CryoXtract Instruments Completes Successful Testing of Breakthrough Robotic Frozen Aliquotter System
16-Dec-2009
Boston, Massachusetts - CryoXtract Instruments, LLC announced successful completion of a series of third-party independent laboratory tests of its breakthrough robotic frozen sample aliquotting system. This system allows for the automated retrieval of multiple frozen samples from a single vial without going through the freeze-thaw process yielding improved sample integrity as well as time, labor and space savings. Currently, this is the only technology of its kind and is designed to serve the needs of biorepositories and biobanks of all sizes.
"CryoXtract's novel automated system will provide customers with a tool to disseminate their serum and plasma samples without exposing them to freeze-thaw cycling and the associated degradation of the sample," said Dale Larson, Director of Biomedical Systems at Draper Laboratory, who is currently heading its development and was one of the technology's inventors while at the Harvard Medical School. "This independent testing of our prototype goes a long way towards demonstrating the capabilities and promise of the technology."
Freezing biological samples is a ubiquitous method of preserving the fidelity of biological specimens and all current methods of processing these frozen samples require thawing before aliquots can be prepared. However, repeated freeze-thaw cycling is time-consuming and can harm the samples. “By eliminating the need to thaw the sample before extracting aliquots, CryoXtract’s robotic system can help avoid sample degradation, improve biobank productivity by automating the preparation of aliquots needed for research studies, and reducing freezer storage space. Our results are very exciting and point to reduced operating costs and processing lead times, as well as extended usable life of biological specimens,” added Mr. Larson.
CryoXtract developed a commercial prototype system to extract multiple 0.1ml aliquots of serum and plasma from 1.8ml cryovials without thawing the source samples. Independent testing was completed at the Rhode Island BioBank at Brown University under the supervision of Helena Judge Ellis, Director of Operations. Testing protocols were designed to evaluate reproducibility, variability and homogeneity of aliquots using the CryoXtract frozen aliquotting system. All samples were then analyzed at a Children’s Hospital Boston to validate specimen fidelity.
“Although our team expected the robotic system to perform well during this testing, we were gratified that it met and exceeded our expectations. The system demonstrated that it can extract multiple, frozen, uniformly-sized and consistently homogeneous portions of plasma, which, when analyzed for common analytes such as lipids, glucose and IgG, give reproducible results with very low variability. Furthermore, the testing demonstrated the capability of the robot to deliver substantial process improvements through hands-free operations,” according to Mr. Larson.
“We are extremely pleased with CryoXtract’s progress to-date and with this independent demonstration of the system’s promise; and we look forward to delivering real solutions to meet the very real needs of biorepositories, biobanks and labs,” commented Jorge de Dios, Vice President of Allied Minds, the parent company of CryoXtract.
CryoXtract intends to continue testing the prototype at the Rhode Island BioBank at Brown University and to collaborate with other biobanks and laboratories by placing future versions of the automation-friendly prototype on site for further validation of the technology.
About CryoXtract Instruments, LLC
CryoXtract Instruments is developing a robotic frozen sample aliquotting system that allows for the retrieval of multiple frozen samples from a single vial without going through a freeze-thaw process. The Company’s novel automation technology will improve frozen sample processing, protect the viability of frozen samples after cores have been extracted, and improve lab economics. CryoXtract has been funded by Allied Minds, Inc., a private investment corporation. For more information, please visit www.CryoXtract.com
About Allied Minds, Inc.
Allied Minds, Inc. is the premier seed organization for early-stage technology. The company focuses on converting academic discoveries into commercial reality by working exclusively with a network of U.S. universities and national labs. By filling the gap between government grants and traditional venture capitalists, Allied Minds focuses on funding innovations with significant transformative potential. Instead of managing funds, the company fosters early-stage companies through to success, generating value for all stakeholders. Allied Minds has a nationwide footprint with offices in Boston, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, and a European presence in London, United Kingdom. Website: www.alliedminds.com
For additional information contact:
Jorge de Dios,
Vice President, Allied Minds Inc.
(703) 338-3361
jorge.dedios@alliedminds.com
"CryoXtract's novel automated system will provide customers with a tool to disseminate their serum and plasma samples without exposing them to freeze-thaw cycling and the associated degradation of the sample," said Dale Larson, Director of Biomedical Systems at Draper Laboratory, who is currently heading its development and was one of the technology's inventors while at the Harvard Medical School. "This independent testing of our prototype goes a long way towards demonstrating the capabilities and promise of the technology."
Freezing biological samples is a ubiquitous method of preserving the fidelity of biological specimens and all current methods of processing these frozen samples require thawing before aliquots can be prepared. However, repeated freeze-thaw cycling is time-consuming and can harm the samples. “By eliminating the need to thaw the sample before extracting aliquots, CryoXtract’s robotic system can help avoid sample degradation, improve biobank productivity by automating the preparation of aliquots needed for research studies, and reducing freezer storage space. Our results are very exciting and point to reduced operating costs and processing lead times, as well as extended usable life of biological specimens,” added Mr. Larson.
CryoXtract developed a commercial prototype system to extract multiple 0.1ml aliquots of serum and plasma from 1.8ml cryovials without thawing the source samples. Independent testing was completed at the Rhode Island BioBank at Brown University under the supervision of Helena Judge Ellis, Director of Operations. Testing protocols were designed to evaluate reproducibility, variability and homogeneity of aliquots using the CryoXtract frozen aliquotting system. All samples were then analyzed at a Children’s Hospital Boston to validate specimen fidelity.
“Although our team expected the robotic system to perform well during this testing, we were gratified that it met and exceeded our expectations. The system demonstrated that it can extract multiple, frozen, uniformly-sized and consistently homogeneous portions of plasma, which, when analyzed for common analytes such as lipids, glucose and IgG, give reproducible results with very low variability. Furthermore, the testing demonstrated the capability of the robot to deliver substantial process improvements through hands-free operations,” according to Mr. Larson.
“We are extremely pleased with CryoXtract’s progress to-date and with this independent demonstration of the system’s promise; and we look forward to delivering real solutions to meet the very real needs of biorepositories, biobanks and labs,” commented Jorge de Dios, Vice President of Allied Minds, the parent company of CryoXtract.
CryoXtract intends to continue testing the prototype at the Rhode Island BioBank at Brown University and to collaborate with other biobanks and laboratories by placing future versions of the automation-friendly prototype on site for further validation of the technology.
About CryoXtract Instruments, LLC
CryoXtract Instruments is developing a robotic frozen sample aliquotting system that allows for the retrieval of multiple frozen samples from a single vial without going through a freeze-thaw process. The Company’s novel automation technology will improve frozen sample processing, protect the viability of frozen samples after cores have been extracted, and improve lab economics. CryoXtract has been funded by Allied Minds, Inc., a private investment corporation. For more information, please visit www.CryoXtract.com
About Allied Minds, Inc.
Allied Minds, Inc. is the premier seed organization for early-stage technology. The company focuses on converting academic discoveries into commercial reality by working exclusively with a network of U.S. universities and national labs. By filling the gap between government grants and traditional venture capitalists, Allied Minds focuses on funding innovations with significant transformative potential. Instead of managing funds, the company fosters early-stage companies through to success, generating value for all stakeholders. Allied Minds has a nationwide footprint with offices in Boston, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, and a European presence in London, United Kingdom. Website: www.alliedminds.com
For additional information contact:
Jorge de Dios,
Vice President, Allied Minds Inc.
(703) 338-3361
jorge.dedios@alliedminds.com
