Controlled environment and freezer bank system

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and methods for maintaining a controlled environment having at least one storage compartment which includes at least one portal and additional includes at least one individualized freezer drawer having a sealing means, each storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature, at least one individualized freezer drawer is accessed the constant temperature in the remaining area within each storage compartment is not altered; and at least one floating temperature room which includes a plurality of portals, each floating temperature room is adjacent and accessible to each storage compartment by at least one portal; and at least one working room which includes a plurality of portals, each working room is adjacent and accessible to each floating temperature room by at least one portal, the temperature in each working room is maintained higher temperature than the temperature in each floating temperature room; and at least one anteroom, wherein each anteroom includes at least two portals, wherein each anteroom is a barrier between the controlled environment and the surrounding area of the apparatus, wherein the temperature in each anteroom is maintained higher than the temperature in each working room; and at least one refrigeration means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A controlled environment system comprising: 
 at least one storage compartment, wherein each said storage compartment comprises at least one portal, wherein each said storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature;    at least one freezer drawer comprising a sealing means, wherein said at least one freezer drawer is positioned in said storage compartment and configured such that said at least one said individualized freezer drawer is accessed without altering said constant temperature in the remaining area within each said storage compartment;    at least one floating temperature room, wherein each said floating temperature room includes a plurality of portals, each said floating temperature room is dimensioned and configured to be adjacent and accessible to each said storage compartment by at least one portal; and    at least one refrigeration means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one working room, wherein each said is dimensioned and configured to be adjacent and accessible to each said floating temperature room by at least one portal, wherein the temperature in each said working room is maintained at a higher temperature than the temperature in each said floating temperature room.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one anteroom, wherein each said anteroom includes at least two portals, wherein each said anteroom is a barrier between the controlled environment and the surrounding area of said system.  
     
     
         4 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein each said storage compartment is dimensioned and configured to store temperature sensitive materials.  
     
     
         5 . The system  claim 4 , wherein said temperature sensitive material is selected from the group consisting of biological specimens, chemical compounds, chemical compositions, and products produced by the utilization of cryoelectronics.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing means is a rubber-like seal.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature ranging of about −20° C. to about −120° C.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature ranging of about −40° C. to about −60° C.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said portal is a door, window, or a door comprising a window.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said portal comprises a sealing means which provides an airtight seal to aid in the prevention of contamination and thermodynamic loss.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said portal is insulated to prevent condensation or thermodynamic loss.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each said storage compartment, each said floating temperature room, each said working room and each said anteroom are insulated to prevent thermodynamic loss or condensation.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said floating temperature room is maintained at a temperature is higher from the constant temperature in each said storage compartment to safely accommodate a user without having to wear protective equipment.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said floating temperature room includes a means for altering the temperature within said floating temperature room to safely accommodate a user without having to wear extensive protective equipment.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature in each said working room is maintained higher temperature than the temperature in each said floating temperature room.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature in said working room is between about −1° C. to 10° C.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said refrigeration means for producing a variety of temperatures within the controlled environment is housed outside the controlled environment.  
     
     
         18 . A system for maintaining a controlled environment comprising: 
 at least one storage compartment, wherein each said storage compartment includes at least one portal, wherein each said storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature;    at least one floating temperature room, wherein each said floating temperature room includes a plurality of portals, each said floating temperature room is dimensioned and configured to be adjacent and accessible to each said storage compartment by at least one portal;    at least one working room, wherein each said working room includes a plurality of portals, each said working room is dimensioned and configured to be adjacent and accessible to each said floating temperature room by at least one portal; and    at least one refrigeration means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprises at least one anteroom, wherein each said anteroom includes at least two portals, wherein each said anteroom is a barrier between the controlled environment and the surrounding area of the present invention.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each said storage compartment is dimensioned and configured to store temperature sensitive materials.  
     
