively biological samples of different types.

In the illustrated example, the container 110 comprises two inner partitions 124, which extend radially to the main axis A110 and cross each other orthogonally, so that the inner volume 112 is divided in four separated chambers 126.

Preferably, the separated chambers 126 of a container 110 have the same shape. The outer surface 116 of the container 110 comprises marks 128, which are distributed on the outer surface 116 radially to the main axis A110 in order to identify each chamber 126 when the vial 100 is in the sealed configuration and when the vial 100 is in the unsealed configuration.

Each mark 128 is aligned, along a direction radial to the main axis A110, with a chamber 126 that it identifies. In the illustrated example, the marks 128 are made of protruding reliefs 130. In particular, the protruding reliefs 130 are ribs, which are arranged on the peripheral surface 118 and parallel to the main axis A110. For each chamber 126, the number of protruding reliefs 130 is equal to a ranking number of said chamber 126. In the illustrated example, each container 110 comprises four separated chambers 126 that are ranked from one to four, and the protruding reliefs 130 are arranged in groups from one rib to four ribs, to constitute the marks 128, as shown on figure 4.

The marks of the set of marks 38 are arranged around each reception volume 26 so that when a vial 100 is fully inserted in said reception volume 26, each mark of the set of marks 38 is facing one of the chambers 126 of said vial 100 and indicates the ranking number of the corresponding chamber 126.

The shape and orientation of the positioning relief 122 and the reception relief 32 are such that, when they cooperate in the fully inserted configuration of the container 110 within the reception volume 26, the mark 128 made of one rib 130 faces the mark Ί” of the set of marks 38, while the mark 128 made of two ribs 130 faces the mark 2 of the set of marks 38, the mark 128 made of three ribs 130 faces the mark “3” of the set of marks 38 and the mark 128 made of four ribs 130 faces the mark “4” of the set of marks 38. This allows identifying the four chambers 126 also when the vial 100 is mounted on the mounting base 20.

The positioning relief 122, the reception relief 32 and the set of marks 38, together form a mistake-proofing device of the cryopreservation kit 10, which allows an operator to identify each chamber 126 both when the vial 100 is in the sealed configuration and when the vial 100 is in the unsealed configuration, even when the marks 128 are not visible, for example when the container 110 is fully inserted in a reception volume 26.

The opening 114 of each container 110 is provided with a thread 132, while the cap 150 comprises a threaded portion 152 that cooperates with the thread 132, so as to selectively close the inner volume 112 in a sealed configuration of the vial 100, as shown on figure 5. In other words, in the sealed configuration of the vial 100, the threaded cap 150 is tightly screwed onto the thread 132 of the opening 112. On figure 3, the threaded cap 150 is not mounted on the container 110, and the vial 100 is in an unsealed configuration. The thread 132 is an external thread, that is oriented outward the main axis A110, while the threaded portion 152 comprises an internal thread and an outer surface 153 with a cylindrical shape of a circular section that extends along a cap axis A150. The cap 150 also comprises a closing wall 154, which closes the inner volume 112 in the sealed configuration of the vial 100.

The closing wall 154 extends orthogonally to the cap axis A150. When the threaded cap 150 cooperates with the thread 152 of the opening 114, the cap axis A150 is aligned with the main axis A110. The closing wall 154 is then orthogonal to the main axis A110 of the container 110.

Each inner partition 124 extends up to the opening 114 so that, when the vial 100 in the sealed configuration, each inner partition 124 contacts the closing wall 154 of the cap 150, as shown on figure 5. Thus, each separated chamber 126 is sealed and is separated from the other chambers 126.

In the illustrated example, the top of the container 110 is flat. More precisely, a top surface of the inner partition 124 and a top surface of the peripheral surface 118 are borne by a geometrical plane P112 perpendicular to the main axis A110. On the other hand, a contact surface 156 of the closing wall 154, configured to close the inner volume 112, is also flat and borne by a geometrical plane P156 perpendicular to the cap axis A110.

Optionally, a sealing member, not shown, is arranged between the container 110 and the cap 150 so as to improve the sealing of each chamber 126 of the vial 100 in the sealed configuration of the vial 100. The sealing member is made out of a material that remains flexible both at ambient temperature and when submitted long term at low temperature, for example in liquid nitrogen at -176°C. For example, the sealing member is made out of PTFE or out of silicone elastomer.

