Goldilox Transportable Incubator

Transportable incubators are used when embryos or oocytes are transported fresh, i.e. without freezing in liquid nitrogen. The key requirements are robustness, uniformity and reliability of temperature control and endurance (battery life).

RoBio Systems has advanced the design of transportable incubators, using vacuum panel insulation, advanced Li-ion batteries and built-in over-temperature protection to give higher performance in adverse conditions than previous products.

‘Goldilox’ is a fully airfreight transportable incubator, with a gas-tight sample space and highly accurate temperature control. Internal temperature is controlled to ±0.2ºC and internal and ambient temperatures are logged by the control system for later download. High quality vacuum panel insulation and novel over-temperature protection allow confident shipping year round – in sub-zero winters and hot summers.

Detailed specifications

• Vacuum panel insulation gives long endurance – internal temperature stable to ±0.2ºC over 4days at 1ºC ambient, 8 days at 17ºC ambient.
• Unique over-temperature protection – protects shipments from short-term hot ambient (12hr at 50ºC when inside outer case).
• Withstands multiple high temperature periods with intervals at lower temperature.
• Gas-tight sample space: flush then seal. Seal withstands depressurisation during air transport, so will maintain gas content.
• Logging of temperature, download and complete control of functions through PC interface
• Flexible payload: interchangeable sample block, sample space 13 x 8.5 x 7.5cm, to fit standard vial sizes
• Accommodates full-size microtitre plates
• Rugged outer transport case protects against impact
• Size (without transport case): 42 x 31 x 25cm (18 x 13 x 11in), weight 13kg (28lb)
• Reduced size and weight version under development

Technology details

The RoBio Systems transportable incubator technology aims to solve problems in presently available products:

• Endurance is too low in cold conditions
• No resistance to over-temperature conditions
• No control over gas atmosphere in shipping leads to shift in pH of CO2-equilibrated media

The RoBio transportable incubator uses VIP insulation and high capacity Li-ion batteries to give long endurance. Battery charge condition is shown clearly by the control system.

Over-temperature protection is given by a sandwich insulation system with heat-absorbing phase change material (brown in the illustration) between inner and outer insulation layers (silver). This system avoids the need to radiate heat to the exterior, as required for active cooling systems such as Peltier devices and conventional refrigeration – and so works reliably in enclosed spaces and warm ambients.

The sample space is gas-tight and pressure-tight against low pressures encountered in air shipment. Loss of CO2 through vessel walls and closures, and resulting pH shift, is avoided.