Self-contained portable temperature-controlled chamber for medications and the like
First Claim
1. A personal, self-contained, manually portable temperature-controlled chamber for medications and the like, comprising:
- an insulated housing having a cavity shaped to receive a receptacle of temperature-sensitive material therein;
a thermoelectric element mounted in said housing, and having first and second heat-transfer faces;
one of said faces being in heat-transfer relation with said housing cavity, for transferring heat therebetween;
a heat exchanger connected with said housing, having a first portion thereof in heat-transfer relation with the other of said thermoelectric element heat-transfer faces, and a second portion thereof communicating with ambient atmosphere for exchanging heat therewith;
a source of portable electric power mounted in said housing to provide a self-contained unit that can be hand-held and manually transported;
said electrical power source being electrically connected with said thermoelectric element;
means for reversing the polarity of the electric power applied to said thermoelectric element, whereby said thermoelectric element can selectively heat or cool said housing cavity to maintain the receptacle of temperature-sensitive material therein at a desired temperature range; and
a multiple-set-point temperature controller apparatus mounted on said housing, including means for sensing the temperature in said housing cavity;
said temperature controller apparatus having portions electrically connected between said electric power and said thermoelectric element to control electric current flow therebetween, and thereby automatically maintain the temperature within said housing cavity at the desired temperature range by selective heating and/or cooling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature-controlled chamber comprises a portable, insulated housing with an internal cavity shaped to receive a container of temperature-sensitive material therein, such as insulin, antibiotics, or the like. A thermoelectric element, or heat pump, has one face in heat-transfer relation with the housing cavity, and the other face connected with a heat exchanger having an exterior portion exposed to the atmosphere. A source of electric power is coupled to the thermoelectric element through a thermostat control which energizes the thermoelectric element in response to temperature fluctuations in the housing cavity. The thermostat control includes switching means to reverse the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element as a function of whether the sensed temperature in the housing cavity is too high or too low, to alternatively heat or cool the housing cavity as required to maintain the cavity at a generally constant temperature.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A personal, self-contained, manually portable temperature-controlled chamber for medications and the like, comprising:
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an insulated housing having a cavity shaped to receive a receptacle of temperature-sensitive material therein; a thermoelectric element mounted in said housing, and having first and second heat-transfer faces;
one of said faces being in heat-transfer relation with said housing cavity, for transferring heat therebetween;a heat exchanger connected with said housing, having a first portion thereof in heat-transfer relation with the other of said thermoelectric element heat-transfer faces, and a second portion thereof communicating with ambient atmosphere for exchanging heat therewith; a source of portable electric power mounted in said housing to provide a self-contained unit that can be hand-held and manually transported;
said electrical power source being electrically connected with said thermoelectric element;means for reversing the polarity of the electric power applied to said thermoelectric element, whereby said thermoelectric element can selectively heat or cool said housing cavity to maintain the receptacle of temperature-sensitive material therein at a desired temperature range; and a multiple-set-point temperature controller apparatus mounted on said housing, including means for sensing the temperature in said housing cavity;
said temperature controller apparatus having portions electrically connected between said electric power and said thermoelectric element to control electric current flow therebetween, and thereby automatically maintain the temperature within said housing cavity at the desired temperature range by selective heating and/or cooling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification