CONTROLLER FOR A MEDICAL PRODUCTS STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A medical product storage device includes a controller that operates an access control system to limit access to a storage space of the medical product storage device. The controller monitors a temperature in the storage space and other operating parameters of the medical product storage device. The medical product storage device includes a display that displays information related to the operating parameters. The information related to the operating parameters includes a graph of the temperature in the storage space, the graph including icons associated with specific events that occur relative to the operating parameters. Activation of the icons cause an event history to be displayed. Activation of a specific event permits a user to generate a corrective action record. A user remote from the medical product storage device may be notified of specific adverse events.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a controller for a medical products storage system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a controller for a medical products storage system that includes automated notification of fault conditions and an enhanced user interface.

Medical products including medications, tissues, and blood products are in limited supply and have a limited shelf life. Storage of medical products requires stringent controls to confirm that the products are of sufficient quality and that they have been maintained in a manner to confirm their safety for use. Controls must be in place along all steps of the collection, manufacturing, distribution, and administration of the medical products. The medical products move between storage locations at each step along the process, with each move a storage location providing opportunities for incorrect storage of the products. The products are usually stored in refrigerated cabinetry that operates to preserve the quality of the product stored by controlling the temperature within the compartments very carefully.

Because of the high value of products stored in the medical product storage devices, malfunctions of the devices or improper operating conditions should be communicated to appropriate personnel as soon as possible to provide for remediation of any out-of-control conditions. In addition, records are kept to confirm that the operating characteristics of the storage devices have been within acceptable control limits, thereby confirming the proper storage of the medical products stored therein.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter.

A medical product storage device comprises a storage space, a refrigeration unit, a controller, a user interface, and a temperature sensor. The refrigeration unit is operable to cool the storage space. The controller is electrically coupled to the refrigeration unit. The controller includes a processor and a memory device electrically coupled to the processor. The user interface includes a display and a user input device. The user interface is electrically coupled to the controller. The temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the controller. The temperature sensor communicates a temperature signal to the controller. The temperature signal is indicative of the temperature in the storage space. The controller is operable to generate an electronic record if the medical product storage device experiences an event that meets predetermined criteria for documentation. The controller is operable to allow a user to enter information related to the event, the user entered information being added to the record.

In some embodiments, the information related to the event is unalterable after the information has been written to the record.

In some embodiments, the event that meets predetermined criteria is a temperature in the storage space that is outside of an acceptable limit.

In some embodiments, the controller is operable to generate an alarm when the event occurs.

In some embodiments, the controller is operable to provide a notification to a user spaced apart from the medical product storage device.

In some embodiments, the notification to the user is a message provided over a network connection between the controller and an external network.

In some embodiments, the notification to the user is a message transmitted to the user through a wireless signal that communicates to a communication device associated with the user.

In some embodiments, the user to whom the notification is communicated is selected from a list of potential contacts, the user selected according to predetermined criteria.

In some embodiments, the predetermined criteria include the nature of the event about which the user is to be notified.

In some embodiments, the controller reads the temperature signal and communicates the temperature signal to the user interface. In some embodiments, the user interface generates an image on the display that graphically displays the temperature as a function of time.

In some embodiments, when the controller communicates the event to the user interface, the user interface graphically displays an icon representative of the event on the image with the location of the icon corresponding to the time of the event.

In some embodiments, the user interface is operable to allow a user to operate the user input to activate the icon representative of the event to thereby display a record associated with the specific event.

In some embodiments, the record of the event appears as an entry in a log of events and activation of any part of the record in the log causes the user interface to generate an image on the display that includes additional details of the record.

In some embodiments, the additional details of the record include an action taken to resolve the event.

In some embodiments, the refrigerator further comprises an electrically actuated access control device electrically coupled to the controller, the electrically actuated access control device operable to prevent access to the storage space under the control of the controller.

In some embodiments, the user interface is operable to receive a password from a user permitting access to the storage space.

In some embodiments, when a user accesses the storage space, a record is generated that includes information related to the user's access to the storage space. The information may include the the time and duration of the access.

