EP3338039B1 - Contact cooling for medications - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a case for cooling medicaments according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Various power network-dependent electrically operated cooling containers for cooling drugs are known from the prior art, but they are large in volume, unwieldy and not suitable for mobile use. There are also cool bags or cool boxes, equipped with cold packs, which are cooled down in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator and are also very problematic for a longer cooling cycle.

In this context, the WO 2005/093344 A1 pointed out. There a plastic insert is designed as a pure holder or position support for objects to be cooled.

Next is on the U.S. 5,400,610 A pointed out, which discloses a cooler bag in which temperature monitoring takes place via a thermometer element in the lid.

In addition, the US 7,308,796 B1 discloses a food refrigeration device which discloses a heat exchanger and an evaporation cavity.

Next is on the U.S. 6,017,062 A pointed out, which discloses a safety lock for an organizer.

For the sake of completeness, reference is made to the DE 296 19 947 U1 and WO 2006/001037 A1 pointed out, which show a cold pack for beverage crates and a cooling winding device for beverage containers.

In addition, the DE 20 2007 003 649 U1 pointed out, which shows a construction for cooling beverages. There are cooling rods that can be pushed through openings and placed in order to adapt the cooling rods to the beverage bottle to be held.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling case for mobile use with a mobile built-in energy carrier for cooling medication, which can be used when traveling so as not to interrupt the cold chain and, as a small, handy container, can be used for cool storage of the the necessary medication to ensure independence from the power grid for several days.

Solution of the task

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The cooling case according to the invention is a case for the cool storage of heat-sensitive medicaments such as prefilled syringes, liquid injection substances, heat-sensitive solids and liquid medicament material, active ingredients and carrier substances.

The case is essentially made up of a hinged shell in one or more parts with an integrated cooling unit as well as the system heart, the contact elements, which can be firmly fixed or manually arranged by the user, depending on the space requirements, in a pluggable manner.

Cold is transferred to the storage goods in the case via the contact surfaces in order to reach the cooling temperature and to absorb the cold of the contact elements.

The case with the cooling unit and contact cooling elements consists of various materials such as plastic, aluminum, copper and the electronics with the energy storage, whereby the product to be cooled plays a subordinate role in this context.

Structure of the system

The bottom part of the case is locked to the lid with a safety lock, with the temperature display for the interior and the stored goods being integrated into the shell.

The cooling unit based on an electrothermal converter is arranged in one shell half, the electrothermal converter being supplied with the electronics via an exchangeable and rechargeable battery which is also fixed in the shell.

The battery is charged via an external power supply unit, which can be coupled to the case.

The on / off switch for the cooling unit and the case is located on the outer geometry of the case.

One embodiment of the cooling case according to the invention is arranged in such a way that when both shells are opened, the cold exchanger can be made visible as a cool plate or perforated plate with fixed or exchangeable cooling pins in various geometric shapes.

The surface of the perforated plate or plate as well as the cooling pins or cooling fins, cooling surfaces are the cooling contactors for the stored goods, with the contact points being able to be arranged in a variable or fixed manner.

Another special feature of the cooling case is the manual setting of the cooling pins and cooling geometries by the user.

With this handling, the user can, depending on the dimensions of the stored goods, place the cooling pins and cooling geometry in contact with the stored goods and determine the transfer of cold and the amount of cold transferred to the stored goods. by the user defining the position of the contact points and determining the number of contact points.

This advantageously ensures that the stored goods receive the desired storage temperature, depending on the storage regulations, and the cold chain is not interrupted.

It is also achieved that different medicaments with different storage temperatures can be stored in the same case or, in combination, refrigerated medicaments with non-refrigerated medicaments can be stored in the same container.

Another special feature of the cooling case is that no air cavity has to be cooled down to cool stored goods, but the stored goods are acted upon directly with the contact cooling and the remaining air cavity can be kept very small, with the remaining air being automatically cooled as well.

The cooling pins or alternatively another contact geometry such as, for example, in the form of ribs, geometries adapted to the stored goods can be permanently connected to the cooling plate or variably arranged via a conical plug-in connection or cylindrical, angular geometries.

