Development of an open hardware 3-D printed conveyor device for continuous cryopreservation of non-batched samples

A great challenge among communities participating in germplasm repository development is to obtain suitable cryopreservation equipment and devices. Commercial programmable freezers are costly thus unaffordable many users. Self-made devices have substantial variability , resulting few opportunities for standardization across communities. The of open hardware with the increasing accessibility three-dimensional (3-D) printing offers rapid prototyping easy fabrication by users around world at low cost. present study explored feasibility developing operational prototypes 3-D printed motorized continuous freezing non-batched samples. controlled cooling conveyor device (CCCD) was designed fabricated cryopreserve sperm samples straws that were loaded onto chain links suspended over liquid nitrogen held a Styrofoam box. Cooling rates 5–34 °C/min 0.5-mL French produced adjusting height chains, slopes, mass. plunge temperature (?47 °C ?61 °C) adjustment speed. curves from CCCD comparable commercial freezer. There no significant differences post-thaw motility ornamental (Koi) common carp (Cyprinus carpio) frozen those consistent 15-min time span. proved be feasible functional as low-cost, customizable, portable, yet standardizable options individual (non-batched) Additional design alternatives proposed facilitate further adaptation diverse user