Real time temperature and location tracker

• US 8,154,421 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fisher Clinical Services Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Clinical Services Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Saltzman, Greg D., Troutman, Nancy H., Sheetz, Scott A., Lebedev, Vladimir N.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHARTI HARIDAS
• Application Number:
  US12/464,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.17
• US Class Current: 340/870.17
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/826 where the data is sent periodically
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A shipper having an outer housing with a temperature sensitive payload and a temperature/location tracker disposed therein. The outer housing has a body having an interior surface bounding a compartment that is accessed through an opening. A first panel is coupled with the body and configured to extend over at least a portion of the opening, with a first access port extending through the first panel. The payload and temperature/location tracker are disposed within the compartment of the body. The temperature/location tracker includes a first temperature probe, a GPS receiver, a cellular modem, and a GPS antenna. The GPS antenna is disposed so as to be aligned with the first access port when the shipper is in a fully assembled state such that the GPS antenna is directly accessible through the first access port. The temperature/location tracker monitors and periodically transmits temperature and location values of the shipper over a cellular communication network.

Claims

1. A shipping package for transporting a temperature sensitive payload, the shipping package comprising:

an outer housing comprising;

a body having an interior surface bounding a compartment that is accessed through a top opening; and

a first panel coupled with the body and configured to extend over at least a portion of the top opening, a first access port extending through the first panel;

an insulated container disposed within a first portion of the compartment of the outer housing, the insulated container comprising;

an inner housing having an interior surface bounding a cavity that is accessed through a second opening, the cavity being configured to receive a temperature sensitive payload; and

a lid positionable on the inner housing so as to cover the second opening; and

a temperature/location tracker disposed within the compartment of the body, the temperature/location tracker comprising;

a first temperature probe disposed within the cavity of the insulated container and configured to measure a temperature of a temperature sensitive payload when the temperature sensitive payload is positioned within the cavity;

a GPS receiver disposed in a second portion of the compartment;

a cellular modem disposed in the second portion of the compartment; and

a GPS antenna disposed in the second portion of the compartment so as to be aligned with the first access port when the shipping package is in a fully assembled state such that the GPS antenna is directly accessible through the first access port, wherein the temperature/location tracker is configured to monitor and periodically transmit temperature values corresponding to a temperature sensitive payload and location values corresponding to the shipping package over a cellular communication network.

2. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer housing further comprises a second panel coupled with the body and configured to extend over the first panel, a second access port extending through the second panel so as to be aligned with the first access port when the shipping package is in a fully assembled state such that the GPS antenna is directly accessible through the first and second access ports.

3. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the GPS antenna is freely exposed when the shipping package is in a fully assembled state.

4. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the GPS antenna is viewable through the first access port when the shipping package is in a fully assembled state.

5. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the GPS antenna is disposed within the first access port when the shipping package is in a fully assembled state.

6. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the first access port has a cross sectional area between about 700 mm² and about 5000 mm².

7. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, further comprising a covering positioned over or within the first access port.

8. The shipping package as recited in claim 7, wherein the covering is less than 0.01 mm thick.

9. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature/location tracker further comprises a data logger configured to store the temperature and location values.

10. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature/location tracker is self contained so as to be reusable.

11. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensitive payload disposed within the insulated container.

12. The shipping package as recited in claim 11, wherein the temperature/location tracker further comprises a second temperature probe, the second temperature probe being disposed in the second portion of the compartment.

13. The shipping package as recited in claim 11, wherein the temperature sensitive payload comprises one or more of the following:

a cell culture, a vaccine, a body tissue, blood, and a pharmaceutical.

14. A shipping system comprising:

a shipping package as recited in claim 1;

a remote monitor configured to receive the temperature and location values that are periodically transmitted by the temperature/location tracker over the cellular communication network.

15. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer housing is comprised of cardboard.

16. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer housing is comprised of one or more of the following:

plastic, fiberglass, and wood.

17. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature/location tracker further comprises a controller that is electrically coupled to the GPS receiver, the cellular modem, the GPS antenna, and the first temperature probe.

18. The shipping package as recited in claim 1, wherein the GPS receiver, the cellular modem, and the GPS antenna rest on the lid of the inner housing.

19. A shipping system comprising:

a plurality of shipping packages, each as recited in claim 1;

a remote monitor configured to receive the temperature and location values periodically transmitted by the temperature/location tracker of each shipping package over the cellular communication network.

20. A method of monitoring a shipping package in transit, the method comprising:

securing a temperature sensitive payload and a first temperature probe within an insulated container disposed within a compartment of an outer housing of a shipping package and coupling the first temperature probe with a temperature/location tracker positioned within a portion of the compartment outside of the insulated container;

measuring a temperature of the payload using the first temperature probe and passing a signal representative of the measured temperature from the first temperature probe to the temperature/location tracker;

determining a location of the shipping package using the temperature/location tracker; and

transmitting, by the temperature/location tracker, values representing the measured temperature and determined location to a remote monitor over a cellular communication network.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the acts of measuring the temperature, determining the location, and transmitting values are repeated on a periodic basis.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

determining, by the temperature/location tracker, when cellular communication has been lost, and when it is determined that cellular communication has been lost;

continuing to periodically measure the temperature of the payload and determine the location of the shipping package;

storing the temperature and location values in a data logger; and

transmitting, by the temperature/location tracker, the stored temperature and location values over the cellular communication network when the temperature/location tracker determines that cellular communication has been reestablished.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

measuring a second temperature representing the temperature of the portion of the compartment disposed outside of the insulated container, and

transmitting, by the temperature/location tracker, a value representing the measured second temperature to the remote monitor over the cellular communication network.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein determining the location of the shipping package comprises receiving, by the temperature/location tracker, an external GPS signal and determining the location therefrom.

25. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising the shipping package or the remote monitor alerting a remote user when the measured temperature is outside of a pre-defined limit.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the predefined limit is a maximum temperature value.

27. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising the shipping package transmitting a time stamp with each temperature and location value, the time stamp corresponding to a relative time when each measured value was obtained.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the time stamp is derived from a GPS signal.

29. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising receiving, by the temperature/location tracker, programming instructions over the cellular communication network.

30. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising positioning the shipping package in a shipping container after the payload and the first temperature probe have been secured within the insulated container.