OA21352A - Cold storage device. - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic paper display is used for an ice-lined cold storage device to display data from the device's data system and/or from an external network.

Description

Cold storage device

[0001] This invention relates to a cold storage device, particularly for storage and/or transportation of vaccines and/or medical products and to methods of operating such devices.

[0002] To ensure their quality, longevity and effectiveness, vaccines must be stored and transported at an optimum storage température, generally >+2°C and < +8°C. Exposure to higher or lower températures causes détérioration of the vaccines. Specialised vaccine storage refrigerators address these and other practical requirement, for example the avoidance of any significant température variation between different positions within a vaccine storage chamber. Some vaccine refrigerators, particularly sophisticated mains powered vaccine refrigerators used in health centres, also include data loggers for monitoring the température of stored vaccines over time; this facilitâtes vérification that the vaccines hâve been maintained at appropriate cold chain conditions during the entirety of their storage. Altematively, stand-alone data loggers, often having integrated température monitors, can be placed in a vaccine storage compartment along with vaccines being stored. The température historiés recorded by such data loggers are generally transferred to separate computer monitoring Systems for vérification and display.

[0003] Particular issues occur for refrigerated vaccine storage where a reliable source of mains electricity is not available. For example, at remote health centres in developing countries which are not connected to the electricity grid, solar power Systems are used to power ice-lined vaccine refrigerators. Such solar powered ice-lined vaccine refrigerators are configured such that their electrical cooling circuits generate an ice lining which acts as a thermal capacitor; the ice lining absorbs heat from its surroundings and contributes to maintaining the vaccine storage chamber within the desired température range when solar power is not available to power the electrical cooling circuit, for example at night or at periods during the day when insufficient solar radiation is available. Such solar powered ice-lined vaccine refrigerators hâve also been provided with température data loggers powered by a data System battery which is recharged when solar power is available. Another spécifie situation in the cold chain is, for example, where outreach vaccination programs are carried out in villages remote from a health centre. Vaccines are generally transported from a health centre having a specialised vaccine refrigerator to the (often remote) outreach location using passive, ice-lined vaccine containers.

[0004] One aim of the présent invention is to provide an improved ice-lined vaccine storage device.

[0005] In accordance with one of its aspects, the présent invention provides a cold storage device in accordance with claim 1. Other aspects are defined in other independent daims. The dépendent daims define preferred or alternative features.

[0006] In one of its aspects, the présent invention is based on the réalisation that a signifïcant improvement in the cold chain, particularly for vaccines and medical products, can be made by focussing on ice-lined cold storage dèvices and particularly on an improved arrangement for displaying data from a data System of an ice-lined cold storage device, notably température data and/or waming messages. The electronic paper display allows data to be displayed, and for a display of the data to be maintained, for cold storage devices which, during use, spend considérable periods of time during which they are not connected to an extemal power source and whose data Systems must thus rely upon a data System battery. Furthermore, increased fonctionalities are being demanded of such data Systems, for example, data communication fonctions, which provide an additional drain on the limited data System battery power available; thus, in requiring little power for their desired operation, the electronic paper display of the data System “frees up” the limited available electrical power for other data System usages.

[0007] As used herein, the term “electronic paper display” means a display whose display éléments reflects light (unlike, for example LED displays whose LED display éléments émit light) and which rely upon a static display using materials whose colour states are bi-stable so that the display continues to display an image without consuming power (unlike, for example, LCD displays which are volatile displays which require power to be applied to maintain the display of an image). The electronic paper display may be an electrophoretic display, a microencapsulated electrophoretic display, an electrowetting display; or an electrofluidic display. Preferably, the electronic paper display is configured to allow for partial refresh; this allows for low power consumption. The ice-lined cold storage devices, particularly passive ice-lined cold storage devices, are frequently used in bright sunlight; the use of an electronic paper display whose display éléments reflect rather than émit light also facilitâtes reading of the display in such conditions.