In some embodiments, the controller communicates the record wirelessly to an external device associated with a particular user.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to signal the user interface to display a first image on the display that indicates a graphical history of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the receipt of information that predetermined criteria for documentation of an event has been met to signal the user interface to display an icon indicative of the event that meets predetermined criteria for documentation on the image displayed.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to identify a user to be notified of the event, the user being identified based on criteria related to the event.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a signal that is transmitted from the medical product storage device to a location that is remote from the medical product storage device to signal the event to the user.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to a user input activating the icon by signaling the user interface to display a second image on the display that shows a list of events that have occurred over a period of time.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to a user input activating one of the data items in the list of events by signaling the user interface to display a third image on the display that shows details regarding a specific event.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the user activating a first portion of the third image by permitting the user to input a cause associated with the specific event.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the user activating a second portion of the third image by permitting a user to input a corrective action associated with the specific event.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the user activating a third portion of the third image by permitting a user to enter to input a code associated with the user.

In some embodiments, the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the user activating a fourth portion of the third image by permitting the user to save the input information to a record.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a medical products storage device including access control;

FIG. 2A-2B is a schematic diagram of the power portion of the electrical system of the medical products storage system of FIG. 1

FIG. 3A-3B is a schematic diagram of the controller portion of the electrical system of the medical products storage system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a user interface of the medical products storage system of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5-23 are diagrammatic representations of screens displayed on a display device of the user interface of the medical products storage system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A medical products storage device, illustratively embodied as a medical product storage device that operates at temperatures below freezing, is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the medical products storage device could be refrigerator, a freezer, a cooler, a platelet incubator, or an ultra low temperature freezer. For example, the i.C3 and i.D product families of products available from Helmer, Inc. of Noblesville, Ind. embody certain aspects of the present disclosure. The concepts disclosed herein are adaptable to various implementations of medical products storage devices. Referring now to FIG. 2a, the illustrative freezer 10 receives AC power from a mains power source 12. As will be described in further detail below, the mains power source 12, after being filtered at a filter 13, provides AC power to a number of components of the freezer 10. In certain embodiments, the freezer 10 includes a circuit breaker 15 that interrupts the AC power under unsafe conditions. The refrigerator also includes a main switch 17 that allows a user to disconnect power from the remainder of the circuitry of the freezer 10.

AC power is fed to a power supply assembly 14 that includes a DC power supply 16 that converts the AC power to 12 V DC power. The freezer 10 also includes a control assembly 18 that receives DC power from the DC power supply 16. The control assembly 18 includes a processor 20 and a memory device 22 which cooperate to provide the logic control for the freezer 10. The control assembly 18 is connected to a user interface control 24 to provide a power connection 26 and a communications connection 28. Communication between the control assembly 18 and the user interface control 24 over the communications connection 28 is via a USB protocol. The control assembly 18 also includes an RS-232 interface 30 that may be connected to other peripheral devices as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The control assembly 18 also communicates with an exterior alarm 32 through a connection 34 so that alarm conditions detected by the control assembly 18 may be communicated externally through the exterior alarm 32.

A condensing unit 36 includes a compressor 38 and a condensing fan 40. Operation of the condensing unit 36 is controlled by the control assembly 18 that operates a condenser relay 42 turn the condensing unit 36 on and off. The condenser relay receives power from the mains power source 12 with the condenser relay 42 being turned on and off by the control assembly 18. The control assembly 18 includes a relay 44 that operates a unit cooler 46 that includes fans 48 to circulate the cool air within the cabinet 21 of the freezer 10. Medical products are stored in a storage space defined by the cabinet 21. The control assembly 18 also includes a door heating elements relay 50 that operates a set of doors heating elements 52 as necessary to control the operation of the freezer 10. The door heating elements relay 50 receives power from the mains power source 12 and powers the doors heating elements 52 under the control of the control assembly 18. Similarly, a condenser evaporator 54 is operated by a relay 56 of the control assembly 18 through a connection 55. A light assembly 58 includes a power supply 60 that receives AC power from the mains power source 12 and converts it to 12 V DC power with the total power being controlled by the control assembly 18 through a relay 62. The condenser evaporator 54 and the door heating elements 52 are used to defrost the freezer 10.

