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Temperature controlled cabinet system and method employing a thermal barrier to thermally isolate the cabinet interior from the ambient environment

  • US 20020184906A1
  • Filed: 06/12/2001
  • Published: 12/12/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A temperature controlled cabinet system for storing medical items and maintaining said medical items within a desired temperature range comprising:

  • a cabinet to receive at least one medical item within a cabinet interior and including at least one door to provide access to said cabinet interior;

    at least one heat pump partially disposed within said cabinet interior to heat or cool said cabinet interior;

    a temperature sensor disposed within said cabinet interior to measure a cabinet interior temperature and to generate a temperature signal indicating said measured cabinet interior temperature;

    a controller assembly to enable selection and entry of said desired temperature range into said system and to generate control signals to control each of said at least one heat pump, wherein said controller assembly controls each of said at least one heat pump to heat or cool the cabinet interior as required in response to a comparison of said temperature signal received from said temperature sensor with said selected temperature range to maintain said cabinet interior within said selected temperature range; and

    a thermal barrier disposed between said at least one door and a rear wall of said cabinet to impede heat exchange between said cabinet interior and the ambient environment and maintain temperature of said cabinet interior and said at least one medical item contained therein when said cabinet interior is exposed to that environment;

    wherein said thermal barrier is configured to facilitate passage of said at least one medical item through said thermal barrier and to retain heat within said cabinet interior in response to said cabinet interior temperature exceeding a temperature of the ambient environment and impede heat from said ambient environment accessing said cabinet interior in response to said cabinet interior temperature being below said ambient environment temperature.

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