In a not shown embodiment, the sealing member comprises a flat portion, sandwiched between the inner partitions 124 and the closing wall 154 when the vial 100 is in the sealed configuration, so that each chamber 126 is sealed and separated from the other chambers 126. In a not shown alternative embodiment, the sealing member comprises a ring, which is arranged at the periphery of the closing wall 154 and which cooperates with the thread 132 when the vial 100 is in the sealed configuration

The cap 150 has an external shape configured to cooperate with a tool, in order to screw / unscrew the cap 150 onto / from the container 110, by rotating the threaded cap 150 relative to the container 110 around the main axis A110 of the container 110.

In the illustrated example, the closing wall 154 is provided with a recess 158, which is oriented opposite to the contact surface 156. In other words, in the sealed configuration of the vial 100, the recess 158 is oriented opposite to the inner volume 112. The recess 158 is configured to cooperate with a tool, not shown, to screw/unscrew the cap 150 onto/from the container 110 by rotating the threaded cap 150 relative to the container 110 around the main axis A110. In the illustrated example, the recess 158 is a groove, which extends radially to the cap axis A150, the groove being configured to cooperate with a tip end of a screw driver.

Alternatively, the recess 158 has a different shape, configured to cooperate with different types of tools, for example a cross-headed screw driver, a hexagonal spanner, etc.

A first example of method implemented with the cryopreservation kit 10 is described hereinafter.

A vial 100, initially in the sealed configuration, is taken out by an operator from a storage cabinet, not shown.

The operator selects an empty reception volume 26 of the mounting base 20 and presents the vial 100 with its bottom surface 120 facing the selected reception volume 26, after having aligned the main axis A110 of the container 110 with the insertion axis A26.

By approaching the container 110 to the chosen reception volume 26 along the insertion axis A26, the operator inserts the container 110 into the reception volume 26, until the positioning relief 122 of the bottom surface 120 comes into contact with the bottom wall 30.

The operator then rotates the vial 100 relative to the mounting base 20 around the insertion axis A26, so that the positioning relief 122 of the container 110 is aligned with the reception relief 32. The vial 100 can be further inserted into the reception volume 26, in the fully inserted configuration shown on figure 5. In the fully inserted configuration, the positioning relief 122 of the container 110 cooperates with the reception relief 32 of the reception volume 26, and the bottom wall 30 is in contact with the bottom surface 120.

Thanks to the specific shape of the positioning relief 122, the container 110 is fully inserted in the corresponding reception volume 26 with only one possible angular orientation of the container 110 around the insertion axis A26.

Preferably, the respective reception reliefs 32 arranged in each reception volume 26 of the mounting base 20 are all oriented in the same direction, so that when a vial 100 is inserted in any one of the reception volumes 26, this vial 100 is always fully inserted with the same angular orientation of the container 110 relative to the mounting base 20.

In the fully inserted configuration of a vial 100 in a reception volume 26, the rotation of the container 110 relative to the mounting base 20 around the insertion axis A26 is prevented. The operator can further use a tool in order to unscrew the cap 150 from the container 110, without having to hold the container 110 with one hand, which is particularly convenient, since the operator usually wears protection gloves in order to manipulate the vial at low temperature.

Advantageously, the plate 22 is made out of a material with a high thermal capacity and a high thermal conductivity. Within the scope of the present invention, high thermal capacity and high thermal conductivity are considered comparatively to the materials used for the racks used to hold cryopreservation tubes taken out of a storage cabinet such as a liquid nitrogen tank. For example, such tube holders are traditionally made out of polymer material, such as polypropylene or PTFE.

In the illustrated example, the plate 22 is made out of metal, preferably from stainless metal, for example from stainless steel or from aluminum or one of its alloys. Before a vial 100 is received in a reception volume 26, the mounting base 20 is preparatorily cooled below freezing temperature, for example by placing the mounting base 20 in a freezer for a suitable duration, or by placing the mounting base 20 in a suitable box containing carbo-ice or liquid nitrogen.

Once cooled, the mounting base 20 is configured to keep frozen the separated chambers 126 of a vial 100 or a container 110 fully received in a corresponding reception volume 26.

Thus, the mounting base 20 allows keeping the vial 100 and the biological samples contained in this vial frozen for a longer time, as compared to when the operator holds directly the vial 100 with its gloves. The operator does not have to hurry in order to avoid these biological samples thawing, which is very convenient.

