QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
1. A quality assurance system for assuring the quality of an associated specific host product, the quality of the host product being time related to exposure to an ambient condition, wherein the quality assurance system comprises:
- (a) an ambient condition indicator for providing a current visual indication of the cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition wherein the ambient condition indicator has an active component selected to provide a visual response to the ambient condition in a manner correlated with the response characteristics of the specific host product to the ambient condition; and
(b) a historical record providing at least one historical visual indication of cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition at a prior point in time;
and wherein the quality assurance system communicates to a human viewer a verified data signal regarding the ambient condition-related quality of the host product the verified data signal comprising the current visual indication and the at least one historical visual indication of the cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quality assurance system having an ambient condition indicator provides a current visual indication of the cumulative exposure over time of a host product to an ambient condition such as temperature or humidity. The indicator'"'"'s visual response is correlated with the response characteristics of any one of a wide range of specific host products including foods, drugs and vaccines, industrial and other products whose quality is related to condition-exposure over time. The system includes a historical record with one or more historical visual indications of past cumulative exposures. An airline meal can be accompanied by a novel freshness certification document which can simulate a travel document and provide, in a graphically appealing manner, a verified indication of the freshness of the meal served. Also disclosed are a novel quality assurance document and method and a cold chain monitor.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A quality assurance system for assuring the quality of an associated specific host product, the quality of the host product being time related to exposure to an ambient condition, wherein the quality assurance system comprises:
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(a) an ambient condition indicator for providing a current visual indication of the cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition wherein the ambient condition indicator has an active component selected to provide a visual response to the ambient condition in a manner correlated with the response characteristics of the specific host product to the ambient condition; and
(b) a historical record providing at least one historical visual indication of cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition at a prior point in time;
and wherein the quality assurance system communicates to a human viewer a verified data signal regarding the ambient condition-related quality of the host product the verified data signal comprising the current visual indication and the at least one historical visual indication of the cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An active cold chain compliance monitor for monitoring the compliance of a cold chain having multiple distribution stages with prescribed cold standards, the active cold chain compliance monitor comprising:
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(a) an integrated time-temperature indicator for providing a current visual indication of the cumulative exposure of the active compliance monitor to temperature over time wherein the time-temperature indicator has an active component providing a changing visual response to cumulative ambient temperature; and
(b) a record area providing multiple stage records corresponding one to each with said distribution stages the records being marked for completion with chronological notations, distribution stage identification and information regarding the visual appearance of the time-temperature indicator when the active compliance monitor was at the respective distribution stage. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method of assuring the quality of a specific host product having a quality characteristic time related to exposure of the host product to an ambient condition, wherein the method comprises:
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(a) employing a quality assurance system comprising an ambient condition indicator for providing a current visual indication of the cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition wherein the ambient condition indicator has an active component selected to provide a visual response to the ambient condition in a manner correlated with the response characteristics of the specific host product to the ambient condition and comprising a historical record for recording a historical visual indication of cumulative exposure over time of the host product to the ambient condition at a prior point in time;
(b) at said prior point in time, observing the appearance of the ambient condition indicator; and
(c) at said prior point in time, recording the appearance of the ambient condition indicator in the historical record. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification