Controlled temperature cabinet system and method

Abstract

A temperature controlled cabinet system and method enables medical items associated with particular temperature ranges to be stored and maintained within the associated temperature ranges in cabinets disposed within ambulances and other medical vehicles. The system includes a temperature sensor for measuring the cabinet interior temperature, a controller assembly for controlling system operation and two head pumps disposed in the cabinet walls to heat or cool the cabinet interior. Alternatively, a single head pump may be utilized to heat or cool the cabinet interior. The controller assembly includes a control console for displaying the actual cabinet temperature and entering a desired temperature range into the system. The heat pumps include a pair of heat sinks disposed about a thermoelectric device (e.g., a Peltier chip) that heats one heat sink, while cooling the other heat sink based on voltage polarity or current flow direction applied to the device. The system controls voltage polarity applied to the thermoelectric device to enable the heat pumps to heat or cool the cabinet interior in response to a comparison of the measured temperature with the desired temperature range. The system utilizes D.C. power from the vehicle electrical system, and may be installed in new cabinets or retrofit into previously disposed cabinets lacking temperature control capability.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention pertains to a temperature control system for installation within cabinets to control temperature within those cabinets. In particular, the present invention pertains to a temperature control system for installation within cabinets of ambulances or other medical vehicles to maintain cabinet interiors at appropriate temperatures for storing drugs and / or intravenous (i.e., I.V.) solution.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Ambulances and other medical vehicles typically include cabinets to store medical items, such as drugs or intravenous (I.V.) solution, for use by medical personnel. Generally, drugs and I.V. solution are required to be maintained at specific temperatures. In particular, I.V. solution, typically contained within I.V. bags, needs to be maintained at approximately body temperature in order to avoid thermal shock and injury to a patient. Similarly, certain drugs are required to be maint...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a temperature control system for medical vehicles that uses solid state thermoelectric heat pumps to maintain the temperature of medical items within a cabinet or other storage structure. The system includes a controller assembly with a display and user interface devices, such as buttons and a power switch, and a programmable digital controller that sends control signals to the heat pumps based on the temperature sensor. The system can cool or warm drugs and I.V. solutions to their manufacturers recommended storage temperatures. The heat pumps have no moving parts, except for fans, which makes them reliable and efficient. The system can be installed in existing vehicles or retrofitted into existing cabins. The technical effects of the invention include maintaining a constant desired temperature within a medical vehicle cabinet, protecting medical items from damage due to extreme temperatures, and ensuring the safety and reliability of the medical vehicle's temperature control system."

Problems solved by technology

However, existing cabinets utilized in ambulance and other medical vehicles typically do not provide a temperature controlled environment, but rather merely store medical items.

Thus, drugs or I.V. solutions that are initially thermally treated to have temperatures within their appropriate utilization temperature range may quickly attain temperatures outside that range when stored in cabinets lacking temperature control capability, thereby risking injury to the patient.

Although temperature controlled cabinets may exist in other contexts, those cabinets typically require A.C. (i.e., alternating current) voltage to maintain the cabinet interior at a desired temperature and are not suited for use within ambulances or other medical vehicles since only D.C. (i.e., direct current) voltage is available in these vehicles.

Further, there is no provision for incorporating temperature control capability into cabinets previously disposed in ambulances and other medical vehicles.

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