TMRW Life Sciences announced on June 10, 2025, that it has acquired Cryogatt Systems’ patent portfolio covering cryogenic storage and RFID-based tracking technologies. The deal strengthens TMRW’s position in fertility technology, where the company has raised more than $170 million since 2018.
Founded in 2018, TMRW quickly emerged as a leader in the field, earning recognition as Fast Company’s most innovative biotech company in 2022. That same year, it secured FDA clearance for CryoRobot Select, the first automated platform for managing and storing frozen eggs and embryos used in IVF and fertility preservation.
Rising demand for fertility solutions
Statifacts valued the global fertility market at USD 36.5 billion in 2024, with projections reaching about USD 85.5 billion by 2034. In parallel, the global fertility storage market alone was valued at USD 9.55 billion in 2023, with growth forecast to USD 20.48 billion by 2030, according to GrandView Research. This rise is fueled by the increasing demand for assisted reproductive technologies. Within the fertility storage sector, sperm banks held the largest share in 2023, while egg donation is expected to record the fastest growth during the forecast period.
A 10-year study of seven Australian reproductive clinics reported a 1,210% surge in stored eggs between 2012 and 2022. The number of frozen eggs continues to rise sharply, far outpacing the rate at which patients use or release them, straining limited cryostorage facilities. With the global fertility market set to more than double by 2034, and fertility storage growing at a similar pace, the push for innovation in fertility technology and storage solutions is intensifying.
Fertility storage backed by patents
TMRW’s CryoBeacon system, designed to link up to eight cryodevices for a single patient through a unique RFID-enabled ID, appears to draw on multiple patents and system updates rather than a single underlying patent family. The acquisition of Cryogatt’s portfolio nevertheless strengthens TMRW’s Digital Specimen Management platform and expands its intellectual asset base, reinforcing its position in fertility technology at a time of rising demand for assisted reproductive treatments.
Wireless identification of cryogenic vials
Biological specimens preserved at cryogenic temperatures are invaluable for research, diagnostics, and reproductive medicine. However, maintaining accurate identification over years of storage remains a critical challenge. Traditional methods, such as handwritten labels or barcodes, can degrade, detach, or become unreadable in extreme cold, increasing the risk of misidentification and compromised sample integrity. A more reliable, wireless solution is needed to ensure long-term traceability without disturbing samples from storage.
U.S. Patent No. 10,973,226 of TMRW Life Sciences introduces an integrated cryopreservation system that embeds wireless RFID or MEMS transponders directly onto or within cryogenic vials and their caps. The placement is optimized for uninterrupted wireless communication, allowing samples to be identified and tracked without removal from storage. This approach ensures secure, efficient cryogenic preservation while minimizing handling risks.
The patent, titled “Apparatus to preserve and identify biological samples at cryogenic conditions,” was filed on October 4, 2019, and granted on May 6, 2025. The patent lists William Alan Blair, and Timothy Alan Sharp as inventors, with legal representation by James Gale, Nicola Pisano, Lorraine Linford et al. from Cozen O’Connor.
Smart cryogenic transfer
Accurately and safely transferring biological specimens between cryogenic storage systems and portable carriers presents a significant challenge since usual methods are prone to human errors, misidentification, and unwanted temperature fluctuations that can compromise sample viability and breach the chain-of-custody.
U.S. Patent No. 12,290,816 offers a solution by using a processor-based control system that actively manages and validates specimen transfers, providing real-time verification of conditions (e.g., temperature) and correct positioning of containers via wireless transponders that can include RFID. The system incorporates an intuitive visual interface that displays graphical representations of storage and carrier cassettes, highlighting appropriate slots for transfer and alerting users to any discrepancies or warnings, such as incorrect placements or critical temperature deviations.
This approach significantly enhances chain-of-custody integrity by storing tamper-proof evidence of all transfers and immediately notifying users of any unexpected events, thus minimizing risks associated with manual handling and ensuring biological sample safety.
The patent titled “Apparatus to facilitate transfer of biological specimens stored at cryogenic conditions,” was filed on February 23, 2023, and granted on May 6, 2025. The patent lists William Alan Blair, Timothy Alan Sharp, Matt Gupta, Kathryn Josephine Ko as inventors, with legal representation by James Gale, Nicola Pisano, Lorraine Linford et al. from Cozen O’Connor
RFID tracking in extreme cold
Biological samples crucial for reproductive technologies are often preserved by cryogenic freezing and stored in disposable containers like vials at extremely low temperatures, typically -196°C in liquid nitrogen. The problem arises in maintaining the identification of these invaluable samples over many years of storage. Traditional methods like handwritten notes, labels, or barcodes are prone to being erased, smudged, or falling off due to the harsh cold conditions.
U.S. Patent No. 9,697,457, assigned to Cryogatt Systems, introduces an RFID tag designed for cryogenic vials. The tag is placed inside the base of a vial or attached through a jacket, enabling reliable identification without compromising the sample. A key feature is its retrofit capability, allowing RFID tags to be added to vials already in use, minimizing exposure to warming. For added redundancy, the tag may also include a 2D barcode.
