DESCRIPTION

STEM CELL PRESERVATION METHODS USING CRYOGENIC CONDITIONS MADE FROM MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates system and method for stem cell preservation. Particularly, present invention relates to the mechanical system and its method to achieve adiabatic compression nitrogen which provides risk free preservation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stem cells are being used to treat an expanding number of diseases and disorders. For example, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which have traditionally been used to treat leukemia are now being used to treat heart damage from myocardial infarction, hereditary blood disorders, and autoimmune disease. Hence stem cell preservation is an increasingly demanded method of health care. Despite of expensive and tedious practices involved, people are affording the same. In many occasions, preserved stem cells are also providing a ray of hope for regenerative organ transplantation methods adapted by modern medicine. Preservation of stem cells is critical for both research and clinical application of stem-cell based therapies. The development of a cryopreservation protocol for a given cell type requires pre-freeze processing, introduction of a cryopreservation solution, freezing protocol, storage conditions, thawing conditions and post thaw assessment. Preservation permits development of cell banks with different major histocompatibility complex genotypes and genetically modified clones.

As collection of stem cells from sources such as umbilical cord blood can be difficult to predict or control, the ability to preserve cells permits the banking of stem cells until later use in the research lab or clinical application. The ability to preserve cells permits completion of quality and safety testing before use as well as transportation of the cells between the sites of collection, processing and clinical administration. US Patent No 7,076,960 relates to a preserving system capable of re-using vaporized nitrogen, and moreover, capable of always cooling the specimens at a predetermined temperature or lower. The preserving system comprising a cylinder and the preserving vessel which is supplied with liquid nitrogen from this cylinder, is provided with a Stirling refrigerator and a condensing chamber arranged outside of said preserving vessel, and the gas phase part of this condensing chamber is made to communicate with that of said preserving vessel and also the liquid phase part is made to communicate with that of said preserving vessel, and further the cooling part of said Stirling refrigerator is arranged in said condensing chamber, therefore, the nitrogen vaporized in the preserving vessel is cooled by the cooling part of the Sterling refrigerator in the condensing chamber and liquefied again, and so this liquid nitrogen can be reused for cooling the preserving vessel.

Moreover, since the preserving vessel can be cooled by the liquid nitrogen when performing maintenance on the Stirling refrigerator, the specimens in the preserving vessel can always be cooled at a predetermined temperature or lower. Publication No. US2013 0260452 relates to a novel method for cryopreservation of mammalian cells, including adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, embryos, sperm, and oocytes, that combines the advantages of slow-freezing and vitrification while avoiding their shortcomings. Our newly discovered method includes the use of a thin-walled capillary tube made of a thermally conductive wall material that allows for rapid cooling of mammalian cells to a vitrified state in the absence of toxic levels of CPA and in the absence of ice formation.

Publication No. 20070227719 relates to the methods of thawing frozen biological samples. The heating element may operate by means of adiabatic magnetization of the anvils and/or the sample. The temperature modulator includes a heating source, a cooling source, one or more delivery conduits and one or more delivery mechanisms. The heating source may be a fluid reservoir for containing and heating a fluid, such as a gas (e.g., helium) or liquid (e.g., water). Publication No. US20110044847 relates to the method for decellularizing a tissue sample. For example, various tissues, such as skin, intestine, bone, cartilage, nerve tissue (e.g., nerve fibers or dura), tendons, ligaments, or other tissues can be completely or partially decellularized to produce tissue products useful for patients. In certain embodiments, application of pressure in a hydrostatic pressure vessel causes adiabatic compression of the materials within the vessel (i.e., the liquid), which causes the temperature of the compressed materials to increase.

Reference may be made to an article entitled "Quasi-adiabatic compression heating of selected foods" by Ales Landfeld' Jan Strohalm, Radek Halama & Milan Houska, High Pressure Research, Volume 31, Issue 1, 2011. The article talks about the quasi-adiabatic temperature increase due to compression heating, during high-pressure (HP) processing (HPP), using specially designed equipment. The temperature increase was evaluated as the difference in temperature, during compression, between atmospheric pressure and nominal pressure. Reference may be made to an article entitled "Cryogenics" by The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2002. The article talks about the variety of techniques available for prolonged refrigeration. Down to about 1.5 K, refrigeration cycles involve compression and expansion of appropriately chosen gases. At lower temperatures, liquid and solids serve as refrigerants. Adiabatic demagnetization of paramagnetic ions in solid salts is used in magnetic refrigerators to provide temperatures from around 4 K down to 0.003 K. Nuclear spin demagnetization of copper can achieve 5 x 10'8 K. Helium-3/helium-4 dilution refrigerators are frequently used for cooling at temperatures between 0.3 and 0.002 K, and adiabatic compression of helium-3 (Pomeranchuk cooling) can create temperatures down to 0.00 IK.