The freezer 10 also includes a door lock 66 that includes a solenoid 68 that receives DC power from the power supply assembly 14 and is controlled by the control assembly 18 to lock and unlock the doors of the freezer 10 to control access to the cabinet 21 to authorized individuals. It is contemplated that a more complex access control structure may be implemented that includes a multi-level access control approach such as the approach employed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011-0202170-A1, titled “ACCESS AND INVENTORY CONTROL FOR CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE,” which hereby incorporated by reference herein. The status of the doors (not shown) are monitored by door switches 70 which sense when the door or doors of the freezer 10 are closed and provide that signal as an input to the control assembly 18. The control assembly 18 also receives inputs from a number of probes that monitor a number of operating characteristics of the freezer 10. An upper chamber temperature probe 72 monitors the temperature inside the cabinet of the freezer 10. A water bottle probe 74 monitors the volume of water in a water bottle 76. The water bottle 76 is used as a temperature stabilizer in the cabinet of the freezer 10. A lower chamber temperature probe 78 monitors the temperature in the lower portion of the cabinet 21 of the freezer 10. A condenser discharge probe 80 monitors the presence of fluid in the condenser discharge (not shown).

The freezer 10 also includes a chart recorder 82 that receives power through the control assembly 18 from the power supply assembly 14. The chart recorder 82 is also connected to a battery 84 that provides backup power to the chart recorder 82 in the event of a power loss from the mains power source 12. The chart recorder 82 is connected to an independent temperature probe 86 which provides a signal indicative of the temperature in the cabinet of the freezer 10 to the chart recorder 82 which then mechanically marks the measured temperature on a paper graph provide a record of the temperature inside freezer 10 as a back-up to the electrically monitored signal.

The user interface control 24 includes a test port connection 88 that allows a user to connect an external device such as a laptop, for example, to the freezer 10 to access the control system 100 of the freezer 10 for maintenance. In addition, the user interface control is connected to a speaker 90 so that audible alarms can be generated through the speaker 90 by the user interface control 24. The user interface control 24 also includes a universal serial bus (USB) port 92 that is externally accessible by a user to connect to the user interface control 24 and, thereby the control assembly 18 through the communications connection 28 between the user interface control 24 and control assembly 18. The USB connection may also be used to connect the freezer 10 to an external network accessible remotely from the freezer 10. For example, the USB connection may be used to connect to control system 100 to a network of medical products storage devices that are monitored at a central location. For example, medical products storage devices may be distributed throughout a hospital and in communication with a central monitoring station in the hospital pharmacy or materials control departments. While the illustrative port 92 utilizes a USB communications protocol, it should be understood that any of a number of communications protocols could be adapted to the freezer 10 to allow the control system 100 to communicate with a network. For example, the control system 100 may include an Ethernet connection that allows the control system 100 to connect to a network. The user interface control includes a processor 94 and memory 96 which allow the user interface control to communicate with the control assembly 18 and to operate a touchscreen display 98 that is illustratively embodied as an LCD touchscreen device. The user interface control 24 is in communication with the touchscreen display 98 through a peripheral connection 102 and provides backlighting power to the touchscreen display 98 through a power connection 104.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize the flexibility afforded by a user interface that includes a touchscreen display such as the touchscreen display 98. Other methods of activating icons on a display are known by those of skill in the art to include mouse, rollerball, joysticks or the like in conjunction with the separate input devices such as keyboards or buttons and the like. The present disclosure should not be considered to be limited to the use of touchscreens exclusively. Various images displayed on the display screen of the freezer 10 will be discussed in more detail below. In normal operation, a home screen image similar to the screen shown in FIG. 5, will be displayed and provide the temperature detected by the upper chamber temperature probe 72 as indicated by reference numeral 108. In the upper right of the screen is shown a mute icon 106 which may be toggled on and off to allow a user to mute any audible alarms generated by the speaker 90. Shown to the left of the mute icon 106 is a light icon 110 which allows a user to toggle the interior light 64 on and off by activating the light icon 110. The current time and date is indicated in the upper middle of the display screen as indicated by reference numeral 114. The upper left corner of the display screen is used to display alarm conditions by displaying a flag as indicated by the reference numeral 116. In the illustrative embodiment, the display screen displays images in color. For example, in the illustrative embodiment, the flag 116 may be a red flag to indicate a serious alarm condition. Other colors may be used to provide a user with additional information regarding the state of the freezer 10. For example, in some embodiments a yellow flag may indicate a condition that will become an alarm if not addressed. When in the home screen shown in FIG. 5, the lower one third of the display screen displays five icons which each may be activated by a user to cause the control system 18 to generate an image of a specified application associated with a respective icon. A user selects various functions associated with the icons by activating the icon. Activation of the icon in the illustrative embodiment includes simply touching the icon. In other embodiments where the user interface is not a touchscreen, the icon may be chosen by some other method, such as by a cursor controlled by a mouse, trackball, or some other input device as discussed above.

