EP1222447A1

EP1222447A1 - Device for detecting and quantitatively measuring the exposure of an object to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined duration

Info

Publication number: EP1222447A1
Application number: EP00958651A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Galdino Barbieri; Bruno De La Forterie
Original assignee: FORTERIE BRUNO DE
Current assignee: FORTERIE BRUNO DE
Priority date: 1999-10-20
Filing date: 2000-08-07
Publication date: 2002-07-17
Also published as: JP2004500555A; US6968804B1; CA2388361A1; WO2001029525A1; AU7010200A

Abstract

The inventive device comprises a housing (1) which is configured in the shape of a flat strip comprising an enclosure (6) on one side which projects outwards and contains a material (7) that changes its state or viscosity at a predetermined temperature. Said enclosure (6) opens onto the space inside the housing through a hole (8) which can be plugged with a tongue (9), this space inside the housing containing a strip (11) consisting of a porous material that is visible from the outside through holes made on the top surface (5) of the housing.

Description

Device for the detection and quantitative measurement of the exposure of an object to a predetermined temperature and duration.

The present invention relates to a device for detecting and quantitatively measuring the exposure of an object to a temperature at least equal to a predetermined temperature, taking into account the duration of this exposure.

It applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the control of the integrity of the cold chain necessary for the conservation of certain objects or products, for example perishable foodstuffs, or even products for medical use such as blood, vaccines or even temperature-sensitive drugs.

For example, it is known that a concentrate of red blood cells can be stored in a blood bank for forty two days at a temperature between +4 ° C and + 8 ° C. Once distributed by the blood establishment, this concentrate should be used very quickly if the ambient temperature exceeds + 10 ° C. It is therefore important to know the moment when this temperature crossing takes place and to measure the duration to know if the concentrate is still usable.

A similar problem arises in the case of frozen products which must be stored at a temperature of -30 ° C and which, after thawing, must be consumed quickly.

Here too, it is important to detect any excess of the storage temperature and if necessary, the duration of this excess, the result of these two detections having to be irreversible so that it can be observed for a long time. after the above-mentioned overshoot has occurred.

In an attempt to achieve these results, electronic devices have already been proposed involving a temperature measurement probe and a microcontroller making it possible both to detect a temperature overshoot and the duration of this overshoot. However, such a device proves to be too expensive for it to be able to be used systematically on all the objects whose temperature is to be monitored.

Attempts have also been made to use temperature indicators using fuse bodies which change state when a predetermined temperature is crossed. However, these indicators, which are often imprecise, do not take into account either the amplitude of the crossing or the duration of this crossing, so that there is nothing to indicate whether the object or the product remains usable or not.

The invention therefore more particularly aims to eliminate these drawbacks by means of a device which detects temperature overruns and which integrates over time the amplitude of these overshoots.

It proposes, for this purpose, a device comprising an enclosure containing a material changing state or viscosity at a predetermined temperature, a propagation space connected to said enclosure, in which said material in the liquid state can propagate to a predetermined speed and means for viewing by transparency the progress of said material in said space. Advantageously, the displacement of the material in the liquid state in said space can be effected by capillary action either in capillary or laminar conduits, or in an absorbent material contained in said space.

In this case, the amplitude of this displacement will be variable as a function of the viscosity and the surface tension of the product, the duration, the temperature and the capacity or the absorption power of the absorbent product.

The material could then consist of a product with variable viscosity depending on the temperature (for example an oil or a mineral, vegetable or synthetic animal fat) or even a product changing state (solid / liquid) depending on the temperature .

The absorbent product may consist of a porous material (chalk, blotting paper, strip of fluocarbon material) or a pulverulent material.

The display means may involve at least one window allowing the vision of the material propagating in the above space, this material can either be colored so as to be able to be observed directly, or opaque so as to mask a possibly colored surface or graded underlying, either likely to cause a change in the optical property of the absorbent material or capillary or laminar conduits, or likely to cause a visible reaction within the absorbent material (toning of a reagent) -

According to another characteristic of the invention, this aforementioned space may contain a substance dissolving gradually on contact with the material in the liquid state, means being provided for distinguishing said material from said substance. Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figures 1 to 3 are schematic views of a detection device according to the invention using a ribbon of porous material, this device being either in longitudinal section (Figure 1), in top view (Figure 2) and in cross section (Figure 3);

Figures 4 and 5 schematically show, in top view and in axial section, a detector using a spiral propagation space;

Figure 6 is a schematic cross section illustrating the principle of a display device using a frosted;

