Medical Storage Case with Remote Unlocking Refrigerator with thermal Spoilage Protection

Abstract

A controlled access pharmaceutical storage case has storage spaces arranged vertically one above the other and a pharmaceutical refrigerator located at its base. A remotely actuable refrigerator door lock on the refrigerator door has a data port connecting with a programmed electronic control arrangement, e.g., a computer or network. The refrigerator has a compressor at the top of the case that operates on line AC or on battery DC backup power. A battery backup arrangement is located at the top of the case. When AC is detected to be absent or insufficient, i.e., during general or localized power failure, the refrigerator operates on battery, and the door lock is prevented from unlocking. Internal temperature and humidity levels are tracked and sent at intervals to a predetermined destination for action.

Description

[0001]This is a Continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 470,541, filed May 22, 2009, which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 391,986, filed Mar. 29, 2006, now abandoned. Applicant also claims priority of co-pending applications Ser. No. 11 / 653,726, Jan. 16, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,728,711, and Ser. No. 11 / 800,937, May 8, 2007, pending. The contents thereof are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to an electronically accessible locked storage cabinet for storing consumable items for patient care, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention is more particularly concerned with a storage cabinet or case that incorporates a pharmaceutical refrigerator for storing certain sensitive drugs that are considered perishable and need to be kept refrigerated and not exposed to temperatures outside an optimal temperature range. The invention is also directed to a cabinet with an incorpor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a pharmaceutical cabinet with storage compartments or drawers for non-refrigerated drugs and other items. The cabinet has a vertical frame with a base and top, and a pharmaceutical refrigerator installed in the frame. The refrigerator has a door lock that can be opened remotely, and a power back-up system to prevent the refrigerator from shutting down during power outages. The cabinet also has a battery-powered electronic door lock that can be opened during power outages or when the refrigerator is unplugged. The battery-powered system allows for unlocking the refrigerator during power failures or other situations where the refrigerator may be needed. The cabinet also has a temperature monitoring system to maintain a real-time log of temperature changes."

Problems solved by technology

However, those drugs that need refrigeration cannot simply be stored in a conventional secured room-temperature dispensing cabinet, but have to be kept in a refrigerator until needed.

There is also no means provided to ensure that the refrigerator is kept locked, to alarm if the refrigerator is left open or unlocked, or to monitor the refrigerator's operating temperature or the humidity within the refrigerator cabinet.

An additional problem is that many pharmaceuticals, including many used for oncology, are of extreme high value, and that the value of the drugs contained in a single pharmaceutical refrigerator may exceed two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

In that case, a power failure to the refrigerator may result in a devastating financial loss to the hospital or other health care institution.

Because of holiday staffing during long weekend periods, the status of a given pharmaceutical refrigerator may be unknown, and this risk from a power failure can be quite significant.

However, because the rise in temperature can occur before pharmacy personnel can take action to halt distribution or to salvage the high-value pharmaceuticals, there is still a large risk that the medications may become unsafe and not usable, and that some may be administered to patients.

However, systems that are currently available cannot carry out all these functions.

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