Activation of an applications icon 118 causes the display to generate an image of an applications screen similar to that shown in FIG. 6. The application screen image of FIG. 6 displays a number of icons, including an icon 120 that is associated with a settings page. Prior to displaying the settings page, a password screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 7. A user must enter a numeric password using a virtual keypad 122 shown in FIG. 7. Password access prevents unauthorized users from accessing and modifying the freezer 10 settings.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate various screenshots that are used to choose the settings of the operational characteristics of the control system 100. A user is able to scroll through the various screenshots shown in FIGS. 8-10 by activating the vertical scrollbar 124 to move up and down through the settings screen with only a portion of the adjustable characteristics being shown at any given time. As indicated at reference numeral 126 a user may change the password by activating the button 126, entering a value on a keypad that is displayed, and saving the new password. Sounds may be turned off by activating a button 128 and turned on by activating a button 130. The alarm volume may be adjusted by activating the right side 132 of a spin box for alarm volume to increase the alarm volume or by activating the left side 134 of the spin box to reduce the volume. The term spin box is used to indicate a group of associated icons that allow a user to increase and decrease a displayed value by activating on or the other of right side 132 and left side 134 of a spin box. Additional spin boxes will be discussed throughout the remainder of the disclosure without specific reference to the right side 132 and left side 134, but each operates in a similar manner. One of four alarm tones may be chosen by adjusting the alarm tone at spin box 136. Activation of icon 138 allows a user to try the alarm tone to determine if the alarm tone is acceptable.

Activation of icon 140 allows a user to transfer to a temperature calibration screen that is discussed in further detail below with regard to FIG. 12. Activation of icon 142 transfers to an identification screen where user is permitted to enter 10 alphanumeric characters to provide a unique unit ID number for the freezer 10. The unit ID number is indicated in the information header shown in FIG. 5 by reference numeral 144. In the illustrative embodiment, the unit ID number is defaulted to be the serial number of the particular freezer 10 as assigned by the factory.

Activation of the icon 144 activates the date and time screen that will be discussed in further detail below with regard to FIG. 13. Activation of icon 146 provides a drop-down menu (not shown) to allow a user to select a language for the display. In the illustrative embodiment, the default language is English. Activation of an icon 148 causes the temperature to be displayed in the units of degrees Fahrenheit while activation of an icon 150 will change the temperature to be displayed in units of degrees Celsius. Activation of an icon 152 deactivates password protection off while activation of icon 154 activates password protection. The user may also turn a light delay on or off by activating icons 156 and 158 respectively. The light off delay time may be adjusted by activating the spin box 160 when the light off delay is turned on.