[0008] The data from the data System which the electronic paper display is configured to display may include one or more of: an internai température of the cold storage compartiment; a température outside the cold storage device; remaining battery charge available to the data logger; remaining charge of a data System battery; one or more alarms; an indication of the status of a lid of the cold storage device (eg closed, not closed); remaining autonomy of the cold storage device; telemetric data of the cold storage device.

[0009] In preferred embodiments, the cold storage device is a vaccine storage device configured to maintain its cold storage chamber at a température between +2°C and +8°C.

[0010] As used herein, the terni “ice-lined cold storage device” means a device configured to maintain its cold storage compartment within a controlled température range which is below the température of its surroundings based upon thermal insulation of the cold storage device and the provision of the ice lining which acts as a thermal capacitor to absorb heat from the cold storage compartment. Preferably, the ice lining is provided by one or more ice-packs. Such ice-packs are preferably filled with water; this allows the use of readily available materials, facilitâtes maintenance and replacement and allows the ice-lining to be provided by containers which can be filled locally rather than being transported ready-filled. Altematively, ice-lining may be water-based, for example comprising at least 70 wt%, at least 80 wt% or at least 90 wt% water.

[0011] The invention is particularly suitable for passive cold storage devices. As used herein, the term “passive cold storage device” means a cold storage device which does not comprise a réfrigération circuit, for example an electrically powered réfrigération circuit, and relies upon passive means, notably pre-frozen ice-packs and the thermal insulation cold storage device, to maintain its cold storage compartment within a controlled température. When in use to store vaccines or other products, for example during transport of vaccines from a health centre to an outreach program, such passive cold storage devices are not connected to an extemal electrical energy source such as a mains electricity supply or solar panels. Consequently, no extemal electrical energy source is available to power the data System or to recharge a data System battery.

[0012] Particularly where the ice-lined cold storage device is a passive cold storage device, the device may be a transport device configured to store products, particularly vaccines, during transport. The passive cold storage device may hâve:

- a cold storage compartment having a volume which is > 0.4 L and/or < 25L, for example between 0.5L and 2L, or between 2L and 10 L; and/or

- a holdover time at +32°C of at least 16 hours ; and/or

- a holdover time at +43 °C of at least 8 hours; and/or .

- cold life at +43 °C (without lid openings, up to +10°C) of at least 16 hours.

Such devices are particularly suitable for storing vaccines during transportation.

[0013] The invention is also suitable for regeneratively powered ice-lined cold storage devices. As used herein, the term “regeneratively powered cold storage device” means a cold storage device having an electrically power cooling circuit comprising a a compressor which is powered directly by solar panels or by a wind turbine, rather than being powered by connection to a mains electricity supply. Such a regeneratively powered, ice-lined cold storage device is preferably configured such that its electrically powered cooling circuit cools integrated ice-packs to form an ice-lining, so that, when the regenerative power is not available the pre-formed ice lining absorbs heat from its surroundings and contributes to maintaining the cold storage compartment within its desired température range. Preferably, the regeneratively powered cold storage device has a battery-free electrical cooling circuit, that is to say, an electrical cooling circuit which does not include a battery configured to provide power to a compresser of the cooling circuit (as opposed to a battery which provides power to a control circuit for controlling, for example, a compresser). This avoids issued associated with transport, replacement and disposai of such batteries.

[0014] Particularly for such a regeneratively powered, ice-lined cold storage device: a) the volume of the cold storage compartment may be > 15L and/or < 260L; this provides for storage or a suitable quantity of vaccines. It may be > 40L, > 50L or > 55L and/or < 1500, L < 100L, < 90L or < 85L; and/or

b) the hold over time of the cold storage device may be > 12 hours when tested with a surrounding température of 32°C and/or > 8 hours when tested with a surrounding température of43°C.

[0015] The ice-lining, notably for regeneratively powered ice-lined cold storage devices, preferably extends around at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of periphery of the cold storage compartment; this helps to ensure consistency of the température within the cold storage compartment.

