Thermal envelope

Details Thermal envelope Thermal envelope

2000-04-13

2001-06-19

Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)

Refrigeration

Cooled enclosure

Portable receptacle

C062S371000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247329

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to thermally insulating envelopes and particularly to an envelope which cools or heats medical samples placed therein and maintains a temperature thereof for a predetermined period of time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medical samples, such as blood, urine or other exudates, are often taken from a patient at a clinic or doctor's office and then sent to a laboratory elsewhere for analysis. The sample is sometimes chilled or even frozen before being sent for analysis. Other times it is imperative to maintain the sample at room temperature. Thus it is desirable to maintain the temperature of the sample, be it room or sub-room temperature, while in transit to the laboratory until the time of analysis.
Although many insulating devices are well known, ranging from insulated boxes to insulated flasks, it is desirable to provide an inexpensive device for maintaining the temperature of medical samples for a predetermined period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved envelope which cools or heats medical samples placed therein and maintains a temperature thereof for a predetermined period of time. Specifically the present invention provides a novel method for sending a medical sample, such as a blood sample, from a sampling site to a laboratory for analysis thereof. The invention may be particularly useful for sending samples from one location in a hospital to another.
The envelope of the present invention preferably has an inner lining of an insulating material and another inner lining of a freezable material. The envelope is precooled to a temperature typically in the range of −5° C. to 20° C. Alternatively the envelope may be pre-heated if it is desired to maintain the sample at a warm temperature. The medical sample is then simply placed in the envelope and sent to the laboratory. The envelope of the present invention differs from the prior art in that it is designed to maintain the temperature of the sample in the abovementioned temperature range for only a short period of time, such as from 0.5-7 hours. This eliminates the need for expensive insulating devices which are an “over-kill ” solution, and provides a simple and inexpensive solution to the problem of sending the sample to the laboratory while maintaining the desired temperature.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a thermal envelope including a pouch and a flap that closes the pouch, and a thermal capacitance material that lines the pouch, wherein the thermal capacitance material has an initial temperature in a temperature range of −5° C. to 20° C., characterized by the thermal capacitance material having a thermal capacitance that maintains a temperature of the medical sample placed in the pouch within the temperature range during a period of time not more than 7 hours from the time the medical sample was placed in the pouch.
Alternatively the insulating material maintains the temperature of the medical sample within the temperature range during a period of time not more than 0.5-7 hours from the time the medical sample was placed in the pouch.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the thermal envelope also includes a liner of an insulating material between the thermal capacitance material and an inner surface of the pouch.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the thermal capacitance material is selected from the group consisting of water, a gel having a high water content, a polyvinyl alcohol, and a water-soluble organic compound. Preferably the thermal capacitance material is freezable and the envelope is heatable in a microwave oven.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for sending a medical sample from a sampling site to a laboratory including maintaining a thermal envelope, at a predetermined temperature range different from room temperature, the thermal envelope having a pouch and a flap that closes the pouch, placing a medical sample in the thermal envelope, the envelope maintaining the sample within the temperature range for a predetermined time; and sending the sample to a laboratory. The sample may be maintained in a temperature range of−5° C. to 20° C., for example, or 40° C. to 50° C., as another example.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5022521 (1991-06-01), Kane
patent: 5069208 (1991-12-01), Noppel et al.
patent: 5361603 (1994-11-01), Merritt-Munson
patent: 5840080 (1998-11-01), Der Ovanesian
patent: 5865314 (1999-02-01), Jacober
patent: 1495366 (1977-12-01), None

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