Referring now to FIG. 10, activation of an icon 162 causes an alarms settings screen to be displayed as will be discussed in further detail below with regard to FIG. 11. Similarly, activation of an icon 164 causes the activation of a temperature control screen that will be discussed in further detail below with regard to FIGS. 14-17. Activation of the icon 166 causes all of the factory settings to be restored. Activation of icons 168 and 170 respectively cause an access control screen to be turned on and off as a homepage for the control system 100. Activation of an icon 172 or 174 respectively cause a temperature graph screen saver to be turned on or off. In any screen, a user may navigate to the previous screen by activating an icon 176 or may return to the home screen by activating an icon 178.

Referring now to FIG. 11, when the icon 162 shown in FIG. 10 is activated, a screen image similar to that shown in FIG. 11 is activated to allow a user to modify certain alarm settings. Activation of a spin box 180 allows a user to change the high temperature set point. The set point temperature is adjustable in increments of tenths of a degree. A spin box 182 is used to set a time delay for the high temperature alarm that occurs when the high temperature set point is reached. The time delay may be adjusted in minutes and indicates the amount of time that the high temperature conditions must be met before the alarm is activated. The status flag 116 may be displayed in yellow while high temperature condition exists but prior to the alarm delay time. Once the alarm condition is met, the status flag 116 may be changed to red to indicate the alarm condition. The spin box 184 allows a user to adjust the low temperature alarm set point and the spin box 186 provides for the adjustment of the time delay required before the low temperature alarm condition will generate an actual alarm.

Other alarm conditions such as power failure, probe failure, or a door open condition each are identified as an alarm event that is logged. However, each alarm event includes an adjustable time delay before the alarm event is actually signaled as an alarm condition to a user. The spin box 188 is used to set the time delay for the power failure condition; the spin box 190 is used to adjust the delay for a probe failure. The door-opened time may be adjusted using a spin box 192 that defines the period of time a door is allowed to be opened before alarm condition is signal to a user. In addition, the compressor temperature set point may be adjusted using a spin box 194 with a spin box 196 being used to define the time delay for the alarm condition for the compressor temperature set point. In some embodiments, the system may measure the number of times a door is opened and assign alarm conditions to that value. In some embodiments, an agitator may be positioned in the cabinet of the freezer 10 and the motion of the agitator may be monitored. A structure which utilizes an agitator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,638,100, which is incorporated by reference herein. When the agitator motion stops unexpectedly, an alarm may be generated and the alarm condition signal may be time delayed as explained with regard to the other alarms discussed above. In still yet other embodiments, the pressure sensor may be used to monitor refrigerant pressure and when the refrigerant pressure drops below an acceptable level, the alarm condition signal may be generated. The refrigerant pressure alarm may also include a time delay that must be met before the alarm condition will be communicated to a user.

When the temperature calibration icon 140 shown in FIG. 8 is activated, a screen image similar to that shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. In the temperature calibration screen shown in FIG. 12, the temperature settings at each temperature probe are adjusted to match the actual temperature measured from an independent thermometer. A spin box 198 is used to calibrate a control sensor. A spin box 200 may be used to adjust an offset from the control sensor temperature value. Spin boxes 202 and 204 are used to calibrate the upper temperature probe and lower temperature probe respectively. The evaporator defrost temperature probe is calibrated using a spin box 206 with an offset being adjusted using a spin box 208. The temperature detected by a compressor probe is calibrated using a spin box 210.

When the time and date icon 144 shown in FIG. 9 is activated, the screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed so that a user may adjust various parameters associated with the time and date displays. A user selects between a month, day, year display by activating icon 212 or a day, month, year display by activating an icon 214. The time can be displayed in either a 12-hour format by activating icon 216 or a military format by selecting an icon 218. The day of the month is selected by using a spin box 220 while the numerical value for the month is selected using a spin box 222. The correct year is selected using a spin box 224. The hour of day is selected using a spin box 226 while the minute is selected using the spin box 228. The user selects AM by activating an icon 230 PM by activating an icon 232. Once the correct time and date information has been entered, a user saves the information and returns to the settings screen by activating an icon 234.