Figure 7 is a schematic longitudinal section of another alternative embodiment of the invention involving a process of dissolution or chemical attack of a material.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the operating principle of the device is based on the following observation:

Certain products with variable viscosity as a function of temperature (for example mineral or vegetable or synthetic oil or grease), or certain products which change state as a function of temperature (liquids, crystals, etc.) brought into contact with an absorbent product (for example blotting paper, sugar, absorbent crystals, etc.) can undergo displacement by capillarity. This displacement is variable depending on the viscosity and / or the surface tension of the absorbed product or its state (liquid or solid), the duration, the temperature and the absorption capacity or power of the absorbent product . Some absorbent products can change color on contact with an absorbed product or vice versa, certain absorbed products can change color on contact with an absorbent product (for example chemical reaction between an acidic or basic body and a paper to measure PH) .

Some absorbed products may change color depending on the temperature.

Thus, for example at low temperature, edible margarine which is in the solid state is not absorbed by blotting paper. When the temperature rises, the margarine liquefies and is absorbed by the blotting paper. This absorption is progressive as a function of duration and is all the more important the greater the absorption capacity of the blotter and the more fluid the body absorbed. If the ambient temperature drops to a level where the margarine resolidifies, the progress on the blotting paper stops to resume if the temperature rises.

As the blotting paper becomes soaked with the fatty substance, it changes its appearance to take on a transparent oily appearance. If this blotting paper is previously colored on one side, the coloring will be visible on each of the faces of the blotting paper after impregnating the fatty substance. This coloring can have several levels (for example green then red). The progression of the fatty substance on the paper will first reveal a color (for example green) and then after the next color (for example red). This second coloring may indicate the limit not to be reached if the product to which the system is subject is to be used.

The device according to the invention uses these physical characteristics: change of state or variation of the viscosity of a product as a function of the temperature and transparent display of the absorption of this product by an absorbent body which becomes transparent on contact with the absorbed product.

In this example, the device consists of a housing 1 in the form of a flat strip produced by folding and gluing a sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic or cardboard.

The underside 2 of the box, which consists of two juxtaposed folds of the sheet, is covered with an adhesive lining 3 (adhesive layer or double-sided adhesive) covered by a protective film 4.

The upper face 5 of the housing 1 comprises, at one of its ends, an enclosure 6 projecting outwards which delimits a space at least partially filled with a product 7 with variable state or viscosity. This space opens onto the interior volume of the housing 1 through an orifice 8 which can be closed off with an extractable or frangible cover. This cover consists here of a tongue 9 of impermeable material, slidingly mounted inside the housing 1 and one end of which protrudes through a slot left free at the end of said housing 1. In the case where it is not made in a transparent material, this upper face 5 comprises a series of orifices 10 (at least two) which extend along the longitudinal axis of the housing 1.

Furthermore, the housing 1 contains a strip of porous material 1 1 which extends over its entire length passing in line with the aforesaid orifices 10 and under the tongue 9 which constitutes the aforesaid seal.

This strip 1 1 which may consist, for example, of blotting paper or of a porous fluocarbon plastic (for example polytetrafluoroethylene or the like) has the property of being initially opaque and of becoming transparent when it is impregnated with the above material 7 Thus, when it is transparent, it allows vision through the orifices 10 of printed patterns. either on the lower face of the strip 1 1, or on the part of the lower face 2 of the housing 1 in contact with said strip 1 1.

The operation of the device described above is then as follows:

Initially, before use, the tongue 9 is placed so as to close the orifice 8, so that the material 7 contained in the enclosure 6 cannot reach the strip 11 and this, whatever the ambient temperature.

To monitor the temperature of an object, the operator removes the protective film 4 to fix the housing 1 on the object whose temperature is less than or equal to the predetermined temperature called critical.

After the housing 1 has stabilized at the temperature of the object, the operator pulls on the tab 9 so as to initiate monitoring. At this temperature, the material 7, frozen, remains in contact with the strip 1 1 without impregnating it. The strip 11 remains opaque and masks the printed patterns located at the right of the orifices 10.

