Biological Shipment Packaging With Phase-Change Cooling Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temperature-control systems for shipping temperature-sensitive biological products are inefficient in maintaining required temperature ranges during varying ambient conditions, often leading to temperature excursions and increased costs due to overuse of refrigerants.
Innovation Solution
A database-driven system selects the appropriate combination of insulated containers, phase change materials, and temperature control agents based on predicted or worst-case ambient temperature ranges and shipment times, using algorithms to optimize the selection and minimize costs, while monitoring systems verify and adjust temperature conditions during shipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If refrigerant materials are used to maintain temperature during shipment, then temperature control is achieved, but costs increase due to overuse of refrigerants
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting ambient temperature ranges and shipment durations before the actual shipment occurs. This allows pre-selection of the optimal combination of insulated container and phase change material quantity, preventing overuse of refrigerants while ensuring adequate temperature control from the start of the shipment process
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by using monitoring devices that automatically track actual ambient temperatures and shipment durations during transit. This real-time data feeds back to verify predictions and automatically adjust future selections, allowing the system to optimize refrigerant usage without continuous human intervention
2Reliability
If combinations of insulated containers and phase change materials are selected to match shipment conditions, then temperature control reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by creating a multi-functional platform that combines prediction algorithms, database storage, monitoring devices, and selection logic into a single integrated system. This universal system can handle various biological products, different ambient conditions, and multiple shipment durations without requiring separate specialized systems for each scenario
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complexity through parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the selection of insulated container and phase change material combinations based on varying parameters such as predicted ambient temperature ranges, shipment duration, and product-specific temperature requirements. This allows the system to optimize for reliability under different conditions without requiring a completely different system for each scenario
3Measurement precision
If monitoring systems are used to verify temperature conditions during shipment, then temperature control precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using monitoring devices that continuously measure actual ambient temperatures and shipment durations during transit. This measured data is fed back to verify the accuracy of predictions and is used to automatically adjust future temperature control selections, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through automated feedback loops rather than complex manual control systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively maintains product temperatures within specified ranges, reduces refrigerant usage, and lowers shipping costs by optimizing the selection of temperature-control systems and allowing for real-time adjustments to ensure product viability during transit.
Implementation Method 1
Phase change materials are defined herein as materials which may be repeatedly converted between solid and liquid phases and utilize their latent heats of fusion to absorb, store and release energy to heat or cool during such phase conversions
Implementation Method 2
The temperature-control agents are generally phase change materials, ice, gel packs, or dry ice
Implementation Method 3
insulated containers in combination with temperature-control agents
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a process of selecting of a container and temperature-control system, such that biological products (including blood) requiring maintenance within a specified range of temperatures are so maintained during shipment. The process requires a prediction of the maximum period of shipment, and the predicted ambient temperature ranges and time of exposure thereto for the system during the period of shipment. With that information, a system of container(s) with temperature-control agents including dry ice, ice, frozen gel packs or a phase change material, is selected.