When the icon 164 shown in FIG. 10 is activated, the temperature set points screen shown in FIGS. 14-16 is displayed. The temperature set points screen includes a vertical scrollbar 124 to allow user to move between the information shown in each of the FIGS. 14-16. The temperature set point is adjusted by using a spin box 240 to set the target temperature for the cabinet of the freezer 10. A hysteresis set point is adjusted by activation of a spin box 242. The hysteresis set point determines when the compressor will turn on and off by defining the band about the temperature set point that controls operation of the compressor. A hysteresis set point of 2° C. will cause the compressor to turn on when the actual temperature exceeds the temperature set point by 1° C. and will cause the compressor to turn off when the actual temperature is 1° C. below the temperature set point thereby defining a band of 2° C. about the temperature set point. A spin box 244 is used to adjust a time of delay before startup of the compressor. This delay is used only in the event of a power interruption to delay the time that the compressor startup after the power is recovered.

A spin box 246 is used to adjust the fan-operating mode between one of three modes. In mode one, the fan runs if the compressor output is on. In mode one, after a defrost cycle, the fan output is off until the fan delay time is met. The fan delay time is adjusted by spin box 250. In mode two, the fan runs continuously except during defrost and for the period of the fan delay after defrost adjusted by spin box 250. In mode three, the fan runs as the compressor output is on and it runs during defrost. A spin box 248 is used to adjust a fan stop temperature that is the temperature below which the fan will not run.

Referring now to FIG. 15 a spin box 252 is used to adjust the temperature at which the defrost will be terminated. The defrost is terminated whenever the evaporator sensor temperature exceeds the set parameter, as set by spin box 252. A defrost event may be scheduled by turning on the defrost event #1 by activating icon 254. The spin box 258 is used to adjust the time of day at which the defrost event #1 occurs. If the defrost event #1 is no longer necessary, it can be turned off by activating icon 256. Icons 260 and 262 turn a defrost event #2 on and off respectively, with the time of the defrost event #2 being adjusted by spin box 264. Icons 266 and 268 respectively turn on and off a defrost event #3 with the time of the #3 being adjusted by a spin box 270. Icons 272 and 274 respectively turn on and off a defrost event #4 with the time of the #4 being adjusted by a spin box 276. A spin box 278 is used to adjust the maximum time a defrost event can last before it is automatically terminated. This prevents the control system 100 from maintaining the defrost heating elements in an on condition indefinitely due to some error or failure.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a spin box 280 is used to delay the refrigeration cycle after a defrost event. This time allows the system to drain any liquid that results from the defrost event so that it does not refreeze in the drain line. A manual defrost cycle may be started by activating an icon 282 and stopped by activating an icon 284. A spin box 286 is used to adjust a duty cycle at which the compressor will operate if one of the probes has an error. Thus, the compressor can operate continuously or at some intermittent rate depending on the parameter value set in spin box 286. This will cause the compressor to operate to continue to cool the cabinet of the freezer 10 without any temperature feedback.

Referring now to FIG. 17, when an icon 290 shown in FIG. 5 is activated the control system 100 causes the screen shown in FIG. 17 to be displayed. The access control screen shown in FIG. 17 includes a numeric keypad 292 which a user uses to enter a password or PIN at a location 294. When an appropriate password is entered, the system will unlock to allow users to access the cabinet of the freezer 10. Because the password is associated with a particular user, actions taken by that user are saved to a log that will be discussed in further detail below, with the actions associated with the user. This is useful to assist with tracking and addressing actions that may require a corrective response, such as improper control procedures or changes to operating parameters of the freezer 10.

The display 98 may also be used to provide a visual display of key information related to the operation of the freezer 10. The screen shown in FIG. 18 is a temperature display that shows the historical temperature of the cabinet of the freezer 10 graphically. The time period of the graph may be altered between one day, by activating icon 298, or seven days, by activating icon 300. In the illustrative example shown in FIG. 18, the historical temperature in the cabinet is shown over a single day with adverse events being marked by two icons 302 and 304. The icons 302 and 304 quickly draw the user's attention to the adverse event. The height limit for the temperature is indicated by a line 306 and the low temperature limit is indicated by a line 308. Intervals of time are displayed on the line 306 with the day and date of the graph indicated at 310. Additional operational permission is provided at a status line 312. In addition, a defrost icon 314 is displayed on the graph to show when a defrost event has occurred.

