System and methods for sampling materials
Provided herein are systems and methods for storage, retrieval and sampling of materials.
1. A system for retrieving a subset of a stored sample, comprising:
an automated freezer comprising a dispenser,
a climate controlled receiving chamber adjacent to the dispenser,
a transfer device within the receiving chamber,
a robot operatively connected to the transfer device and positioned to access the subset of a stored sample,
wherein the robot comprises a tip, said tip being selected from the group consisting of a metal tip with high thermal heat capacity, metal pin, a ceramic pin, a hollow pin, and a core sampler for retrieving a portion of a sample, and
wherein the tip comprises a volume control mechanism.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser communicates with the climate controlled receiving chamber through a port.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the robot comprises a sample locator or a rotating tip station for maintaining sampling tips at a sampling temperature.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sample locator comprises a barcode reader.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tip sterilizer positioned in functional proximity to the robot.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more destination plates for receiving retrieved samples positioned in functional proximity to the robot.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated freezer is a vertical or horizontal storage freezer.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the climate controlled receiving chamber comprises one or more of a humidity controller, an atmospheric gas control mechanism, a temperature controlling mechanism, or a reading device to identify the containers as they are inserted into and retrieved from the chamber.
9. A system for retrieving a subset of a stored sample, comprising:
an automated freezer comprising a dispenser,
a climate controlled receiving chamber adjacent to the dispenser,
a transfer device within the receiving chamber,
a robot operatively connected to the transfer device and positioned to access the subset of a stored sample, wherein the robot comprises a tip, and
a heat sensor to monitor the temperature in the vicinity of the tip.
10. A system for retrieving a subset of a stored sample, comprising:
an automated freezer comprising a dispenser,
a climate controlled receiving chamber adjacent to the dispenser,
a transfer device within the receiving chamber,
a robot operatively connected to the transfer device and positioned to access the subset of a stored sample, and
a delidder within the receiving chamber.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the robot comprises a tip.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tip is selected from the group consisting of a metal tip with high thermal heat capacity, metal pin, a ceramic pin, a hollow pin, and a core sampler for retrieving a portion of a sample.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tip comprises a tip head.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tip is disposable.
15. A method for sampling a frozen sample, comprising:
retrieving a sample in a container from a freezer,
transferring the container to a climate controlled receiving chamber, and
sampling the sample with a robot and transferring the container to the freezer.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising delidding the container in the climate controlled chamber.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein retrieving the sample comprises ejecting the container to an exterior of the freezer for transport to the robot.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein sampling comprises transiently thawing at least a portion of the sample.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sample rapidly refreezes upon return to the freezer.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the container comprises a multiwell plate.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein adjacent samples to the sample being sampled are not thawed.
22. The method of claim 15 , further comprising sealing the container with a seal prior to freezing in the freezer a first time.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the seal comprises a foil seal, a plastic seal, a polymer seal or a septum.