Patent US3875754A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3875754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for cryogenic freezing of fluid-filled pouches
Assignee: Union Carbide Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-03
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-08-03
Abstract
Abstract Viable fluids such as blood components are rapidly frozen in plastic or the like pouches for transportation and/or storage by placing a flat pouch slack filled with fluid between two substantially planar parallel restraining surfaces such as metal plates of greater perimeter than the flattened slack filled pouch which are rigid enough to prevent sagging of the pouch when it is vertically disposed and flexible enough to accommodate expansion of the pouch flat sides during the freezing operation. The restraining surfaces are retained against separation by retaining means applied against at least a portion of the outer surface of each pouch restraining means and the entire assembly is immersed in a cryogenic medium to rapidly freeze the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford C Faust
- 👤 Philip F Cilia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:27
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D25/00; A; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/14; A01N1/142; A01N1/144; A01N1/145; A01N1/146; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; F25D2331/00; F25D2331/80; F25D2331/801; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for freezing fluids into thin layer like transportable and storable unitary packages comprising the steps of a. slack filling a pouch of flexible plastic material with a fluid to be frozen. b. disposing and flattening the slack filled pouch between two substantially parallel planar surfaces to form a package, c. restraining the surfaces against separation with a retaining force applied in part centrally to a portion of said surfaces less than the total surface area thereof, said retaining force being sufficient to prevent sagging distortion of the unfrozen slack filled pouch when it is vertically disposed between said surfaces, d. immersing the assembled slack filled pouch and the retained restraining surfaces in a substantially vertical orientation into a cryogenic medium having a temperature on the order of about that of liquid nitrogen for a time sufficient to effect solid freezing and continued subcooling of the packaged fluid down to a preselected cryogenic temperature and e. removing the assembled frozen package from the cryogenic medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for freezing fluids into thin layer like transportable and storable unitary packages comprising the steps of a. slack filling a pouch of flexible plastic material with a fluid to be frozen. b. disposing and flattening the slack filled pouch between two substantially parallel planar surfaces to form a package, c. restraining the surfaces against separation with a retaining force applied in part centrally to a portion of said surfaces less than the total surface area thereof, said retaining force being sufficient to prevent sagging distortion of the unfrozen slack filled pouch when it is vertically disposed between said surfaces, d. immersing the assembled slack filled pouch and the retained restraining surfaces in a substantially vertical orientation into a cryogenic medium having a temperature on the order of about that of liquid nitrogen for a time sufficient to effect solid freezing and continued subcooling of the packaged fluid down to a preselected cryogenic temperature and e. removing the assembled frozen package from the cryogenic medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 combined with the further step of removing that part of the retaining force applied centrally to a portion of said surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 combined with added steps of removing the retaining force and the restraining surfaces from the frozen fluid filled pouch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein that part of the retaining force applied centrally to a portion of said surfaces is applied substantially linearly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the substantially linearly applied retaining force is applied vertically during the freezing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the substantially linearly applied retaining force is applied horizontally during the freezing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said retaining force is applied to not more than 10 percent of said surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |