Methods and devices for thawing frozen biological samples

Abstract

Methods of thawing frozen biological samples are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include thawing of a biological sample under pressure in a manner sufficient to maintain the structural integrity and/or viability of the sample. Also provided are devices and systems for use in practicing the methods.

1 . A method, comprising:
 thawing a frozen biological sample under pressure in a manner sufficient to maintain structural integrity of said biological sample.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said thawing occurs in an enclosed chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample comprises multiple cells. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said biological sample comprises a tissue sample. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample comprises a multicellular organism. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample comprises one or more ova or spermatozoa. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample comprises one or more embryos. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample comprises one or more adult or embryonic stem cells. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample comprises one or more cells associated with a substrate. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is viable. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said thawing occurs in a manner sufficient to maintain viability of said sample. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure ranges from about 200 atm to about 4000 atm. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said thawing has a duration ranging from
 about 1 millisecond to about 1 second.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said thawing comprises warming said sample to a temperature ranging from about 250 K to about 310° K. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said thawing occurs at a rate ranging from about 0.1° C./min to about 5000° C./ms. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising manipulating said sample after said sample is thawed. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said manipulating comprises physically manipulating said sample. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said manipulating comprises chemically manipulating said sample. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising freezing said sample in a manner so as to maintain the viability of the sample to produce a frozen viable sample following said manipulating. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising observing said frozen viable sample, 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, following said observing, thawing said frozen sample under pressure in a manner sufficient to maintain the structural integrity of said sample. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus comprising:
 a chamber having an interior configured to hold a sample;   a pressure modulator for modulating the pressure of said interior; and   a temperature modulator for modulating a temperature of said interior from a temperature that is below a freezing point of water to a temperature that is above a freezing point of water.   
   
   
       23 - 40 . (canceled)