Freezing and thawing vessel with thermal bridge formed between internal structure and heat exchange member

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer system for heating or cooling a medium. A structure positioned inside a container. The structure segments the container into a plurality of compartments wherein a distal end of the structure is in close proximity to an interior surface of the container to allow formation of a thermal transfer bridge that conducts heat into or out of the medium.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thermal transfer system, comprising: 
 a container for receiving a medium;    a structure positioned in the container such that the structure segments the container into a plurality of compartments wherein a distal end of the structure is in close proximity to an interior surface of the container to allow formation of a thermal transfer bridge that conducts heat into or out of the medium.    
     
     
         2 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  including: 
 a heating or cooling device coupled to and provides heating or cooling of the container.  
 
     
     
         3 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  including: 
 a heating or cooling device coupled to and provides heating or cooling of the structure.  
 
     
     
         4 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  including: 
 a heating or cooling device coupled to and provides heating or cooling of the container and the structure.  
 
     
     
         5 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  including: 
 a plurality of structures in the container.  
 
     
     
         6 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1 , including: 
 a removable liner configured to cover at least a portion of the structure.    
     
     
         7 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 a volume of the container is in the range from substantially 1 liter to 250 liters.  
 
     
     
         8 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 a volume of the container is in the range from substantially 250 liter to 10,000 liters.  
 
     
     
         9 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the distal end of the structure contacts at least a portion of the interior surface of the container.  
 
     
     
         10 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 a distance between the distal end of the structure and the interior surface of the container is a non-contacting distance not greater than one inch.  
 
     
     
         11 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the container includes a jacket defining an interstitial space positioned between the jacket and a wall of the container for receiving a flow of a heat exchange fluid, the jacket further including a plurality of spiral baffles for enhancing thermal exchange between the heat exchange fluid and the container.  
 
     
     
         12 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 a heat exchange fluid flows within the structure.  
 
     
     
         13 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 12  wherein: 
 an interior portion of the structure has baffles.  
 
     
     
         14 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 13  wherein: 
 the structure is configured to maximize an area of a surface of the structure that is in contact with the medium.  
 
     
     
         15 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 12  wherein: 
 a heat exchange extension is at least partially coupled to the structure.  
 
     
     
         16 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is substantially uniformly heated or cooled.  
 
     
     
         17 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled in substantially one direction relative to the structure.  
 
     
     
         18 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the structure is positioned to induce a thermal gradient in the medium such that the thermal gradient is in a predetermined direction.  
 
     
     
         19 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled in a predetermined direction.  
 
     
     
         20 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled such that the thermal gradient is in a predetermined direction.  
 
     
     
         21 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled at a predetermined rate.  
 
     
     
         22 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled such that the thermal gradient is in a predetermined direction and the heating or cooling occurs at a predetermined rate.  
 
     
     
         23 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium is a biopharmaceutical product.  
 
     
     
         24 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the container has a nonporous bottom.  
 
     
     
         25 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the container has nonporous walls.  
 
     
     
         26 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the container has a top.  
 
     
     
         27 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the container has a nonporous top.  
 
     
     
         28 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  including: 
 a distal portion of the structure configured to improve thermal transport of the thermal transfer bridge.  
 
     
     
         29 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the medium includes protiens.  
 
     
     
         30 . A thermal transfer system comprising: 
 a container for receiving a medium;    a structure positioned in the container, a heat exchange member at least partially coupled to the structure and extending into the container wherein a distal end of the heat exchange member is placed in close proximity to an interior surface of the container to allow the formation of a thermal transfer bridge that conducts heat into and out of the medium.    
     
     
         31 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a heating or cooling device is coupled to and provides heating or cooling of the container.  
 
     
     
         32 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a heating or cooling device is coupled to and provides heating or cooling of the structure positioned inside the container.  
 
     
     
         33 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a heating or cooling device is coupled to and provides heating or cooling of the structure and the container.  
 
     
     
         34 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 there is a plurality of heat exchange members.  
 
     
     
         35 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a removable liner configured to cover at least a portion of the heat exchange member.    
     
     
         36 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a volume of the container is in the range from substantially 1 liter to 250 liters.  
 
     
     
         37 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a volume of the container is in the range from substantially 250 liter to 10,000 liters.  
 
     
     
         38 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the container includes a jacket defining an interstitial space positioned between the jacket and a wall of the container for receiving a flow of a heat exchange fluid, the jacket further including a plurality of spiral baffles for enhancing thermal exchange between the heat exchange fluid and the container.  
 
     
     
         39 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a heat exchange fluid flows within the structure.  
 
     
     
         40 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the heat exchange fluid flows into the structure through an interior passage in the structure.  
 
     
     
         41 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the heat exchange fluid flows out of the structure through an outer passage in the structure wherein one portion of the outer passage comprises an outer wall of the structure.  
 
     
     
         42 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a heat exchange fluid flows within the heat exchange member.  
 
     
     
         43 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 39  wherein: 
 an interior portion of the structure has baffles.  
 
     
     
         44 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 42  wherein: 
 an interior portion of the heat exchange member has baffles.  
 
     
     
         45 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 39  wherein: 
 an interior portion of the portion of the structure extending into the container has baffles.  
 
     
     
         46 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 39  wherein: 
 the heat exchange fluid flows into the heat exchange member from the structure.  
 
     
     
         47 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a heat exchange fluid flows into the heat exchange member from a heat exchange supply line.  
 
     
     
         48 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 38  wherein: 
 the heat exchange fluid flows does not flow through the distal end of the heat exchange member.  
 
     
     
         49 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 a distance between the distal end of the heat exchange member and the interior surface of the container is a non-contacting distance not greater than one inch.  
 
     
     
         50 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the medium is substantially uniformly heated or cooled.  
 
     
     
         51 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled in substantially one direction relative to the structure.  
 
     
     
         52 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled at a predetermined rate.  
 
     
     
         53 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the medium is heated or cooled such that the thermal gradient is in a predetermined direction and the heating or cooling occurs at a predetermined rate.  
 
     
     
         54 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the medium is a biopharmaceutical product.  
 
     
     
         55 . A thermal transfer system as in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the medium includes protiens.