The advantageous detachable conical connection guarantees a reliable transfer of cold from the cold exchanger of the cooling plate via the contact geometry to the stored goods.

The surface of the cooling plate and the surface of the contact geometry can be provided with a protective layer in order to prevent oxidation, whereby the protective layer must not have a negative effect on the cold transition.

The electrothermal converter is adapted under the cold exchanger of the cold plate or perforated plate, which draws the heat from the perforated plate via its functionality and transfers it to the docked heat exchanger, i.e. the electrothermal converter has a cold and a warm side.

As the heat exchanger dissipates heat into the atmosphere, the perforated plate can maintain the required cooling temperature. A fan can also be used to support heat dissipation.

On the cooling unit side of the case, air and circulation slots are provided on the outer circumference of the shell.

With this case, sensitive medication with the smallest design can be stored in a cool place on the trip or in principle. It is conceivable that this case can also be used as a belt accessory, wrist accessory or handbag case, in addition to a stand-alone version, so that the patient always has his chilled medication at hand.

In order to offer the patient a comprehensive, complete range of applications, the case can also be made available as a combination for cooled and non-cooled drugs in one unit.

Figure description

• Fig. 1 zeigt die Ansicht des Etuis 1 auf den Deckel 4 mit dem Temperaturanzeiger 3 und dem Sicherungsverschluss 2.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Queransicht auf das Etui 1 mit Deckel 4, dem Bodenteil 5 sowie dem Ein- Ausschalter 7 und der Netzteiladaption 6 und den Luft- und Zirkulationsschlitzen 20 im Bodenteil 5.
• Fig. 3 zeigt das aufgeklappte Etui 1, sichtbar im Deckel 4 den Sicherungsverschluss 2 sowie im Deckel die umlaufende Dichtung 8. Der Deckel ist in diesem Ausführungsbeispiel über ein Filmscharnier 17 mit dem Bodenteil 5 bewegbar verbunden.
  Im schalenförmigen Bodenteil 5 ist der Temperaturfühler und Anzeige 3 installiert.
  Über die Kühlkontaktstifte 9 mit unterschiedlicher Geometrie sowie der Kühlplatte 10 wird die Kühlung auf das Lagergut 11 übertragen.
• Fig. 4 zeigt einen Längsschnitt durch das Etui 1 mit dem sichtbaren Lagergut 11, dem Deckel 4, Bodenteil 5 und die umlaufende Dichtung 8.
  Der Kältetauscher bzw. die Kühlplatte 10 mit fixen Kontaktstiften 9 sitzen auf dem elektrothermischen Wandler 12 zwischen der Isolierung 13 auf dem Wärmetauscher 14 hinter den Lüftungsschlitzen 20.
  Die Batterie 15 mit der Batterieklappe 16 ist ebenfalls ersichtlich.
• Fig. 5 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch das Etui 1 mit fest verankerten Kontaktstiften 9 in der Kühlplatte 10 zwischen dem elektrothermischen Wandler 12 und der Isolierplatte 13 ist der Verdampfungshohlraum 21 für das entstehende Kondenswasser über dem Wärmetauscher 14 vorgesehen.
  Das Lagergut 11 hat über die Kühlplatte 10 und den Kontaktstiften 9, Kontakt zur Kälteübertragung.
• Fig. 6 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel mit der Kühllochplatte 19 über dem elektrothermischen Wandler 12 mit Lagergut 11.
  Die austauschbaren Kontaktstifte oder Kühlgeometrien 18 können je nach Erfordernis manuell umgesteckt werden und der Lagergutgeometrie angepasst werden.
• Fig. 7 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch das Ausführungsbeispiel mit manuell austauschbaren konischen Verbindungsflächen 24 der Kontaktstifte 18 um das Lagergut 11 mit der Kältekühlung zu kontaktieren.
  Die Kontaktstifte 18 sitzen konisch oder zylindrisch in der Lochplatte 19. Ebenfalls sichtbar ist der Wärmetauscher 14 mit dem elektrothermischen Wandler 12 und der Isolierung 13.
• Fig. 8 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch ein Ausführungsbeispiel des Etuis als Kombinationsausführung für gekühlte und nicht gekühlte Medikamente.
  Im Bodenteil 5 und Deckel 4 ist ein abgetrennter Bereich 23 installiert, um Platz für nicht gekühlte Medikamente zu generieren.