By cons, when the temperature rises above the critical temperature, the material 7 becomes sufficiently fluid to penetrate the pores of the strip 1 1 and gradually impregnate it. As this impregnation progresses, the strip becomes transparent and this transparency propagates from one end to the other, at a speed and at the end of a predetermined period of time which depend on the absorbance of the strip 1 1 and the surface tension of the material 7. During this propagation, the patterns located in line with the orifices 10 become visible and provide a quantitative indication of duration-intensity on the exposure of the object to a temperature higher than the temperature critical. Of course, this indication will make it possible to know whether the maintenance of the object at the storage temperature has been respected and, if not, whether the object is usable or not. The irreversibility of this indication eliminates any possibility of fraud.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

Thus, the device could for example be in the form of a self-adhesive sticker comprising two coaxial discs Di, D ₂ placed side by side, namely:

a support disc D ₂ having in its center a convex shape FB, the concave part of which is provided with asperities AS, the lower face of this disc carrying an annular adhesive coating RA covered by a protective film FP,

- An upper disk Di, made of transparent material, shaped so as to delimit with the support disk D ₂ a central enclosure EC coaxial from which a spiral conduit CS forming the aforesaid propagation space.

The central enclosure EC is intended to receive a material M] changing state and / or viscosity as a function of the temperature and having either surfactant properties specific to propagation by capillarity, or properties of a solvent, or chemical properties capable of causing the progressive attack of an appropriate material.

The spiral duct CS can, meanwhile. contain, depending on the nature of the material contained in the enclosure, a porous and / or powdery material, a soluble material, and / or a chemically attackable material. Before use, the material M) will be hermetically confined in the enclosure thanks to a frangible cover OF whose rupture may be caused by the asperities AS, following a pressure exerted on the domed form FB. In the case of a chemical attack, the part of the attacked material, which is dissolved, then lets appear patterns printed on the support disc.

This solution has the advantage of being able to use liquids with low viscosity (for example glycol water or an acid solution) as a material changing state.

As previously mentioned, the use of a material which becomes transparent on contact with the material which changes state as a function of temperature is not essential.

In fact, as illustrated in FIG. 6, it suffices to provide a laminar propagation space EL delimited on one side by a smooth face FL which can bear patterns, for example colored, and, on the other side, a wall made of transparent material having a frosted face FD. In fact, initially, the presence of the frosted surface prevents vision of the smooth face, this vision being made possible only by the presence of the liquid propagating in the laminar space EL.

FIG. 7 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention involving a flat case 1 ′, one of the ends of which is provided with an enclosure enclosure EC / frangible cover OF / convex shape FB provided with asperities AS similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Furthermore, this box delimits a propagation space EP containing a material chemically attackable MA by the liquid L contained in the enclosure EC. As the material MA attacks, the liquid L discovers a pattern printed on the underside FI of the housing 1 '. In the examples described above, in order to secure the transport and the conservation of the product contained in the enclosure, the latter may contain an absorbent material impregnated with product.

According to another alternative embodiment of the device according to Figures 1 to 3, the tongue used to close the enclosure may be integral with the porous strip and extend it to one side.

In that case. pulling on the tongue will bring the strip into contact with the material contained in the enclosure.

According to another variant, the strip can be movable inside the housing so as to be able to occupy two positions, namely:

- an initial position in which it is spaced from the enclosure and is not in contact with the material.

- A position of use in which, under the effect of an action of the operator, the strip is brought into contact with the material. In certain cases. the strip is supplied with porous material contained in the enclosure can be effected by means of a wire made of porous material serving as a flow regulator. This solution is particularly suitable for fluids having a low viscosity. Of course, the housing can be wrapped in a transparent waterproof pouch so as to avoid any degradation of the device due in particular to humidity.

Furthermore, there is a housing according to FIGS. 8 and 9. containing at least one level of detection of temperature overshoot so as to know with precision the duration and the amplitude of said temperature overshoot. This box can also be attached to a recorder thus indicating the day and time when the temperature is exceeded.

EXAMPLE 1

5

There is provided a set of four identical devices of detection - ABCD- (Fig. 8 - Plate 2/2) according ^to one of the figures (plate 1/2). Each device is

: programmed in such a way that A. begins its progression, when the temperature

: exceeds 4 ° C, B. when the temperature exceeds 6 ° C, C. when the temperature exceeds

10 8 ° C, and D. when the temperature exceeds 10 ° C. This example is mainly intended for monitoring particularly sensitive products, which cannot withstand large temperature variations, and more precisely in our example, which must be stored at 4 ° C and never exceed 8 ° C. We therefore secured the product to be monitored with a temperature sensor and we timed the temperature overshoots.

15 thus recorded taking into account the influence of the latter on the product, during the various manipulations of this product. We can see that it was exposed for 5:30 to a temperature above 4 ° C, 2H40 to a temperature above

6 ° C, 1 hour at a temperature above 8 ° C and 10 minutes at a temperature above 10 ° C. We can deduce from this reading that the product we

20 we just checked could, if we had only implemented one level of control, be considered GOOD because this sensor would only have signaled to us that it exceeded the acceptable temperature by 5:30. The product being classified as very

: sensitive, we have implemented our system with four levels of control and we

: can unambiguously state that the product following this manipulation is unsuitable for

25 consumption and can even be dangerous.

