Temperature controlling apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a controlled temperature environment for an extended period of time. The apparatus comprises a thermal chamber for holding a heat exchange substance, the heat exchange substance having a reservoir temperature, and one or more storage chambers for holding a storage specimen, wherein the storage chambers are in thermal communication with the thermal chamber through one or more insulation element, such that when the thermal chamber is holding a heat exchange substance, each of the storage chambers maintain a range of predetermined storage temperature that is between the reservoir temperature and the ambient temperature.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for providing a controlled temperature environment different from the ambient temperature of the ambient environment in which it is located, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a thermal chamber for holding a thermal exchange substance serving as either a heat sink reservoir or a heat source reservoir and having a reservoir temperature;    (b) at least one insulation element substantially surrounding the thermal chamber and insulating the thermal chamber from the ambient environment; and    (c) at least one storage chamber located between the thermal chamber and the ambient environment along the heat transfer path between the thermal chamber and the ambient environment,    wherein the at least one storage chamber is in thermal communication with the thermal chamber through the at least one insulation element, such that when the thermal chamber contains the thermal exchange substance, at least one of the storage chamber maintains a storage temperature which is between the reservoir temperature and the ambient temperature.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir temperature is substantially lower than the ambient temperature.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation element comprises more than one material.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a second storage chamber and wherein the second storage chamber maintains a second range of predetermined storage temperature different than the range of predetermined storage temperature maintained by the first storage chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the thermal exchange substance is selected from at least one of the group consisting of liquid nitrogen, dry ice, ice-water, blue ice, and chemicals producing an endothermic reaction, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal exchange substance is selected to maintain the range of predetermined storage temperature that is selected from a temperature range of between −196 deg. C and the ambient temperature.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage chambers are provided within a lid and the lid is configured to close the thermal chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir temperature is substantially higher than the ambient temperature.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal exchange substance is selected from at least one of the group consisting of water, various oleic and non-oleic liquids having a boiling temperature higher than that of water, including oleic acids, mineral oils, ethylene glycol, and chemicals producing an exothermic reaction, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal exchange substance is selected to maintain the range of predetermined storage temperature that is selected from a temperature range of between the ambient temperature and 100 deg. C.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation element comprises a vacuum condition.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the storage chamber is designed and configured to maintain a range of predetermined storage temperature between −20 deg. C and +4 deg. C.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber is designed and configured to maintain a range of predetermined storage temperature between 90 deg. C and 100 deg. C.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including an outer shell substantially surrounding the at least one insulation element.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container is designed and configured to maintain the range of predetermined storage temperature for an extended period of time.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber is movable within the at least one insulation element by manipulating from outside the container.  
     
     
         17 . An insulated container for providing a controlled temperature environment different than the ambient temperature in which the container is located, the container comprising: 
 (a) a main body having at least one side wall, a bottom end, and an open top end;    (b) a thermal chamber located centrally within the main body for holding a heat exchange substance having a reservoir temperature,    (c) at least one insulation element provided between the thermal chamber and the exterior surface of the main body, where the insulation element provides substantially equal insulation between the thermal chamber and the container's exterior surface;    (d) a lid for covering the open top end, wherein the lid is formed of at least one insulation element such that when the lid is closed, the thermal chamber is insulated substantially equally on all sides;    (e) at least one storage chamber provided between the thermal chamber and the container's exterior surface; and    (f) one or more sealing plugs provided on the lid for sealing the thermal chamber and the one or more storage chambers, wherein the at least one storage chamber is located at a predefined location between the thermal chamber and the container's exterior surface such that the at least one storage chamber maintains a range of predetermined storage temperature that is between the reservoir temperature and the ambient temperature.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one insulation element comprises more than one material.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the thermal conductivities of the different insulation elements are different from one another.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a second storage chamber wherein the storage chamber maintains a second range of predetermined storage temperature different than the range of predetermined storage temperature maintained by the first storage chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the storage chambers are provided within the lid wherein the lid is configured to cover the thermal chamber.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the insulation element comprises a vacuum condition.  
     
     
         23 . A method of protecting a specimen from the ambient temperature, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a container having a main body, at least one side wall, a bottom end, and an open top end;    (b) providing a thermal chamber located centrally within the main body for holding a thermal exchange substance having a reservoir temperature which is substantially different than ambient temperature;    (c) substantially surrounding the thermal chamber with at least one insulation element so that the insulation element provides substantially equal insulation between the thermal chamber and the container's exterior surface; and    (d) providing at least one storage chamber at a predetermined location between the thermal chamber and the container's exterior surface to hold the specimen, such that the storage chamber is in thermal communication with the thermal chamber through the at least one insulation element such that the storage chamber maintains a range of predetermined storage temperature which is between the reservoir temperature and the ambient temperature.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of placing the specimen in the storage chamber.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the specimen is a biological sample.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for providing a controlled temperature environment different from the ambient temperature of the ambient environment in which it is located, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a thermal chamber centrally located within the container for holding a thermal exchange substance serving as either a heat sink reservoir or a heat source reservoir and having a reservoir temperature;    (b) at least one insulation element substantially surrounding the thermal chamber on all sides and insulating the thermal chamber from the ambient environment; and    (c) at least one storage chamber located between the thermal chamber and the ambient environment along a heat transfer path between the thermal chamber and the ambient environment,    wherein the at least one storage chamber is in thermal communication with the thermal chamber through the insulation element, such that when the thermal chamber contains the thermal exchange substance, at least one of the storage chamber maintains a range of predetermined storage temperature which is between the reservoir temperature and the ambient temperature.