Activation of either icon 302 or 304 will cause the display 98 to display an event log screen similar to that shown in FIG. 19. As can be seen in FIG. 19, the event log displays information related to the type of the event, the date of the event, the start time of the event, the start temperature of the event, the in time of the event, the end temperature of the event, and whether a corrective action was taken as indicated by an icon 316. Activation of an up icon 318 or down icon 320 allows a user to scroll through the various events in the event log. Events that may be logged to include: high temperature; low temperature; door open time; power failure; probe failure; date/time change; and alarm test; a defrost; excessive door openings; compressor temperature alarm; refrigerant pressure alarm; failed agitator motion; a no battery alarm; low battery alarm; communication failure; and a power up event. The power up event is not associated with an alarm but occurs on any reset caused by a power failure without battery backup, a watchdog reset of the microprocessor, or inactivation of a reset circuit on the controller. In the illustrative embodiment, alarms that are in progress at the time of the power failure will shown in time that corresponds to the start time of the power up of the system. If an alarm condition still exists when the power up event completes, that a new alarm is triggered with a start time that corresponds to the end time of the power up event. Details regarding the event may be accessed by activating the event line that then causes the display 98 to display an event log detail screen similar to that shown in FIG. 20.

The event log detail screen includes additional information relating to the operation of the freezer 10 at the time of the event. In addition, a user is able to acknowledge the event and identify corrective actions taken related to the event. Specifically, the user may select a drop-down menu 322 to identify the cause of the alarm. Multiple alarm causes are listed in the drop-down menu or a user may select “Other” to activate a QWERTY keyboard to enter a cause of the alarm. A drop-down menu 344 is used to select an action taken to respond to the alarm with several corrective actions listed in the drop-down menu. A user may select “Other” under the action taken to activate a QWERTY keyboard to enter a specific corrective action not otherwise listed in the drop-down menu. By selecting an icon 326, a user activates a QWERTY keyboard display that allows the user to provide an input for their name or initials. Activation of an icon 328 allows the user to save the corrective action. Once a corrective action has been saved, it cannot be edited so that a corrective action cannot be modified later.

Activation of the icon 314 in FIG. 18 will cause the defrost log to be displayed on the display 98. An example image of a defrost log is shown in FIG. 21 and includes the date, start time, in time, upper probe maximum temperature, lower probe maximum temperature, and maximum compressor temperature as well as the number of times the door was opened during the defrost event. This information is useful to the user for determining the root cause of any issues that may have been created by or during the defrost event. Other log screens that may be accessible include an access log as shown in FIG. 22, or an agitator log (not shown).

The access control setup screen is accessed by activating an icon 342 shown in FIG. 6 that causes the display 98 to display a screen image similar to that shown in FIG. 23. The access control setup screen of FIG. 23 displays a listing of user IDs at column 336 and the personal identification number (PIN) associated with each user at column 338. Activation of an icon 330 causes a data entry screen (not shown) to be displayed permit a user to be added including the user identification (ID) and an associated PIN. A user may be deleted by activating icon 332 or the users PIN may be edited by activating an icon 334. The control system 100 includes a single supervisory PIN that is available only to authorized individuals.

The control system 100 also includes the capability of downloading logged data with one, two, three, or four months of data available for downloading. Information included in any of the logs may be downloaded to memory device attached to USB port 92. In the illustrative embodiment, the data is downloaded as a .CSV file type. In addition, information may be uploaded to update the software of the control system 100 by inserting a memory device in the USB port 92 and activating and upload icon (not shown). Software uploaded could include new options for the control system 100 or software updates.