Further advantages, features and individual parts of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and on the basis of the drawings.

• Fig. 1 shows the view of the case 1 onto the cover 4 with the temperature indicator 3 and the safety lock 2.
• Fig. 2 shows a transverse view of the case 1 with the lid 4, the bottom part 5 and the on / off switch 7 and the power supply adapter 6 and the air and circulation slots 20 in the bottom part 5.
• Fig. 3 shows the opened case 1, the safety lock 2 visible in the cover 4 and the circumferential seal 8 in the cover. In this exemplary embodiment, the cover is movably connected to the base part 5 via a film hinge 17.
  The temperature sensor and display 3 is installed in the shell-shaped bottom part 5.
  The cooling is transferred to the stored goods 11 via the cooling contact pins 9 with different geometries and the cooling plate 10.
• Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the case 1 with the visible storage goods 11, the cover 4, base part 5 and the circumferential seal 8.
  The cold exchanger or the cooling plate 10 with fixed contact pins 9 sit on the electrothermal converter 12 between the insulation 13 on the heat exchanger 14 behind the ventilation slots 20.
  The battery 15 with the battery flap 16 can also be seen.
• Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the case 1 with firmly anchored contact pins 9 in the cooling plate 10 between the electrothermal converter 12 and the insulating plate 13, the evaporation cavity 21 for the condensation water formed is provided above the heat exchanger 14.
  The stored goods 11 are in contact with the cold transmission via the cooling plate 10 and the contact pins 9.
• Fig. 6 shows an embodiment with the cooling hole plate 19 above the electrothermal converter 12 with storage goods 11.
  The exchangeable contact pins or cooling geometries 18 can be manually repositioned as required and adapted to the geometry of the stored goods.
• Fig. 7 shows a cross section through the embodiment with manually exchangeable conical connecting surfaces 24 of the contact pins 18 in order to contact the storage goods 11 with the cold cooling.
  The contact pins 18 sit conically or cylindrically in the perforated plate 19. The heat exchanger 14 with the electrothermal converter 12 and the insulation 13 is also visible.
• Fig. 8 shows a cross section through an embodiment of the case as a combination design for cooled and non-cooled drugs.
  A separate area 23 is installed in the bottom part 5 and cover 4 in order to generate space for medicines that have not been cooled.

In this embodiment, the cover 4 houses the battery 14 with the electronics.

Item number list

1

case

2

Safety lock

3

Temperature display

4th

cover

5

Bottom part

6th

Power supply connector

7th

On / Off switch

8th

poetry

9

Cooling contact pins

10

Cooling plate

11

Stored goods

12th

electrothermal converter

13th

Insulating plate

14th

Heat exchanger

15th

battery

16

Battery door

17th

Film hinge

18th

Conical plug-in cooling contact elements

19th

Hole cooling plate

20th

Ventilation and circulation slots

21

Evaporation cavity

22nd

Non-refrigerated drugs

23

Separate area

24

Conical connection surface

Claims (5)

1. Case for cooling of medicines consisting of a bottom part (5) and a lid (4),
   characterized in
   that the bottom part (5) comprises a cooling plate (10) with cooling contact pins (9), suitable for receiving medicaments in a cooling-contacting manner, which can be arranged in a fixed manner or in a manually variable, stretchable manner, depending on the space requirement, whereby the cooling plate (10) cooperates with a heat exchanger (14), whereby the cooling contact pins (9) can be arranged with the cooling plate (10) via a conical plug-in connection, whereby an evaporation hollow space (21) is provided between the cooling plate (10) and the heat exchanger (14).
2. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that a seal (8) is arranged between the bottom part (5) and the lid (4).
3. Case according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a battery (15).
4. Case according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lid (4) has a temperature indicator (3).
5. Case according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lid comprises a safety closure (2).

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