Process for preserving tissues

1. A process for preserving a tissue, wherein the tissue to be preserved is selected from the group consisting of whole organs, parts of organs, tumor material and biopsy material, after removal of the tissue from a human or animal body by surgery, the process comprising in the given order the steps of:

a) transferring the tissue to be preserved into a container;

b) placing the container with the tissue to be preserved inside a vacuum chamber;

c) creating a vacuum inside the container;

d) providing a protective atmosphere in the container, by introducing a protective gas mixture directly into the container via a nozzle in the vacuum chamber, wherein the protective gas mixture surrounds the tissue;

e) sealing the container comprising the tissue to be preserved and keeping substantially all the protective gas atmosphere within the container; and

f) storing the container comprising the tissue to be preserved.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said container is a plastic bag.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum creation inside the container is carried out by reducing the pressure to below 100 mbar (10 kPa).

4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the pressure is reduced to a value within the range of 30 to 0 mbar (3-0 kPa).

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the protective atmosphere comprises a medical gas mixture.

6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein said medical gas mixture is an N 2 /CO 2 gas.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the sealed container containing the tissue is stored under refrigerator conditions during a time period of a few hours to up to one week.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue is stored for a histopathology procedure, transplantation, transport to a laboratory, or preservation by refrigeration.