Temperature-stabilized storage systems

• US 9,205,969 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tokitae LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tokitae LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Deane, Geoffrey F., Fowler, Lawrence Morgan, Gates, William, Guo, Zihong, Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Kare, Jordin T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Pegram, Nathan, Peterson, Nels R., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIRSCH, ANDREW THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US12/658,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 220/560.1, 220/560.12, 220/592.09, 220/592.26, 220/DIG.9, 220/23.83, 221/253, 221/275, 221/DIG.1, 211/59.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3802 rigid container in the form of a barrel or vat
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3811 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3813 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3823 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3825 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container with one or more containers located inside the external container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3834 the external tray being formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3888 wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3897 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A substantially thermally sealed storage container includes an outer assembly, including one or more sections of ultra efficient insulation material substantially defining at least one thermally sealed storage region, and an inner assembly, including at least one heat sink unit within the at least one thermally sealed storage region, and at least one stored material dispenser unit, wherein the at least one stored material dispenser unit includes one or more interlocks.

Claims

1. A substantially thermally sealed storage container, comprising:

an outer assembly, including

one or more sections of ultra efficient insulation material substantially defining at least one thermally sealed storage region,

wherein the outer assembly and the one or more sections of ultra efficient insulation material substantially define a single access aperture to the at least one thermally sealed storage region, the one or more sections of ultra efficient insulation material including a plurality of layers of multilayer insulation and substantially evacuated space having a pressure less than or equal to 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> torr surrounding the plurality of layers of multilayer insulation, wherein the single access aperture is configured to allow access from a lower portion of the at least one thermally sealed storage region to an upper portion of the at least one thermally sealed storage region in a removal direction along which a stored vaccine vial can be removed through the single access aperture; and

an inner assembly, including

at least one heat sink unit within the at least one thermally sealed storage region, and

at least one stored material dispenser unit, wherein the at least one stored material dispenser unit includes one or more interlocks, each of the one or more interlocks including at least one storage unit exchange unit rotatably affixed to the at least one stored material dispenser unit and having a longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the removal direction, wherein the at least one storage unit exchange unit is configured to rotate around the longitudinal axis and wherein the at least one storage unit exchange unit is of a size and shape to hold the stored vaccine vial and move the vaccine vial therethrough upon rotation of the at least one storage unit exchange unit.

2. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one stored material dispenser unit comprises:

at least one gear mechanism operably attached to the at least one storage unit exchange unit; and

a control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism includes a gear mechanism configured to transmit torque to the at least one gear mechanism operably attached to the at least one storage unit exchange unit.

3. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, wherein the inner assembly further comprises:

at least one stored material egress unit within the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

4. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, wherein the inner assembly further comprises:

at least one storage region alignment unit within the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

5. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 4, comprising:

at least two storage region alignment units on opposing ends of the at least one thermally sealed storage region, the at least two storage region alignment units aligned with the single access aperture.

6. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, wherein the inner assembly further comprises:

at least one stored material retention unit within the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

7. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 6, wherein the at least one stored material retention unit comprises:

a stored material retention region, wherein stored material is retained as a vertical column;

a ballast unit, positioned to maintain the stored material as a vertical column with minimal gaps; and

at least one positioning element configured to retain the ballast unit in a vertical alignment with the stored material retention region.

8. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, wherein the inner assembly further comprises:

at least one retention unit stabilizer within the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

9. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, comprising:

a core stabilizer, wherein a surface of the core stabilizer is attached to a surface of a storage region alignment unit and wherein the core stabilizer is configured to be in alignment with the single access aperture.

10. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 9, comprising:

at least one temperature sensor operably attached to the core stabilizer.

11. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 9, comprising:

at least one optical sensor operably attached to the core stabilizer.

12. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, wherein the inner assembly comprises:

a plurality of heat sink units, wherein the heat sink units are dispersed within the at least one thermally sealed storage region; and

a plurality of stored material dispenser units, each of which is positioned between two heat sink units.

13. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, further comprising:

a GPS device attached to the exterior surface of the substantially thermally sealed storage container.

14. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one transmission unit.

15. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source positioned to illuminate the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

16. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor within the at least one thermally sealed storage region.

17. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more optical sensors within the at least one thermally sealed storage region, the one or more optical sensors oriented to detect stored material.

