Devices and methods for thawing biological substances
Devices, systems, and methods herein relate to controlling a temperature (e.g., thawing) of a low volume biological substance. In some variations, a container enclosure for use with a device configured to control a temperature of a biological substance may comprise an adapter configured to receive a container comprising the biological substance.
1 . A method of heating a biological substance using a thawing device, comprising:
positioning a container comprising a biological substance in an adapter, wherein the biological substance is in a frozen state;
inserting the adapter with the container into a container enclosure outside a thawing devicee, wherein the container enclosure is configured to be placed into and removed from a chamber of the thawing device and comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature and a guiding portion configured to guide the adapter to align a portion of the container to overlap the temperature sensor;
positioning the adapter to align at least one portion of the container to overlap the temperature sensor, using the guiding portion;
placing the container enclosure into the chamber of the thawing device;
heating the enclosed biological substance to an endpoint temperature by controlling the thawing device based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor overlapping the at least one portion of the container; and
removing the container enclosure from the chamber of the thawing device after the biological substance has reached the endpoint temperature.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the biological substance further comprises heating a thermal conductor positioned in the chamber.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological substance comprises mRNA and the endpoint temperature is 4° C.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological substance comprises blood plasma and the endpoint temperature is 15° C.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the adapter in the container enclosure includes positioning the adapter such that the adapter holds the container in alignment with the temperature sensor.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the adapter holds the container in an upright position in the container enclosure.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the adapter maintains the container in a position in which a longitudinal axis of the container is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber when the container enclosure is positioned within the chamber.