DEVICES AND METHODS FOR THAWING BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

1 . A thawing apparatus comprising one or more compartments into which a container comprising frozen biological material may be thawed, wherein said one or more compartments comprise compressible material, or wherein said one or more compartments comprises a cuff which fits around the container.

2 . (canceled)

3 . A thawing apparatus comprising: (i) a sealed compartment comprising material that undergoes a phase change when heated to a certain temperature, (ii) a compartment into which a source of heat can be added, and (iii) at least one compartment into which a container containing biological material can be placed.

4 . (canceled) A thawing apparatus comprising: (i) a sealed compartment comprising a chemical material that heats to a certain temperature following exposure to a given condition and (ii) at least one compartment into which a container containing biological material can be placed.

5 . The thawing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said compressible material comprises rubber, silicone, or sponge.

6 . The thawing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cuff is filled with fluid.

7 . The thawing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said material is paraffin or beeswax.

8 . The thawing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said source of heat is heated water.

9 . The thawing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said chemical material is iron and wherein said given condition is exposure to oxygen.

10 . The thawing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said chemical material is sodium, acetate.

11 . The thawing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said chemical material is liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) and wherein said given condition is exposure to platinum.