Device for secure, refrigerated storage of medicines

Abstract

A secure refrigerated storage unit is provided. The lockable refrigerated medical storage unit (e.g. refrigerator) is used for the storage of medicines, vaccines or other valuable products that must be stored in the cold. The unit is equipped with compartments with individual temperature and content (e.g. weight) sensors, and the unit is connected to a computerized controller so that the temperature, contents and status (e.g. locked or unlocked) can be continually monitored and tracked. The internal temperature of the compartments is kept constant due to ventilation provided by strategically placed perforations in the compartments and shelves on which they are placed.

1 . A storage unit, comprising
 i) a cabinet;   ii) a first door comprising at least one first reversible locking system and at least one first actuator configured to send and receive electronic signals from a controller, wherein the at least one first actuator controls the at least one first reversible locking system;   iii) at least one refrigerated storage section comprising:
 at least one ventilated shelf or at least one ventilated drawer, and 
 at least one ventilated compartment configured to be positioned on the at least one ventilated shelf or in the at least one ventilated drawer, 
 wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one second reversible locking system and at least one second actuator configured to send and receive electronic signals from the controller, wherein at least one second actuator controls the at least one second reversible locking system; 
   iv) at least one sensor in the at least one ventilated compartment operably linked to or linkable to a controller. and   v) a non-refrigerated section for housing electrical and mechanical components.   
     
     
         2 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor, a weight sensor or a content sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The storage unit of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor operably linked to the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerated storage section comprises a second door comprising at least one third reversible locking system and at least one third actuator configured to send and receive electronic signals from the controller, wherein the at least one third actuator controls the at least one third reversible locking system. 
     
     
         5 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises a lighting system which indicates when the at least one ventilated compartment is locked or unlocked. 
     
     
         6 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one indicator light which indicates information pertaining to contents of the compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The storage unit of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment of the refrigerated storage section includes a plurality of ventilated compartments, and wherein the refrigerated storage section is configured to maintain different compartments at within a specified temperature range. 
     
     
         8 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one chimney, wherein walls of the chimney extend from an opening in the floor of the at least one ventilated compartment and form an opening into the at least one ventilated compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The storage unit of  claim 1  wherein the ventilation is provided via raised slots which provide airflow and prevent the flow of liquid from the compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment is ventilated from the bottom by
 first ventilation openings in a bottom of the at least one ventilated compartment, second ventilation openings in the at least one ventilated shelf or in the at least one ventilated drawer,
 wherein the first and second ventilation openings align when the at least one ventilated compartment is supported by the at least one ventilated shelf or in the at least one ventilated drawer such that solid portions of the bottom of the at least one ventilated compartment and solid portions of the at least one ventilated shelf or the at least one ventilated drawer do not occlude either the first or second ventilation openings. 
   
     
     
         11 . A storage unit, comprising
 i) a cabinet;   ii) a first door comprising at least one first reversible locking system and at least one first actuator configured to send and receive electronic signals from a controller, wherein the at least one first actuator controls the at least one first reversible locking system;   iii) at least one refrigerated storage section comprising:
 at least one ventilated shelf or at least one ventilated drawer, and 
 at least one ventilated compartment configured to be positioned on the at least one ventilated shelf, or in the at least one ventilated drawer 
 wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one second reversible locking system and at least one second actuator configured to send and receive electronic signals from the controller, wherein at least one second actuator controls the at least one second reversible locking system; 
   and wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one temperature sensor operably linked to or linkable to a controller positioned in the cabinet; and   iv) a non-refrigerated section for housing electrical and mechanical components.   
     
     
         12 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises one or both of a weight sensor and a content sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerated storage section comprises a second door comprising at least one third reversible locking system and at least one third actuator configured to send and receive electronic signals from the controller, wherein the at least one third actuator controls the at least one third reversible locking system. 
     
     
         14 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises a lighting system which indicates when the at least one ventilated compartment is locked or unlocked. 
     
     
         15 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one indicator light which indicates information pertaining to contents of the compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment of the refrigerated storage section includes a plurality of ventilated compartments, and wherein the refrigerated storage section is configured to maintain different compartments at different temperatures. 
     
     
         17 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment comprises at least one chimney, wherein walls of the chimney extend from an opening in the floor of the at least one ventilated compartment and form an opening into the at least one ventilated compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The storage unit of  claim 11  wherein ventilation is provided via raised slots which provide airflow and prevent the flow of liquid from the compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The storage unit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one ventilated compartment is ventilated from the bottom by
 first ventilation openings in a bottom of the at least one ventilated compartment, second ventilation openings in the at least one ventilated shelf or in the at least one ventilated drawer,
 wherein the first and second ventilation openings align when the at least one ventilated compartment is supported by the at least one ventilated shelf or in the at least one ventilated drawer such that solid portions of the bottom of the at least one ventilated compartment and solid portions of the at least one ventilated shelf or the at least one ventilated drawer do not occlude either the first or second ventilation openings. 
   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising
 a storage unit of  claim 1  operably connected to a control station located remotely from the storage unit.   
     
     
         21 . A method of storing a material that is temperature sensitive, comprising
 placing the material in a ventilated compartment of the storage unit of  claim 1 .