Portable bio medical refrigerator for storing vaccines
Current vaccine storage devices focus more on stockpile rather than transit to increase efficiency. Thus, volunteer and Anganwadi workers still rely on coffee-thermos flasks with ice-cubes to deliver temperature sensitive vials like Oral Polio Vaccine. The patent propopses a method for creating a portable bio medical refrigerator for storing vaccines while also controlling and monitoring the temperaure conditions.
Technology startup company that seeks to improve the efficiency of immunization supply chains. They have developed a patented system for precision cold-chain and vaccine traceability - Emvólio, a portable, battery-powered refrigeration device that will strictly maintain any preset temperature for over 12 hours for last mile transport of vaccines.
<p><strong>Problem Statement:</strong></p>
<p>The system used for keeping and distributing vaccines in good condition is called the "cold chain". The cold chain consists of a series of storage and transport links, all of which are designed to keep the vaccine at the <strong>correct temperature</strong> until it reaches the recipient from the manufacturer.</p>
<p>Till they reach the district hospitals, the vaccines are transported in expensive freezers and kept in refrigerators. But from a community health centre to a primary health centre in turn to a sub-health centre and subsequently to the recipient in the field, the vials are moved in <strong>low-cost cold boxes</strong> or with the help of beverage thermos flasks with ice-packs in them. This is the stage where the vaccines <strong>lose 75-83% potency</strong> due to exposure to heat.</p>
<p><strong>Solution:</strong></p>
<p>A portable vaccine carrier is designed to properly store the vaccines and ensure minimum heat loss during the vial removal process. A constrained cooling chamber can be provided to maximize insulation efficiency. This vaccine carrier can be used in places where there is a scarcity of electricity.</p>
<p><em>The patent proposes a method to implement a temperature-controlled, portable bio-medical refrigerator for storing and transporting vaccines.</em></p>
<p><strong>Key takeaways</strong> of the patent:</p>
<p>1. A <strong>portable biomedical refrigerator</strong> for storing vaccines is provided. The <strong>temperature conditions</strong> within the refrigerator can be monitored and adjusted as per need.</p>
<p>2. A <strong>temperature sensing system</strong> for maintaining and monitoring the temperature inside the portable refrigerator is provided for the same.</p>
<p>3. A <strong>cloud monitoring system</strong> for communicating remotely with the portable refrigerator is also provided.</p>
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Portable bio medical refrigerator
FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the portable bio medical refrigerator (1).
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FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the portable bio medical refrigerator (1).
Vial (8) intended to store vaccine.
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Vial (8) intended to store vaccine.
<p><strong>FIG. 1</strong> shows a diagram of the portable bio medical refrigerator for storing vaccines.</p>
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Portable bio medical refrigerator (exploded view)
It consists of a casing (4), tray (3) mounted on top of cooling chamber (11), slot for biomedical waste (9) at the centre of the tray, and an air tight lid (5) on top.
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It consists of a casing (4), tray (3) mounted on top of cooling chamber (11), slot for biomedical waste (9) at the centre of the tray, and an air tight lid (5) on top.
It also consists of bottom casing (18), dispatch lever (2) opening into vial collection port (6), vial tray movement knob (16), LCD Display (10), Switch (17), battery (14), and electronics module (15) containing a GPS, GSM, sensors and PCB.
3
It also consists of bottom casing (18), dispatch lever (2) opening into vial collection port (6), vial tray movement knob (16), LCD Display (10), Switch (17), battery (14), and electronics module (15) containing a GPS, GSM, sensors and PCB.
FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the portable bio medical refrigerator.
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FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the portable bio medical refrigerator.
<p><strong>FIG. 2</strong> shows a diagram of the exploded view of the portable bio medical refrigerator as seen in @@h2.</p>
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Components of the device
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the connections of components inside the portable bio medical refrigerator.
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FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the connections of components inside the portable bio medical refrigerator.
<p><strong>FIG. 3</strong> shows a block diagram of the connections of components inside the portable bio medical refrigerator as seen in @@h3.</p>
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Cloud monitoring system
Temperature and position data is collected through the sensors and GPS module and processed through the microcontroller.
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Temperature and position data is collected through the sensors and GPS module and processed through the microcontroller.
The data in Cloud server is accessed by a Remote monitoring device and user receives status of the device.
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The data in Cloud server is accessed by a Remote monitoring device and user receives status of the device.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the cloud monitoring system.
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FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the cloud monitoring system.
The collected data is uploaded to the cloud through GSM Module.
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The collected data is uploaded to the cloud through GSM Module.
<p><strong>FIG. 4 </strong>shows a block diagram of the cloud monitoring system used to connect with the portable bio medical refrigerator.</p>
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Temperature sensing system
Temperature sensor senses the temperature and sends the continuous data to the microcontroller.
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Temperature sensor senses the temperature and sends the continuous data to the microcontroller.
If the temperature lies between 2 degree Celsius to 8 degree Celsius, then the Peltier cooling is turned OFF, else Peltier cooling is turned ON.
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If the temperature lies between 2 degree Celsius to 8 degree Celsius, then the Peltier cooling is turned OFF, else Peltier cooling is turned ON.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the temperature sensing system.
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FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the temperature sensing system.
<p><strong>FIG. 5</strong> shows a flowchart of the temperature sensing system implemented within the bio medical refrigerator.</p>
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Understanding the claims
<p><strong>Primary claim</strong> of the patent:</p>
<p>1. A portable bio medical refrigerator (1) and system thereof comprising: ( @@h2 and @@h3 )</p>
<p>- a cooling chamber (11), a tray for holding the vials (3), a casing (4) to house the same, a lid (5) on top for covering and loading the vials (8) in the cooling chamber (11) and a slot for other biomedical waste products such as syringes and used vials. ( @@h3 )</p>
<p>- a bottom casing (18) wherein it houses a vial collection port (6), cooling unit (12), vial tray movement knob (16), LCD display (10), switch (17), battery (14), and electronics module (15) characterized in that GPS, GSM, a temperature sensing unit ( @@h6 ), a cloud monitoring unit ( @@h5 ), microcontroller and communication module and dispatch lever coupled with vial tray movement knob (16), ( @@h3 )</p>
<p>- a strap (7) attached to the bottom casing (18) for holding the portable bio medical refrigerator (1) on the shoulder by the user ( @@h3 ). </p>
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