[0016] The cold storage device may be provided with an inner liner which preferably forms a continuous barrier between the cold storage compartment and the ice-lining. The inner liner may comprise a thermally insulating layer, for example of foam. The inner liner contributes to the control of heat flow from the cold storage compartment to the ice-lining to avoid over-chilling the cold storage compartment and provides a physical séparation to avoid direct contact between vaccines and the ice-lining.

[0017] The data System is preferably integrated in the ice-lined cold storage device, that is to say is a permanent part of the cold storage device; this ensures its presence and use each time the cold storage device is used and avoids the risk of a non-integrated standalone System being lost oromitted. .

[0018] The data System preferably comprises:

- a transmitter configured to transmit data from the data System, notably from the data logger, to an extemal network; and/or

I

- a receiver configurée! to receive data transmitted by an extemal network, notably for controlling the electronic paper display.

Such transmission is preferably wireless transmission. Thus, the data System may be configured, for example:

a) to transmit information relating to the température of the cold storage device to an extemal computer System for remote monitoring; and/or

b) to receive data from a remote monitoring System, for example a waming message or instruction, for display on the electronic paper display.

[0019] The data System is preferably powered by a data System battery integrated in the cold storage device. The data System battery is preferably rechargeable, for example from the solar power source where the cold storage device is a regeneratively powered cold storage device or from an extemal power source, for example a mains electricity supply, to which, for example a passive cold storage device may be periodically connected for this purpose. The data System battery may be replaceable. A configuration in which the data System battery has an operating voltage in the range 4.5 to 6 volts (eg 5 volts) and/or a battery capacity in the range 500 to 3000 mAh allows use of fairly small, readily available types of battery which will not add significant weight.

[0020] A configuration in which the electronic paper display has a refresh power requirement in the range 5 to 100 mW and/or a standby power which is less than 1 mW and preferably less than 0.1 mW; this is helpful to reduce the amount of power used by the display. Preferably, the electronic paper display is configured for partial refresh, that is to say that a portion of the display can be refreshed without requiring the entire display to be refreshed. This reduc-es the power required to change data displayed at a portion of the display.

[0021] The data System may be configured to be switchable between a) a standard display mode in which the electronic paper display is periodically updated to display a plurality of updated data from the data System and b) and an energy saving display mode in which the electronic paper display displays only a selected portion of the said data. For example, the display may be configured such that:

i) in its standard display mode it displays a plurality of data, notably selected from: an internai température of the cold storage compartment; a température outside the cold storage device; remaining battery charge available to the data logger; remaining charge of a data System battery; one or more alarms; an indication of the status of a lid of the cold storage device (eg closed, not closed); remaining autonomy of the cold storage device; telemetric data of the cold storage device; and ii) in its energy saving display mode it displays only one or two items of data selected from: an internai température of the cold storage compartment; and one or more alarms. This allows a réduction in the amount of power required to change the display in the energy saving mode and thus ensures that more critical data is displayed.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ice-lined cold storage device with its lid open; and;

Fig 2 is a schematic perspective view of the ice-lined cold storage device with its lid closed.

[0023] Figs 1 and 2 illustration an ice-lined cold storage device 10, specifically a passive cold storage device for storing vaccines during transport. The vaccine storage device 10 comprises a body 11 and a lid 12 each of which hâve an outer, rigid plastics shell filled with thermal foam insulation. An interior of the body 11 of the vaccine coder 10 comprises a recess 13 for housing ice-packs 14, 15 and a cold storage compartment 16 in which vaccine vials (not shown) are stored for transport.

[0024] An integrated, electronic paper display 20 is provided in the top of the lid 12 as part of a data System of the vaccine cooler 10 for displaying, for example, the température of a température probe (not shown) positioned within the vaccine storage compartment 16 and/or one or more waming messages, for example a waming regarding a rate of increase of température within the cold storage compartment 16 and/or a waming message received by a data System of the vaccine carrier 10 from an extemal network.