A second example of method implemented with the cryopreservation kit 10 is now described, namely a method for the cryopreservation of biological samples during a manipulation of at least one biological sample.

First, an operator cools the mounting base 20, for instance by storing it in a freezer for a given period of time.

After the mounting base 20 has been cooled down, the operator installs the mounting base 20 on a support member, so that the reception volumes 26 of this mounting base 20 are accessible for the operator.

After retrieving a vial 100 from a cooled storage capacity and selecting an empty reception volume 26, the operator inserts this vial 100 in said selected reception volume 26, which implies keeping the vial 100 frozen with the mounting base 20.

After the operator is done manipulating the biological samples contained in a vial 100, the operator stores this vial back in the storage cabinet. Then, the operator places the mounting base 20 base back in the freezer, waiting for the next use. Alternatively, if the operator needs to work further with the same biological samples, the operator preferably seals each container 110 in its corresponding reception volume 26, then places the mounting base 20 back in the freezer, with all the vials 100 left in their respective reception volumes 26.

In the fully inserted configuration of the container 110, the cooling of the separated chambers 126 is done through the bottom surface 120 in contact with the bottom wall 30, and also through the peripheral surface 118 facing the peripheral wall 28.

In its fully inserted configuration, the container 110 may protrude upwardly with respect to the top surface 24, depending on the respective lengths of the reception volume 26 and the container 110 along axes A26 and A110. In the example of the figures, a container 110 is mostly received in a recess 26 in the fully inserted configuration. In practice, for each reception volume 26, the peripheral wall 28 is configured to cover at least 50% of the peripheral surface 118 of a container 110 when said container 110 is fully inserted in the corresponding reception volume 26. Preferably, the peripheral wall covers at least 80% of the peripheral surface 118 of a fully inserted container 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting base 20 comprises twelve reception volumes 26, arranged in an array of three rows 36 by four columns 34.

In a not shown alternative embodiment, the number of reception volumes 26 is lower than twelve. Alternatively, the number or reception volumes 26 is higher than twelve. However, since the reception volumes 26 are regularly spaced, a mounting base with too many reception volumes 26 might be too wide and/or too heavy for an operator to handle while wearing gloves.

Practically, the number of reception volumes 26 is comprised between 1 and 100, preferably between 2 and 64, more preferably between 4 and 48, even more preferably equal to 12.

The number of reception volumes 26 is preferably equal to the product of two positive integers, so that the reception volumes 26 can be arranged in an array. In the illustrated example, the mounting base 20 comprises 3x4=12 twelve reception volumes 26.

In another not shown alternative embodiment, the reception volumes 26 are arranged differently, for example in an array of two rows by six columns, or in a staggered arrangement, or in a straight line.

In the illustrated example, the container 110 comprises two inner partitions 124, which divide the inner volume 112 in four separated chambers 126.

In a not shown alternative embodiment, the container 110 comprises only one inner partition 124, which divides the inner volume 112 in two separated chambers. In another alternative embodiment, the container 110 comprises at least two inner partitions that extend radially from the main axis A110 and divide the inner volume 112 in at least two separated chambers. For example, the container 110 comprises three inner partitions, which divide the inner volume 112 in three separated chambers 126.

The higher the number of chambers 126, the lower the ratio of unused volume within each vial 100. On the other hand, the higher the number of chambers 126, the smaller each chamber 126. Chambers 126 that are too small are not practical to retrieve the biological sample stored within a chamber 126. Generally, the number of separated chambers is comprised between 2 and 8, preferably between 3 and 6, still preferably equal to 4.

When the number of chambers 126 is different from four, the number and location of the marks 128, distributed on the outer surface 116, and of the set of marks 38, arranged around each reception volume 26, are adjusted accordingly.

In the shown example, only the top surface 24 of the mounting base 20 is covered with a protection layer 40 applied on the plate 22.

In a not shown alternative embodiment, the bottom surface and the lateral surface of the plate 22 are also covered by a protection layer, which is made from a non-sticky material such as PTFE. In other words, the plate 22 is encased in a protection layer, with each reception volume 26 extending through the protection layer 40 arranged on the top surface 24.

The respective features of the different embodiments and variants of the invention considered in this description can be combined.