U.S. Patent No. 9,418,265, also by Cryogatt Systems, addresses the limitations of optical barcode reading by introducing an RFID reader with an array of multilayer antennas. This design allows simultaneous, high-intensity field readings of multiple tagged vials within a storage box, even through frost. The system reduces the time needed to locate and verify samples while preserving the integrity of cryogenic storage.
The patent “RFID Tag” was filed on August 19, 2016, and granted on July 4, 2017. The patent “RFID reader having an array of antennas” was filed on December 24, 2014, and granted on August 16, 2016. Both list Geoffrey Morris and James Douglas as inventors. Cryogatt Systems was represented by John Pratt, Theodore Brown, Charles Calkins, and colleagues from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.
Cryogatt Systems: Patenting Activity
Founded in 2010, Cryogatt Systems Limited (In Liquidation) was a UK-based specialist in RFID-enabled tracking, sensor integration, and audit trail technologies for cryogenic storage. In the two years leading up to its commercial release in 2015, Cryogatt Systems tested its RFID-tracking solution in collaboration with the National Institute of Biological Standards and Controls (NIBSC) in England. By 2018, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in India became the first facility in Asia to adopt the Cryogatt System for IVF.
As of this writing, Cryogatt holds 13 active patents, organized into the following patent families:
| Patent Family | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
| US9501734 | RFID tag | 2013-01-23 | 2014-01-23 |
| US10748050 | RFID caps and lids | 2013-03-08 | 2014-03-07 |
| US9589225 | RFID tag for cryogenic straws | 2012-06-29 | 2013-06-28 |
| US9619678 | RFID interrogation probe | 2012-07-11 | 2013-07-11 |
Cryogatt Systems has not filed any new applications in recent years, and its portfolio was placed on the market in March 2025. The sale was advised by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, with Matthew Martin leading the legal team and support from Emily MacDonald. Through this acquisition, TMRW Life Sciences now holds the rights to Cryogatt’s cryogenic RFID technology, a system essential for biobanking, cold chain logistics, and the safe, precise tracking of frozen biological samples.
TMRW Life Sciences, founded in 2018, began developing its intellectual property portfolio the same year. Its emergence coincided with a high-profile fertility clinic accident in which more than 4,000 eggs and embryos were destroyed, one of several mishandled cases over the years that may have shaped the broader debate leading up to the Alabama Supreme Court’s 2024 landmark ruling on frozen embryos. Backed by a $25 million Series B round in late 2019, the company accelerated its patent activity, peaking in 2020 before slowing in subsequent years.
Cryogatt Systems: Top Technology Areas
Cryogatt Systems’ patent portfolio is led by data recognition, presentation, and handling (G06K), which accounts for 31.7% of its filings. Laboratory equipment and apparatus (B01L) follows at 18.3%, while containers for medications and pharmaceuticals (A61J) make up 13.4%. These core areas overlap significantly with TMRW Life Sciences’ focus on laboratory infrastructure and sample management for IVF clinics, particularly in the cryostorage of eggs and embryos.
Beyond these, Cryogatt holds patents in preservation of bodies of humans and animals (A01N), containers for storage and transport (B65D), and metal working (Y10T29), along with smaller shares in material analysis (G01N) and radio aerials (H01Q). These categories align with TMRW’s own RFID-enabled technologies, which have been central to its platform since 2019 and disclosed in patents such as U.S. Patent No. 10,973,226, U.S. Patent No. 12,290,816, and U.S. Patent No. 12,017,227.
Cryogatt Systems: Top Law Firms
Cryogatt Systems’ global patent filings were mainly led by two law firms. The London-based IP law firm, Mewburn Ellis LLP, handled the patents filed in Europe while multinational American law firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP handled those in the United States.
What’s next for TMRW Life Sciences?
Last 2024, the TMRW Life Sciences announced the closing of a $28+ million Series D financing led by 5AM Ventures and a partnership with Cryoport Systems to provide fertility clinics with reliable and secure management and transport specimens through the integration of their platforms. The company has also been active in partnering with more than 70 fertility clinics.
This year, TMRW also partnered with a leader in fertility care and assisted reproduction, IVI RMA North America, whose clinics have already started deploying TMRW’s digital specimen management system to provide long-term storage of eggs and embryos. Their collaborations with industry leaders reflect ongoing efforts to innovate and set new standards in the fertility industry.
In March 2025, TMRW launched the TMRW Vault™ for safer handling of frozen eggs and embryos. TMRW also plans to expand their sperm storage modules by the end of this year and roll out more robust digital solutions for cryostorage tanks not made by TMRW. This will extend safety and traceability across more solutions, helping to digitize IVF laboratories and reduce human error in managing frozen specimens.
Note: Image is for illustrative purposes only