[0025] An example of the above-described ice-lined cold storage device 10 was configured and successfully tested using a GDEM029T94 electronic paper display manufactured by Dalian Good Display Co., Ltd. and having the following characteristics:

Paper display type	Dot matrix; resolution 296 x 128
Full refresh	3 seconds; power consumption 9 mW
Partial refresh	0.3 seconds; power consumption 0.3 mW
Standby power consumption	0.0033 mW

[0026] List of reference numbers:

ice-lined cold storage device body lid recess ice-pack ice-pack vaccine storage compartment electronic paper display

Claims (11)

1 An ice-lined vaccine cold storage device (10) which is a passive cold storage device and which comprises:

- a cold storage compartment (16) arranged at an interior of the ice-lined cold storage device; and .

- an ice-lining (14,15) configured to absorb heat ffom the interior of the cold-storage device;

wherein the cold storage device further comprises a data System comprising:

- a température probe configured to measure a température in the cold storage compartment;

- a data logger configured to log the température of the cold storage compartment measured by the température probe; and

- a visual display (20), configured to display data from the data System; and wherein the visual display is an electronic paper display.

2 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with claim 1, in which the visual display (20) is powered by a data System battery, notably a data System battery having. an operating voltage which is in the range 4.5 to 6 volts and/or a capacity in the range 500 3000 mAh.

3 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the visual display (20) is configured to display data from the data System selected from: data from the température probe; data from and/or derived from the data logger; and data that has been transmitted to the data System.

4 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the electronic paper display (20) has a standby power which is less than 1 mW, preferably less than 0.1 mW.

5 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the data System comprises:

- a transmitter configured to transmit data, preferably wirelessly, from the data System, notably from the data logger, to an extemal network and/or

- a receiver configured to receive data transmitted, preferably wirelessly, by an extemal network, notably for controlling the electronic paper display.

_

6 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the data System comprises:

- a receiver confïgured to receive data transmitted, preferably wirelessly, by an extemal network;

- and in which the electronic display is confïgured to display data received by the received from the extemal network, notably wherein the electronic display is confïgured to display a waming message received by the receiver from the extemal network.

7 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the data System is confïgured to be switchable between a) a standard display mode in which the electronic paper display is periodically updated to display a plurality of updated data from the data System and b) an energy saving display mode in which the electronic paper display displays only a selected portion of the said data.

8 An ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with claim 7, in which

i) in its energy saving display mode the electronic paper display displays an amount of data which is limited to reduce the power consumption, notably partial refresh power consumption, of the electronic paper display, the data displayed in the energy saving display mode being selected from: an internai température of the cold storage compartment; one or more alarms and combinations thereof; and

i) in its standard display mode the electronic paper display displays a greater amount of data than in the energy display mode, the data displayed in the standard display mode being selected from: an internai température of the cold storage compartment; a température outside the cold storage device; remaining battery charge available to the data logger; remaining charge of a data System battery; one or more alarms; an indication of the status of a lid of the cold storage device; remaining autonomy of the cold storage device; telemetric data of the cold storage device; and combinations thereof.

9 A method of operating an ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim comprising displaying on the electronic paper display (20) of the cold storage device data selected from: data from the data System, notably a température of the cold storage compartment, and data transmitted to the cold storage device from an extemal network.

10 Use of an electronic paper display (20) integrated in an ice-lined cold storage device (10) in accordance with any preceding claim comprising:

- a cold storage compartment (16) arranged at an interior of the ice-lined cold storage device; and

- an ice-lining (14,15) configured to absorb heat from the interior of the cold-storage device; and

5 - a data System comprising: a température probe configured to measure a température in the cold storage compartment; a data logger configured to log the température of the cold storage compartment measured by the température probe; and the electronic paper display;

to display data selected from data from to the data System and data transmitted from an 10 extemal source.

11 Use of an electronic paper display (20) in accordance with claim 10, to display data from the data System and data transmitted from an extemal source.