INTERPRETATION of the temperature overshoot time of the example in Figure 9 concerning a TRACKING of a product that cannot withstand a temperature variation even of short duration

Temperatures 4 ° C 5 ° C 6 ° C 7 ° C 8 ° C 9 ° C 10 ° C 11 ° C not to be exceeded _{********************* ***********}

Control levels 1 2 3 4

Temperatures sucT at 4 ° C above 6 ° C above 8 ° C above 1 ° C

Duration 5H30 2H40 1H00 0H10

Good product in appearance xxxxxxxxxxx

Can be consumed xxxxxxxxxxx

Danger to the product __ xxxxxxxxxxx

To destroy XXXXXXXX if we only had one level of control for a temperature above 4 ° C this product would be

GOOD in this case we can conclude that the product has been altered for 1 hour and made unfit for consumption during the peak at more than 10 ° C. So this product is

BAD

Claims

claims

1. Device for the detection and quantitative measurement of the exposure of an object to a predetermined temperature, taking into account the duration of this exposure, this device comprising an enclosure (6) containing a material (7) changing d state or viscosity at a predetermined temperature, a propagation space connected to said enclosure (6), in which said material (7) in the liquid state can propagate at a predetermined speed and means for transparent display of the progression of said material (7) in said space, characterized in that said material is contained in a first porous material and in that the displacement of said material (7) in the liquid state in said space is effected by capillarity .

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the above displacement takes place in capillary or laminar conduits.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the above displacement takes place in an absorbent material contained in said space.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said material (7) has a variable viscosity as a function of the temperature and consists of an animal, vegetable, mineral or synthetic oil or fat.

5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the absorbent material consists of a porous material such as chalk, blotter or a strip of a fluocarbon material.

6. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the above absorbent material is a pulverulent material.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid display means involve at least one window allowing the vision of the material (7) propagating in the aforesaid space, this material being either colored or opaque so as to mask a possibly graduated or colored underlying surface, either such as to cause a change in optical property, in particular of transparency of the absorbent material or of the capillary or laminar conduits, or so as to cause a visible reaction within the absorbent material .

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the absorbent material (1 1) initially opaque becomes transparent when it is impregnated with said material (7).

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said space (EP) contains a substance (MA) dissolving progressively in contact with the material (L) in the liquid state, means being provided for distinguishing said material ( L) of said substance (MA).

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a housing (1) in the form of a flat strip comprising on one side an enclosure (6) projecting outwards which delimits a space containing the aforesaid material (7) and opening onto the interior space of the housing by means of an orifice (8) closable by an extractable or frangible cover (9), this interior space containing a strip (1 1) of porous material, the upper face of the housing (1) comprising at least one orifice (10) making it possible to view the strip (1 1).

1 1. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the aforesaid cover consists of a tongue (9) of impermeable material slidingly mounted inside the housing (1) and which protrudes outside of it thanks to a slit.

12. Device according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the aforesaid tongue (9) extends the aforementioned strip (1 1).

13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the underside of the housing (1) comprises means for fixing it to the object whose temperature is to be monitored.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the above fixing means consist of an adhesive coating (3) covered by a protective film (4).

15. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in the form of a self-adhesive sticker comprising two coaxial discs (D _i? D ₂ ) placed side by side, namely:

- a support disc (D ₂ ) having in its center a domed shape (FB), the concave part of which is provided with asperities (AS), the underside of this disc carrying an annular adhesive coating (RA) covered by a protective film (FP), - an upper disc (D], made of transparent material, shaped so as to delimit with the support disc (D ₂ ) a coaxial central enclosure (EC) from which a spiral duct (CS ) constituting the above-mentioned propagation space.

16. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the propagation space (EL) has a laminar shape delimited on one side by an optionally smooth face capable of bearing patterns and, on the other side, by the frosted face of a wall made of transparent material.

5

17. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the aforesaid absorbent material consists of a movable strip so as to occupy an initial position in which it is not in contact with the material (7) and a position of use in which it is brought into contact with the

10 above subject.

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection between said enclosure and said propagation space is effected by means of a porous wire serving as a flow regulator.

15

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is wrapped in a transparent waterproof pouch.

20.The according to claims 1 to 19, 20 characterized in that there is a housing enclosing at least one overtemperature control device in order to know precisely the length and 1 ^* magnitude of said overshoot and can also complete advantageously any other type of recorder.