Finally, the ability to preserve cells used therapeutically facilitates the development of a manufacturing paradigm for stem cell based therapies. The ability to preserve the cells after production of the therapy facilitates coordination of therapy with a patient care regime and reduces staffing requirements of clinical cell production facilities. Excess utilization of liquid nitrogen in various stages is making the preservation process not only cumbersome but extraordinarily expensive. Hence there exists a need of a system and method of liquid nitrogen which is less expensive and risk free. In order to overcome above listed prior art, present method provides system and its method to achieve adiabatic compression nitrogen which provides risk free preservation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Primary object of the present invention is to provide system and method of stem cell preservation Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of providing compressors with low power consumptions Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and its method to achieve adiabatic compression of nitrogen. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of risk free preservation of stem cell. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system of adiabatic compression using peltiers for cooling nitrogen. Yet another object of the present invention is to provides system and its method to achieve adiabatic compression nitrogen. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of risk free preservation of stem cell. In this method of invention, the adiabatic compression nitrogen is achieved using mechanical principles such as but not limited to screw rod, spring loaded. This type of low power consuming compression systems avoids cascading of multiple compressors now used for achieving cryogenic conditions which are needed for stem cell preservation.

Accordingly a system and method for stem cell preservation is provided. The invention provides mechanical system and its method to achieve adiabatic compression nitrogen which provides risk free preservation. The adiabatic compression nitrogen is achieved using mechanical principles such as but not limited to screw rod, spring loaded. This type of low power consuming compression systems avoids cascading of multiple compressors now used for achieving cryogenic conditions which are needed for stem cell preservation. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen is passed through series of filters including HEPA filter and compressed using screw rod mechanism where high pressure is obtained. Then the compressed nitrogen is again passed through a series of mechanical advantage chambers where more than 50 thousand psi is obtained. In the presence of semiconductor devices like Hafnium or magnetic refrigeration and cryogenic conditions are achieved to convert nitrogen into liquid state. In another embodiment of the present invention, the peltier chips are made up of Bismuth and Antimony which are used in place of magnet In another embodiment of the present invention, such as but not limited to the rack & pinion, or pulley mechanism can also be used as mechanical system for adiabatic compression.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, of which
FIG. 1 shows system to achieve adiabatic compression nitrogen according to the present invention. ForEesavyasaTenhnnWWP,* T*,* o

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides system and method for stem cell preservation. The present invention provides mechanical system and method to achieve adiabatic compression nitrogen which provides risk free preservation as shown in figure 1. The adiabatic compression nitrogen is achieved using mechanical principles such as but not limited to screw rod, spring loaded. This type of low power consuming compression systems avoids cascading of multiple compressors now used for achieving cryogenic conditions which are needed for stem cell preservation. The system comprises a unidirectional positive displacement mechanism 1 having screw rod 2, a cylinder 3, liquid conductor 4, peltier 5, piston 6, an inlet 7 and outlet 8. The cylinder 3 consists of a piston 6 and two way opening for the inlet 7 and exit 8 ports, on which the non return valves are fitted. Unidirectional positive displacement mechanism 1 rotates flange, which reciprocates screw rod 2 in to and fro motion. Piston 6 in the cylinder 3 is connected to screw rod 2.

When the piston 6 moves upwards, the nitrogen gas is passed through the inlet NRV of the cylinder 3. Peltiers 5 or gadilinium magnets are used to cool liquid conductor passing through the outer layer of the cylinder 3. When the nitrogen gas is compressed in the cylinder 3 in presence of cryogenic temperatures, nitrogen gas converts in to liquid nitrogen. When the movement of the piston 6 strives to come down, nitrogen gas is forced out of the container through outlet 8 NRV. This liquid nitrogen is used in preservation of stem cells. The nitrogen is passed through series of filters including HEPA filter and compressed using screw rod mechanism where high pressure can be obtained. Then the compressed nitrogen is again passed through a series of mechanical advantage chambers where more than 50 thousand psi is obtained.

In the presence of semiconductor devices like Hafnium or magnetic refrigeration and cryogenic conditions are achieved to convert nitrogen into liquid state. The peltier chips are made up of Bismuth and Antimony which are used in place of magnet In an embodiment, such as but not limited to the rack & pinion, or pulley mechanism can also be used as mechanical system for adiabatic compression.

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A system and method for stem cell preservation comprises a unidirectional positive displacement mechanism 1 having screw rod 2, a cylinder 3, liquid conductor 4, peltier 5, piston 6, an inlet 7 and outlet 8 wherein the cylinder 3 consists of a piston 6 and two way opening for the inlet 7 and exit 8 ports, on which the non return valves are fitted.

2. The system and method for stem cell preservation, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unidirectional positive displacement mechanism 1 rotates flange, which reciprocates screw rod 2 in to and fro motion.

3. The system and method for stem cell preservation, as claimed in claim 1, wherein piston 6 in the cylinder 3 is connected to screw rod 2 so that when the piston 6 moves upwards, the nitrogen gas is passed through the inlet of the cylinder 3 and when the movement of the piston 6 strives to come down, nitrogen gas is forced out of the container through outlet 8.

4. The system and method for stem cell preservation, as claimed in claim 1, wherein peltiers or gadilinium magnets are used to cool liquid conductor passing through the outer layer of the cylinder 3.

5. The method for stem cell preservation includes the following steps

I. Passed nitrogen through series of filters including HEPA filter

II. Compressed using screw rod mechanism

III. Passing compressed nitrogen through a series of mechanical advantage chambers where more than 50 thousand psi

IV. Magnetic refrigeration achieved in the presence of semiconductor to convert nitrogen into liquid state.

6. The system and method for stem cell preservation, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peltier chips are made up of Bismuth and Antimony which are used in place of magnet

7. The system and method for stem cell preservation, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adiabatic compression is done using such as but not limited to the rack & pinion, pulley, or screw rod mechanism.