Abstract: The invention relates to a smart thermal insulation box, including thermally insulated layers with mitered edges forming a thermally insulated space, and said space surrounded by cardboard material. The box has externally viewable and operable temperature and humidity sensors, where the sensors are preferably fixed inside the box to one side. The temperature monitoring system monitors temperature of the insulated space and facilitates delivery of refrigerant into it through a refrigerant delivery system when the temperature of insulated space exceeds a set value. One of the cardboard panels forming the top of the box which overlays the insulation layer has a window configured to overlay the display panel. An audible alert system may also be included to alert users to temperature or humidity excursions.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container (100) substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network of participants connected through a website and thereby forming a virtual cold chain, and wherein the participants can make proposals and/or bids to shipment owners, shippers, receivers, and customers, to provide services or products to keep the shipment at desired conditions (especially, temperature conditions) during a period of the remaining shipment. The shipment can be monitored en route by agents acting for the website or by either the same participants making proposals, or other participants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.

Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container (100) substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container (100) substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of selecting of a container and temperature-control system, such that biological products (including blood) requiring maintenance within a specified range of temperatures are so maintained during shipment. The process requires a prediction of the maximum period of shipment, and the predicted ambient temperature ranges and time of exposure thereto for the system during the period of shipment. With that information, a system of container(s) with temperature-control agents including dry ice, ice, frozen gel packs or a phase change material, is selected.

Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol, 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having, a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container (100) substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change.

Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol, 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design used double-layered transparent polyethylene, with two sealed compartments filled with the solution, separated by a flattened and sealed portion between them. One of the two sealed compartments contacts one side of the blood bag and the other compartment is folded over to contact the other side of the blood bag. The transparent compartments allows an operator to verify at any time whether the solution is in a solid state, and the flexibility of the compartments eases the proper positioning of them around a blood bag.

Abstract: A method of joining panels of foam materials such that edges are compressed into panel surfaces to provide a secured and effectively sealed structure is disclosed. Panels in an orthogonal relationship to each other, which are made of foam (or other materials not intended to be load bearing) can be joined by compressing the outer side of one of the panels into the edge surface of an adjoining panel. This is done using two plates, one resting on the outer side of the first panel, and one inserted into the side of the second panel, where the plates are connected by a bolt, screw or wire under tension.

Abstract: Insulated containers which conform relatively closely in size to the payload size, which contain a payload and phase change material and/or a refrigerated gel are all placed in a larger insulated shipping container, which may house additional phase change material and/or refrigerant. The combined insulating effect of the inner and outer containers allows minimizing the use of phase change material inside the inner container for the payload itself, and the presence of the phase material, together with the use of frozen gels inside the outer container, provides for only a small difference in temperature between the interior of the inner container and the interior of the outer container. The inner containers can be less insulated and lower cost, and the outer containers can be recycled.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system to thermally package an item having at least one container substantially filled with an alcohol, wherein said alcohol undergoes a phase change.

Abstract: A container is disclosed for storing and transporting vessels containing a liquid composition susceptible to physicochemical alteration upon changes in temperature above or below a specified temperature. It comprises an enclosure having a lower portion, a top portion and a side portion between the lower and top portions thereby defining an inner space. A lower portion of the enclosure contains a first heat sink within a base, comprising a thermal energy absorbing substance. A vial holder in the inner space holds one or more of the vessels in the inner space above the first heat sink and substantially spaced from an insulated insert inside of the enclosure. An insulating gas is contained in the inner space. A temperature indicator in the inner space indicates when the inner space has been subjected to temperatures below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled container for transporting biologic tissue and human skin is set out wherein an outer insulated container houses a power source, a thermostat means, a heating means, a power source and interior container along with a retention means for holding the sample in place and a lid that interlocks with the open annular area by a T-shaped friction plug. The thermostat means may be a microchip and heating element so that the sample and interior temperature does not vary from a given temperature parameter.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled container for transporting biologic tissue and human skin is set out wherein an outer insulated container houses a power source, a thermostat means, a heating means, a power source and interior container along with a retention means for holding the sample in place and a lid that interlocks with the open elongated chamber area by a T-shaped friction plug. The thermostat means may be a microchip and heating element so that the sample and interior temperature does not vary from a given temperature parameter. A eutectic pack which is a solid at room temperature and experiences a phase change to the liquid state at temperatures exceeding room temperature is provided to insure that a minimal super-ambient temperature is maintained.