Via Freeze Controlled Rate Freezer

Description

Via Freeze Controlled Rate Freezer

The VIA Freeze Controlled Rate Freezer is a liquid nitrogen-free storage system that reaches temperatures below -80C. It does this by electronic controls and a conduction cooling method. This system is similar to liquid nitrogen containers but provides many benefits over its counterpart. This compact CRF is also portable with the addition of a small portable generator or an automotive 12V adapter.

Liquid nitrogen and its containers can sometimes pose as a source of potential contamination in the lab. This fact limits which instruments can be used in a clean room. A controlled-rate freezer can be used in clean rooms by eliminating the use of LN2 (liquid nitrogen). In addition, this ability reduces the costs associated with using LN2, deliveries, and storage and increases user safety.

The VIA Freeze chamber can support up to 1 sample plate or 48 x 2.0 ml standard cryovials.  To maintain optimal cell function, users can develop, store, and share cooling profiles and transfer them to other Via Freezer CRFs for standardization. Controls for this freezer are also designed to be 21 CFR Part 11 compliant. Cleaning the interior is a snap thanks to the seamless sample area, without dirt traps, and can be cleaned using standard wipes.

An electric Stirling cryocooling engine powers the controlled rate freezer and cools by conduction. This cooling method allows samples to cool more uniformly over their LN2 counterpart. The verified temperature range is -80C; however, the VIA freeze-controlled rate freezers can drop down to -100C with the right conditions. These temperatures are reached evenly and at a controlled rate by freeze profiles programmed into the UI. Up to 30 of these profiles can be programmed directly from the intuitive touch screen or by a web-based software platform. Users can select from preprogrammed profiles as well. In addition, web-based software can remotely access the linked freezers and thaw records.