ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION CUMULATIVE TRACKING INTEGRATION SENSOR USING SHAPE MEMORY POLYMER
First Claim
1. A time temperature integration device comprisinga temperature measurement means for continuously monitoring the temperature of the environment around a monitored product having a preferred storage temperature;
- andwherein said temperature measurement means is a shape memory material with a memory shape and a deformed shape; and
wherein said shape memory material has a transition temperature range encompassing at least the preferred storage temperature of said monitored product and said shape memory material moves from said deformed shape to said memory shape in response to temperatures of the environment around said monitored product which abut or exceed the preferred storage temperature of said monitored product; and
an indicator means for visually displaying the change in said shape memory material'"'"'s shape connected to said shape memory material as said shape memory material moves from said deformed position to said memory position in response to said thermal energy absorbed by said device as it relates to the temperature of the environment around said device as indicative of the monitored product'"'"'s fitness for use.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention utilizes the unique shape recovery properties of shape memory materials, especially shape memory polymers, to provide an inexpensive and easily identified method of determining when a product has been exposed to environmental conditions that would make it likely that the product has expired or is unfit for use. By allowing the shape memory material to alter its shape from a deformed shape to a memory shape in response to exposure to environmental conditions while attached to a visual indication device a viewer can easily determine if a product has expired.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A time temperature integration device comprising
a temperature measurement means for continuously monitoring the temperature of the environment around a monitored product having a preferred storage temperature; - and
wherein said temperature measurement means is a shape memory material with a memory shape and a deformed shape; and wherein said shape memory material has a transition temperature range encompassing at least the preferred storage temperature of said monitored product and said shape memory material moves from said deformed shape to said memory shape in response to temperatures of the environment around said monitored product which abut or exceed the preferred storage temperature of said monitored product; and an indicator means for visually displaying the change in said shape memory material'"'"'s shape connected to said shape memory material as said shape memory material moves from said deformed position to said memory position in response to said thermal energy absorbed by said device as it relates to the temperature of the environment around said device as indicative of the monitored product'"'"'s fitness for use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A time temperature integration device comprising
a means to attach said device to a monitored product having a preferred storage temperature; - and
a temperature measurement means for continuously monitoring the temperature of the environment around said monitored product; and wherein said temperature measurement means is a shape memory material and the physical, mechanical, or electrical properties of said shape memory material change in response to said temperature of the environment around said monitored product which abut or exceed the preferred storage temperature of said monitored product; and an indicator means for visually displaying the change in said shape memory material'"'"'s shape connected to said shape memory material as said shape memory material moves from said deformed position to said memory position in response to said thermal energy absorbed by said device as it relates to the temperature of the environment around said device as indicative of the monitored product'"'"'s fitness for use.
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13. A time water-vapor pressure integration device comprising
a means to attached said device to a monitored product; - and
a water vapor pressure measurement means for continuously monitoring the water vapor pressure of the environment around said monitored product; and wherein said water vapor pressure measurement means is a shape memory material with a memory position and a deformed position and said shape memory material moves from said deformed position to said memory position in response to said water vapor pressure of the environment around said monitored product; and means for visually displaying the change in the said shape memory material'"'"'s shape as a function of cumulative amount of water absorbed by the shape memory material as it relates to the water vapor pressure of the environment around said monitored product as said shape memory material moves from said deformed position to said memory position as indicative of the monitored product'"'"'s fitness for use. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A time water-vapor pressure integration device comprising
a means to attached said device to a monitored product; - and
a water vapor pressure measurement means for continuously monitoring the water vapor pressure of the environment around said monitored product; and wherein said water vapor pressure measurement means is a shape memory material and the physical, mechanical, or electrical properties of said shape memory material change in response to said water vapor pressure of the environment around said monitored product; and means for visually displaying the change in said shape memory material'"'"'s shape as a function of the cumulative amount of water absorbed by the shape memory material as it relates to the water vapor pressure of the environment around said monitored product as said shape memory material moves from said deformed position to said memory position as indicative of the monitored product'"'"'s fitness for use.
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Specification