Automated cryogenic storage system
An automated cryogenic storage system includes a freezer and an automation system to provide automated transfer of samples to and from the freezer. The freezer includes a bearing and a drive shaft though the freezer, the drive shaft being coupled to a rack carrier inside the freezer and adapted to be coupled to a motor. The automation module includes a rack puller that is automatically positioned above an access port of the freezer. The rack puller engages with a sample rack within the freezer, and elevates the rack into an insulating sleeve external to the freezer. From the insulating sleeve, samples can be added to and removed from the sample rack before it is returned to the freezer.
1 . A cryogenic storage system comprising:
a freezer configured to store a plurality of sample racks in a cryogenic environment, the freezer including a door enabling access to the cryogenic environment through a port at the top portion of the freezer;
a rack carrier including a top plate positioned inside of the freezer for receiving the plurality of sample storage racks via a plurality of openings; and
a retrieval system including:
a drive system mounted to the top portion of the freezer, the drive system being configured to rotate the sample racks to align a selected one of the sample racks with the port;
a sleeve configured to house the selected one of the sample racks above the port, the sleeve including a sleeve port for accessing a selected sample box from the selected one of the sample racks; and
a rack puller, the rack puller being configured to engage the selected one of the sample racks and elevate the selected one of the sample racks through the port and into the sleeve;
the sleeve and the rack puller being mounted to a top surface of the freezer.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sample storage racks are arranged at a radial distance from the center of the freezer to align with at least one of the port openings along the path of rotation around such center.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is rectangular in shape and each sample storage rack of the plurality of sample racks is rectangular in cross section.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein, during storage, each sample storage rack of the plurality of sample racks is positioned within one opening of the plurality of openings.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rack carrier includes an outer wall and the top plate is connected to the outer wall along an entire periphery of the outer wall.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the drive system is configured to engage with a shaft to rotate the rack carrier around the center of the freezer.
7 . The system of claim 6 , where in the shaft is further configured to suspend the rack carrier.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the top plate is connected to and rotates with the rack carrier.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rack carrier further includes a plurality of support tabs each positioned adjacent to one of the plurality of sample racks when the sample rack is present within the cryogenic storage system.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of racks includes a guide plate at a top portion of the rack, the guide plate including at least one formation for engaging with the rack puller.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the retrieval system further includes an actuator for automatically opening and closing the door.