Blood products freezer with event log

• US 20060090482A1
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helmer Scientific LLC (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Helmer, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Dawes, Dennis K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/122 of freezer compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes

Abstract

A freezer for the storage of blood plasma and other blood products includes a user interface device which permits a user to adjust operating parameters of the freezer. The user interface device is operable to display the current status of the freezer. A defrost icon is displayed when the freezer is in defrost mode. The user interface device a graphical representation of the temperature within the freezer over the previous twenty-four hours. The controller of the freezer stores temperature related events which can be displayed on the user interface device or downloaded to a remote computer.

Claims

1. A freezer for storage of plasma comprising:

a refrigeration unit,

a controller electrically coupled to the refrigeration unit,

a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the controller, and

a user interface device electrically coupled to the controller, the user interface device having (i) a display device operable to display an indicator when the freezer is in defrost mode, and (ii) an input device operable to receive input from a user.

2. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the indicator that the freezer is in defrost mode cyclically changes sizes.

3. The freezer of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to store a log of temperature related events, and

the display is configured to display the log of temperature related events.

4. The freezer of claim 3, wherein the log includes the date of an event, the time of the event, and the temperature during the event.

5. The freezer of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to store a log which includes the time and date the freezer starts defrost mode and the time and date the freezer ends defrost mode, and

the display is configured to display the log.

6. The freezer of claim 5, wherein the log includes the number of times a door was opened in while the freezer is in defrost mode.

7. The freezer of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to store output from the temperature sensor, and

the display device is operable to display output from the temperature sensor.

8. The freezer of claim 1, wherein:

the freezer further comprises an audible output device which is operable to generate an audible alarm if a door is opened while the freezer is in defrost mode.

9. The freezer of claim 1, wherein the user interface device is operable to display a visual alarm if the door is opened and the freezer is in defrost mode.

10. The freezer of claim 1, further comprising an external connector electrically coupled to the controller.

12. The plasma freezer of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to read the temperature from the temperature sensor in intervals programmed by a user and store those readings in the memory device.

11. A plasma freezer, comprising:

a storage cabinet,

a controller,

a memory device in communication with the controller,

a user input device in communication with the controller operable to receive input from a user,

a display device in communication with controller operable to display output from the controller,

a temperature sensor in communication with the controller operable to sense the temperature of the storage cabinet, and

a refrigeration unit in communication with the controller operable to be activated by the controller and chill the storage cabinet.

13. The plasma freezer of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to compare the temperature from the temperature sensor to a high temperature set point programmed by a user and to store the temperature, the time, and the date if the temperature exceeds the set point temperature.

14. The plasma freezer of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to compare the temperature from the temperature sensor to a low temperature set point programmed by a user and to store the temperature, the time, and the date if the temperature is below the set point temperature.

15. The plasma freezer of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to read the temperature from the temperature sensor and display the temperature on the display device.

16. The plasma freezer of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to read the temperature from the temperature sensor in intervals programmed by a user and display the temperature readings in a graphical form on the display device.

17. A method of operating a blood bank freezer, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if the freezer is in defrost mode,

displaying an icon on a display device if the freezer is in defrost mode, and

logging the number of times a freezer door is opened while the freezer is in defrost mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying step includes cyclically displaying the icon in a number of different sizes.

19. A method of operating a blood bank freezer, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the temperature in the freezer,

graphically displaying the temperature as a line plot on a display device, and

generating an alarm if the temperature in the freezer exceeds an upper limit or is below a lower limit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the generating step comprises generating a visual alarm on the display device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the generating step comprises generating an audible alarm.