COLD CHAIN ​​CONTROL INDICATOR.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif permettant de contrôler que des produits devant être maintenus à une température inférieure à 0degré C. n'ont pas subi d'élévation de température momentanée au-delà d'un seuil fixé, entre le moment où ils ont été mis au froid et celui de leur utilisation. Le dispositif est constitué d'une pochette en matière plastique transparente étanche contenant un produit détecteur colorimétrique d'humidité et une ampoule de verre remplie d'un liquide ayant des propriétés antigel ou d'un mélange d'eau et de liquide antigel. C'est le dosage du mélange eau / antigel qui permet de déterminer la température à laquelle le témoin de contrôle doit virer. Le dispositif selon l'invention est particulièrement destiné à contrôler le respect de la chaîne du froid pour des produits tels que les surgelés alimentaires ou certaines spécialités pharmaceutiques.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for checking that a product, stored at a temperature below 0°C, has not, at any time, undergone a temperature rise beyond a fixed threshold. Many products, such as frozen foods or certain pharmaceutical specialties, can spoil if they are not subject to strict adherence to the cold chain between the time of freezing and the time of use. The device consists of a transparent plastic pouch with heat-sealed edges to make it waterproof. Inside, the following were introduced beforehand: a) a few grams of a solid substance possessing the qualities of a colorimetric humidity detector (powder or crystals). For example, vanadium pentoxide, when impregnated onto a silica gel with controlled calcination of this complex, changes from colorless to garnet red upon contact with water. b) a glass bulb completely filled with a liquid having antifreeze properties. For example, alcohol which solidifies at a temperature of -1120°C. The precise ratio of antifreeze liquid to water will determine the precise solidification and melting temperature of the mixture. The device is placed as a control on the product at the time of its chilling (conaelation or deep freezing). The liquid inside the glass bulb will turn into ice when it reaches its freezing point. The glass bulb will then break due to the expansion. As long as the product and its indicator are kept below the melting point of the antifreeze / water mixture, nothing happens because the ice protected by the broken bulb has no effect on the colorimetric humidity sensor. The indicator remains at its original color. If the product and its indicator are brought to a temperature above the melting point of the antifreeze / water mixture, the ice inside the breakable bulb begins to melt: the liquid comes into contact with the colorimetric humidity detector. The indicator changes color. 3. Therefore, a new exposure to cold, even above the point of solidification of the mixture, cannot in any way change the color of the control, which remains irreversibly changed.

Claims

EVEIsDICATIOtiTS 1) Device for checking that products which must be kept at a temperature below 0°C have not undergone a momentary temperature rise beyond a fixed threshold, in that it consists of a sealed transparent plastic pouch into which a colorimetric humidity detector and a glass bulb containing a liquid with antifreeze properties have been previously introduced. 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the temperature at which the control indicator reacts can be precisely fixed by the user using a pure antifreeze liquid whose solidification and melting temperature is known. 3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the temperature at which the control indicator reacts can be precisely fixed by the user using a mixture of antifreeze liquid and water, the dosage of which determines the solidification and melting temperature.