Active monitoring system for thermally-managed transportation and storage of specific perishable products
First Claim
1. A shipping and storage system for transporting a first payload type as a blood product comprising:
- a removable payload carrier;
a container having at least one access panel for inserting or removing the removable payload carrier;
a first sensor affixed at a pre-determined position proximal to an interior payload volume of the container, wherein the pre-determined position comprises an element of a pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components for a first payload type and specific passive temperature maintenance of the first payload type, and the pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components being previously validated against a predetermined performance standard for a specific payload type;
a tracking module affixed to the container, receiving at least one signal from the first sensor, having at least a first set of memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponding to the first payload type, and having a comparator for comparing the first sensor received signal to the first set of memory-stored predetermined thresholds, wherein the memory-stored pre-determined thresholds comprise elements of the pre-validated system, wherein each of the memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponds to a specific payload type being conveyed in the removable payload carrier and a sensor type affixed at a corresponding position proximal to the interior payload volume;
a sensor interconnect which provides communication between the first sensor and the tracking module without requiring user manipulation of a physical connector; and
a user alert output on a user interface device of the tracking module for indicating that the comparator has detected the first set of the memory-stored pre-determined thresholds has been violated based on the first sensor received signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shipping and storage system which has an access panel with an optional open/close status sensor, and a payload carrier with an affixed sensor connected to a tracking module that monitors the environment of the payload carrier, such as temperature, against a pre-determined threshold for compliance with pre-determined handling and storage requirements for a specific payload type, such as a specific blood product. When a violation is detected by the tracking module, a user alert or user interface is activated. Advanced features optionally include a plurality of pre-determined threshold sets for a plurality of specific payload types, a tamper detection function based on the access panel status and optional weight changes in the payload carrier, and wireless connectivity to allow mobile device and cloud-based enhanced management functions.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A shipping and storage system for transporting a first payload type as a blood product comprising:
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a removable payload carrier; a container having at least one access panel for inserting or removing the removable payload carrier; a first sensor affixed at a pre-determined position proximal to an interior payload volume of the container, wherein the pre-determined position comprises an element of a pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components for a first payload type and specific passive temperature maintenance of the first payload type, and the pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components being previously validated against a predetermined performance standard for a specific payload type; a tracking module affixed to the container, receiving at least one signal from the first sensor, having at least a first set of memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponding to the first payload type, and having a comparator for comparing the first sensor received signal to the first set of memory-stored predetermined thresholds, wherein the memory-stored pre-determined thresholds comprise elements of the pre-validated system, wherein each of the memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponds to a specific payload type being conveyed in the removable payload carrier and a sensor type affixed at a corresponding position proximal to the interior payload volume; a sensor interconnect which provides communication between the first sensor and the tracking module without requiring user manipulation of a physical connector; and a user alert output on a user interface device of the tracking module for indicating that the comparator has detected the first set of the memory-stored pre-determined thresholds has been violated based on the first sensor received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of tracking and monitoring a status of a first payload type as a blood product conveyed in a shipping container system comprising:
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affixing a first sensor at a pre-determined position proximal to an interior payload volume of a removable payload carrier of the shipping container system, wherein the removable payload carrier is removably receivable into an interior of a thermally insulated container of the shipping container, wherein the pre-determined position comprises an element of a pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components for the first payload type and specific passive temperature maintenance of the first payload type, and wherein a sensor interconnect provides communication between the first sensor and a tracking module without requiring user manipulation of a physical connector, and the pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components being previously validated against a predetermined performance standard for a specific payload type; affixing the tracking module to the thermally insulated container; receiving, by the tracking module, at least one signal from the first sensor; comparing, by the tracking module, in real-time, at least a first set of memory-stored pre-determined thresholds corresponding to the first payload type to the at least one signal, wherein the memory-stored pre-determined thresholds comprise elements of the pre-validated system, and each of the memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponds to a specific payload type being conveyed in the removable payload carrier and a sensor type affixed at a corresponding position proximal to the interior payload volume; and responsive to a result of said comparing indicating a violation of a payload handling condition for the first payload type, outputting, by the tracking module, a corresponding user alert on a user interface device connected to the tracking module. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for tracking and monitoring a status of a first payload type as a blood product conveyed in a shipping container system comprising:
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a processor of a tracking module for executing program instructions; a non-transitory computer-readable memory device; and one or more program instructions encoded by the non-transitory computer-readable memory device for causing the processor, when executed, to perform operations of; receiving, by the tracking module, at least one signal from at least a first sensor, wherein a payload carrier is removably receivable into an interior of a thermally insulated container of the shipping container system, wherein the first sensor is affixed at a pre-determined position proximal to an interior payload volume of the payload carrier, wherein the pre-determined position comprises an element of a pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components for the first payload type and specific passive temperature maintenance of the first payload type, wherein the at least one signal is received via a sensor interconnect which provides communication between the first sensor and the tracking module without requiring user manipulation of a physical connector;
wherein the tracking module is affixed to the thermally insulated container, and the pre-validated system of integrated packaging and components being previously validated against a predetermined performance standard for a specific payload type;comparing, by the tracking module, in real-time, at least a first set of one or more memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponding to the first payload type to the at least one signal, wherein the pre-determined thresholds comprise elements of the pre-validated system; and
each of the memory-stored predetermined thresholds corresponds to a specific payload type being conveyed in the payload carrier and a sensor type affixed at a corresponding position proximal to the interior payload volume; andresponsive to a result of said comparing indicating a violation of a payload handling condition for the first payload type, outputting, by the tracking module, a corresponding user alert on a user interface device connected to the tracking module. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification