APPARATUS FOR LONG TERM STORAGE OF SAMPLE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for long term storage of a sample, which can precisely set a supercooling temperature zone before the production of ice crystals for a target sample such as biological cells or tissues and can preserve the sample for a long period. SOLUTION: The apparatus for long term storage of a sample is characterized by containing a cooling device 8 capable of cooling a target sample 4 to a supercooling temperature zone, a cooling chamber 1 for storing the target sample, temperature-measuring devices 12, 15, magnetic field-generating devices 9, 10, 11 for imparting magnetic fields to the cooling chamber, and temperature controllers 15, 16 for setting a supercooling temperature. The magnetic fields to be imparted are a static magnetic field and a variable magnetic field in X, Y, Z directions, and the magnetic field strengths are 0.05 mT to 1 T, and the frequencies are 0.1 Hz to 300 KHz. The magnetic fields can independently arbitrarily be changed, and a rotational magnetic field can also be imparted by superposing the magnetic field. The apparatus for long term storage of a sample has a heat-insulating space and a device for supplying a heat transfer fluid to be charged in the heat-insulating space between the cooling chamber and the freezing device, and the super cooling-cancelling operation is capable at the cooling temperature. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT