Portable medical container with active temperature control

Abstract

A temperature-controlled portable container for carrying an injector is provided. The temperature-controlled portable container includes an outer container and an inner container disposed within the outer container. The injector is stored within the inner container, and the inner container is constructed of a thermally conductive material. The temperature-controlled portable container also includes a temperature control device, which maintains an inner container temperature above a first predetermined temperature and below a second predetermined temperature, where the second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature. The temperature-controlled portable container also includes a processor subsystem and a portable power source. The portable power source is coupled to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem, and provides power to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem.

1 . A temperature-controlled portable container for carrying an injector, comprising:
 an outer container;   an inner container, disposed within the outer container, wherein the injector is stored within the inner container, wherein the inner container is constructed of a thermally conductive material;   a temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device maintains an inner container temperature above a first predetermined temperature and below a second predetermined temperature, wherein the second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature;   a processor subsystem; and   a portable power source, coupled to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem, wherein the portable power source provides power to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container comprises:
 a main body, disposed lengthwise, wherein the main body has a first end and a second end, wherein the main body is thermally insulated from the inner container;   a cap, wherein the cap attaches to the first end of the main body, wherein the cap retains the injector in the inner container when the cap is attached to the main body; and   a heat exchanger, fixedly attached to the second end of the main body, wherein the heat exchanger provides thermal conduction between ambient air and the temperature control device.   
     
     
         3 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 2 , the temperature control device comprising:
 a thermoelectric element,   wherein the thermoelectric element conveys thermal energy from the inner container to the outer container when the inner container is above the second predetermined temperature, wherein the thermoelectric element conveys thermal energy from the outer container to the inner container when the inner container is below the first predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 3 , the temperature control device further comprising:
 a solenoid, wherein the processor subsystem is coupled to the solenoid;   a thermally conductive plug, wherein the thermally conductive plug is mechanically coupled to the solenoid; and   wherein the thermally conductive plug provides thermal conduction between the inner container and the thermoelectric element when the solenoid is activated, wherein the thermally conductive plug does not provide thermal conduction between the inner container and the thermoelectric element when the solenoid is inactivated, wherein the processor subsystem activates the solenoid when the inner container temperature is below the first predetermined temperature or above the second predetermined temperature, wherein the processor subsystem inactivates the solenoid when the inner container temperature is above the first predetermined temperature and below the second predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 4 , wherein the processor subsystem comprises:
 a processor;   a memory, coupled to the processor, wherein the first and second predetermined temperatures are stored in the memory; and   a temperature sensor, coupled to the processor and the inner container, wherein the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the inner container.   
     
     
         6 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 5 , the outer container further comprising:
 a display, coupled to the processor, wherein the display provides visual indication to an operator of at least one of ambient air temperature, inner container temperature, portable power source level, and time remaining to maintain the inner container above the first predetermined temperature and below the second predetermined temperature based on the portable power source level, wherein the portable power source provides power to the display.   
     
     
         7 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 6 , the outer container further comprising:
 a plurality of pushbuttons, coupled to the processor, wherein a user changes at least one of the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature with the plurality of pushbuttons.   
     
     
         8 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 1 , wherein the portable power source comprises:
 a power generator, wherein the power generator generates power when the temperature-controlled portable container is in contact with an operator; and   a power distribution circuit, coupled to the power generator, wherein the power distribution circuit provides power to the processor subsystem and the temperature control device from the power generator.   
     
     
         9 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 1 , wherein the portable power source comprises:
 a renewable energy source; and   a power distribution circuit, coupled to the renewable energy source, wherein the power distribution circuit provides power to the temperature-controlled portable container from the renewable energy source.   
     
     
         10 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 1 , wherein the portable power source comprises:
 a battery; and   a power distribution circuit, coupled to the battery, wherein the power distribution circuit provides power to the temperature-controlled portable container from the battery.   
     
     
         11 . The temperature-controlled portable container of  claim 10 , wherein the battery is rechargeable and the portable power source further comprises:
 a battery charging circuit, coupled to the battery and the power distribution circuit; and   a connector, coupled to the battery charging circuit,   wherein a power source external to the outer container plugs into the connector, wherein the battery charging circuit recharges the battery and provides power to the power distribution circuit from the external power source when the external power source is plugged into the connector, wherein the battery charging circuit provides power from the battery to the power distribution circuit when the external power source is not plugged into the connector.   
     
     
         12 . A method for maintaining an injector temperature in a temperature-controlled portable container, comprising:
 measuring a temperature of an inner container, wherein the inner container is disposed within an outer container of the temperature-controlled portable container;   in response to measuring the temperature of the inner container:
 if the temperature of the inner container is below a first predetermined temperature, then conveying thermal energy from an outer container of the temperature-controlled portable container to the inner container; 
 if the temperature of the inner container is above the first predetermined temperature and below a second predetermined temperature, then not conveying thermal energy between the outer container and the inner container, wherein the first predetermined temperature is below the second predetermined temperature; and 
 if the temperature of the inner container is above the second predetermined temperature, then conveying thermal energy from the inner container to the outer container. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein measuring the temperature of the inner container comprises a processor subsystem reading a temperature sensor affixed to the inner container, wherein the processor subsystem is coupled to the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein conveying thermal energy comprises:
 biasing a thermoelectric element by the processor subsystem, wherein the thermoelectric element is electrically coupled to the processor subsystem and mechanically coupled to the outer container;   activating a solenoid by the processor subsystem, to move a thermally conductive plug into a position to conduct thermal energy between the inner container and the thermoelectric element.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the processor subsystem comprises:
 a processor;   a memory, coupled to the processor, wherein the first and second predetermined temperatures are stored in the memory; and   a display, coupled to the processor, wherein the display provides visual indication to an operator of at least one of ambient air temperature, inner container temperature, portable power source level, and time remaining to maintain the inner container above the first predetermined temperature and below the second predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the processor subsystem further comprising:
 a plurality of pushbuttons, wherein a user changes at least one of the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature with the plurality of pushbuttons.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a portable power source within the temperature-controlled portable container provides power to the processor subsystem, the solenoid, and the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portable power source is a rechargeable battery, and the portable power source further comprises:
 a battery charging circuit, coupled to the battery; and   a connector, coupled to the battery charging circuit,   wherein a power source external to the outer container plugs into the connector, wherein the battery charging circuit recharges the battery and provides power to the temperature-controlled portable container from the external power source when the external power source is plugged into the connector, wherein the battery charging circuit provides power from the battery to the temperature-controlled portable container when the external power source is not plugged into the connector.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portable power source is a power generator, wherein the power generator generates power when the temperature-controlled portable container is in contact with an operator. 
     
     
         20 . A temperature-controlled portable container for carrying an injector, comprising:
 an outer container;   an inner container, disposed within the outer container, wherein the injector is stored within the inner container, wherein the inner container is constructed of a thermally conductive material;   a temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device maintains an inner container temperature below a predetermined temperature;   a processor subsystem; and   a portable power source, coupled to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem, wherein the portable power source provides power to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem,   wherein the processor subsystem measures the inner container temperature, and in response to measuring the inner container temperature:
 the processor subsystem enables the temperature control device to conduct thermal energy from the inner container to the outer container if the inner container temperature is above the predetermined temperature, and 
 the processor subsystem prevents the temperature control device from conducting thermal energy between the inner container to the outer container if the inner container temperature is below the predetermined temperature.