18. A substantially thermally sealed storage container, comprising:

an outer assembly, including

an outer wall substantially defining a substantially thermally sealed storage container, the outer wall substantially defining a single outer wall aperture;

an inner wall substantially defining a substantially thermally sealed storage region within the substantially thermally sealed storage container, the inner wall substantially defining a single inner wall aperture;

a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall, the gap including substantially evacuated space having a pressure less than or equal to 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> torr;

at least one section of ultra efficient insulation material within the gap;

a conduit connecting the single outer wall aperture with the single inner wall aperture, the conduit having a longitudinal axis defining a removal direction;

a single access aperture to the substantially thermally sealed storage region, wherein the single access aperture is formed by an end of the conduit; and

an inner assembly, including

one or more heat sink units within the substantially thermally sealed storage region; and

at least one stored material dispenser unit including one or more interlocks, each of the one or more interlocks including at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit having a longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit, wherein the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit is configured to rotate around its longitudinal axis and wherein the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit is of a size and shape to hold a stored vaccine vial and move the vaccine vial therethrough upon rotation of the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit.

19. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, wherein the one or more heat sink units comprise:

at least one structural element configured to define at least one watertight region; and

water within the at least one watertight region.

20. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, including a plurality of heat sink units distributed within the substantially thermally sealed storage region, wherein the plurality of heat sink units are configured to form material storage regions between the heat sink units.

21. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, wherein the at least one stored material dispenser unit comprises:

an interlock mechanism configured to control egress of a stored material; and

a control interface configured to operate the interlock mechanism.

22. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, wherein the at least one stored material dispenser unit comprises:

at least one gear mechanism operably attached to each of the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit; and

a control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism includes a gear mechanism configured to transmit torque to the at least one gear mechanism operably attached to each of the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit, and at least one gear mechanism configured to transmit torque from a dispenser unit operating unit.

23. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, wherein the inner assembly comprises:

one or more storage region alignment units.

24. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, wherein the inner assembly comprises:

at least one stored material egress unit.

25. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, wherein the inner assembly comprises:

at least one stored material retention unit.

26. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 25, wherein the at least one stored material retention unit comprises:

a stored material retention region, wherein stored material is retained as a vertical column;

a ballast unit, positioned to maintain the stored material as a vertical column with minimal gaps; and

at least one positioning element configured to retain the ballast unit in a vertical alignment with the stored material retention region.

27. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, comprising:

a core stabilizer.

28. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 27, wherein the core stabilizer is configured to be in alignment with the single access aperture.

29. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 27, wherein the core stabilizer comprises:

at least one temperature sensor operably attached to the core stabilizer.

30. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 27, wherein the core stabilizer comprises:

at least one optical sensor operably attached to the core stabilizer.

31. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, further comprising:

a GPS device attached to an exterior surface of the substantially thermally sealed storage container.

32. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one power source attached to an exterior surface of the substantially thermally sealed storage container, wherein the at least one power source is configured to supply power to circuitry within the substantially thermally sealed storage container.

33. The substantially thermally sealed storage container of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one transmission unit attached to an exterior surface of the substantially thermally sealed storage container.

34. A substantially thermally sealed storage container, comprising:

an outer assembly, including an outer wall substantially defining a substantially thermally sealed storage container, the outer wall substantially defining a single outer wall aperture;

an inner wall substantially defining a substantially thermally sealed storage region within the substantially thermally sealed storage container, the inner wall substantially defining a single inner wall aperture;

a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall;

at least one section of ultra efficient insulation material within the gap;

a conduit connecting the single outer wall aperture with the single inner wall aperture;

a single access aperture to the substantially thermally sealed storage region, wherein the single access aperture is formed by an end of the conduit; and

an inner assembly, including

one or more heat sink units within the substantially thermally sealed storage region;

one or more storage region alignment units;

at least one core stabilizer having a longitudinal axis;

at least one stored material egress unit;

at least one stored material dispenser unit including one or more interlocks, each of the one or more interlocks including at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit having a longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core stabilizer, wherein the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit is configured to rotate around its longitudinal axis and wherein the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit is of a size and shape to hold a stored vaccine vial and move the vaccine vial therethrough upon rotation of the at least one substantially cylindrical storage unit exchange unit; and

at least one stored material retention unit.