     
         21 . A system for maintaining a controlled environment comprising: 
 at least one storage compartment, wherein each said storage compartment includes at least one portal, wherein each said storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature, each said storage compartment is dimensioned and configured to store temperature sensitive materials, each said storage compartment includes at least one individualized freezer drawer including a sealing means, whereby at least one said individualized freezer drawer is accessed the constant temperature in the remaining area within each said storage compartment is not altered;    at least one floating temperature room, wherein each said floating temperature room includes a plurality of portals, each said floating temperature room is dimensioned and configured to be adjacent and accessible to each said storage compartment by at least one portal, wherein the temperature of each said floating temperature room can be altered to safely accommodate a user without having to wear protective equipment;    at least one working room, wherein each said working room includes a plurality of portals, each said working room is dimensioned and configured to be adjacent and accessible to each said floating temperature room by at least one portal, wherein the temperature in each said working room is maintained higher temperature than the temperature in each said floating temperature room;    at least one anteroom, wherein each said anteroom includes at least two portals, wherein each said anteroom is a barrier between the controlled environment and the surrounding area of the apparatus, wherein the temperature in each said anteroom is maintained higher than the temperature in each said working room; and    at least one refrigeration means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.    
     
     
         22 . A method for producing a controlled environment for safely storing and accessing temperature sensitive materials comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a constant temperature within a storage compartment for housing temperature sensitive materials; and    regulating the temperature in at least one floating temperature room to safely accommodate a user without wearing protective equipment when accessing temperature sensitive material housed in the storage compartment, each floating temperature room is adjacent and accessible to each storage compartment; and    providing at least one refrigerating means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of maintaining a constant temperature in the remaining area within each storage compartment when individualized freezer drawers are accessed.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprises the step of maintaining a barrier in the form of at least one anteroom which is positioned between the controlled environment and the surrounding area, wherein the temperature in each anteroom is maintained higher than the temperature in each working room.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein each storage compartment is maintained compartment at a constant temperature ranging of about −20° C. to about −120° C.  
     
     
         26 . The method of claims  22 , wherein each storage compartment is maintained at a constant temperature ranging of about −40° C. to about −60° C.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein in the controlled environment is insulated to prevent condensation or thermodynamic loss.  
     
     
         28 . A method for producing a controlled environment for safely storing and accessing temperature sensitive materials comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a constant temperature within at least one storage compartment for housing temperature sensitive materials;    regulating the temperature in at least one floating temperature room to safely accommodate a user without wearing protective equipment when accessing temperature sensitive material housed in the storage compartment, each floating temperature room is adjacent and accessible to each storage compartment;    maintaining a constant temperature in at least one working room to permit a person to safely analyze and inspect temperature sensitive material, each working room is maintained at higher temperatures than each floating temperature room which is adjacent and accessible to each floating temperature room; and    providing at least one refrigerating means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of maintaining a constant temperature in the remaining area within each storage compartment when individualized freezer drawers are accessed.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprises the step of maintaining a barrier in the form of at least one anteroom which is positioned between the controlled environment and the surrounding area, wherein the temperature in each anteroom is maintained higher than the temperature in each working room.  
     
     
         31 . A method for producing a controlled environment for safely storing and accessing temperature sensitive materials comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a constant temperature within each storage compartment for housing temperature sensitive materials; and    maintaining an constant temperature in the remaining area within each storage compartment when individualized freezer drawers are accessed; and    regulating the temperature in at least one floating temperature room to safely accommodate a user without wearing protective equipment when accessing temperature sensitive material housed in the storage compartment, each floating temperature room is adjacent and accessible to each storage compartment; and    maintaining a constant temperature in at least one working room to permit a person to safely analysis and inspect temperature sensitive material, each working room is maintained at higher temperatures than each floating temperature room which is adjacent and accessible to each floating temperature room; and    maintaining a barrier in the form of at least one anteroom which is positioned between the controlled environment and the surrounding area, wherein the temperature in each anteroom is maintained higher than the temperature in each working room; and    providing at least one refrigerating means for controlling a variety of temperatures to selected areas with the controlled environment.