cryocane is a long, thin, metal container used to store cryogenic vials in liquid nitrogen freezers. Cryogenic vials are small tubes that contain biological samples, such as sperm, oocytes, embryos, and cells. Liquid nitrogen is a very cold liquid that can keep biological samples frozen at temperatures below -130 degrees Celsius. This is cold enough to preserve the viability of biological samples for many years.
Cryocanes are typically made of aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum cryocanes are more lightweight and less expensive than stainless steel cryocanes, but they are also less durable. Stainless steel cryocanes are more durable than aluminum cryocanes, but they are also more expensive and heavier.