The control assembly 18 also includes a transceiver 19 illustratively embodied as a radio transceiver which is operable to broadcast event information to an extra receiver to notify a user who is not a proximate the freezer 10 of any alarm conditions experienced by the freezer 10. The transmitter 19 of the illustrative embodiment sends a cellular text message to a user or user group depending on parameters defined in the control system 100. For example, all alarms may be sent to a single individual. Alarms may be configured to be transmitted to the user logged in to the access control system. Event information may also be configured to be sent to specific individuals based on the type of the event or alarm so that the appropriate personnel can respond. In some embodiments, the transceiver 19 may detect the presence of a radio frequency identification (RFID) emitter in proximity to the freezer 10 and provide access to the control system 100 based on information associated with the RFID emitter which is associated with a particular user. In such embodiments, the user may forgo entering password information and the control system 100 may provide access to only authorized screens associated with the user.

It should also be understood that the control system 100 may be a client on a network and connected to the network through either the USB port 92 or test port 88. When connected to a network, event information may be communicated over the network to be stored remotely from the freezer 10 as well as being stored redundantly on the freezer 10.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A medical product storage device comprising

a storage space,

a refrigeration unit operable to cool the storage space,

a controller electrically coupled to the refrigeration unit, the controller including a processor and a memory device electrically coupled to the processor,

a user interface including a display and a user input device, the user interface electrically coupled to the controller,

a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor communicating a temperature signal to the controller, the temperature signal indicative of the temperature in the storage space, and

wherein the controller is operable to generate an electronic record if the medical product storage device experiences an event that meets predetermined criteria for documentation and the controller is operable to allow a user to enter information related to the event, the user entered information being added to the record.

2. The medical product storage device of claim 1, wherein the information related to the event is unalterable after the information has been written to the record.

3. The medical product storage device of claim 1, wherein the event that meets predetermined criteria is a temperature in the storage space that is outside of an acceptable limit.

4. The medical product storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to generate an alarm when the event occurs.

5. The medical product storage device of claim 4, wherein the controller is operable to provide a notification to a user spaced apart from the medical product storage device.

6. The medical product storage device of claim 5, wherein the notification to the user is a message provided over a network connection between the controller and an external network.

7. The medical product storage device of claim 5, wherein the notification to the user is a message transmitted to the user through a wireless signal that communicates to a communication device associated with the user.

8. The medical product storage device of claim 7, wherein the user to whom the notification is communicated is selected from a list of potential contacts, the user selected according to predetermined criteria.

9. The medical product storage device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the nature of the event about which the user is to be notified.

10. The medical product storage device of claim 9, wherein the controller reads the temperature signal, communicates the temperature signal to the user interface, and wherein the user interface generates an image on the display that graphically displays the temperature as a function of time.

11. The medical product storage device of claim 10, wherein the controller communicates the event to the user interface and the user interface graphically displays an icon representative of the event on the image, the location of the icon corresponding to the time of the event.

12. The medical product storage device of claim 11, wherein the user interface is operable to allow a user to operate the user input to activate the icon representative of the event to thereby display the record associated with the specific event.

13. The medical product storage device of claim 12, wherein the record of the event appears as an entry in a log of events and wherein activation of any part of the record in the log causes the user interface to generate an image on the display that includes additional details of the record.

14. The medical product storage device of claim 13, wherein the additional details of the record include an action taken to resolve the event.

15. The medical product storage device of claim 1, further comprising an electrically actuated access control device electrically coupled to the controller, the electrically actuated access control device operable to prevent access to the storage space under the control of the controller.

16. The medical product storage device of claim 15, wherein the user interface is operable to receive a password from a user permitting access to the storage space.

17. The medical product storage device of claim 16, wherein when a user accesses the storage space, a record is generated that includes information related to user's access to the storage space including the time and duration of the access.

18. The medical product storage device of claim 17, wherein the controller communicates the record wirelessly to an external device associated with a particular user.

19. The medical product storage device of claim 15, wherein the electrically actuated access control device includes a solenoid actuated lock.

20. The medical product storage device of claim 1, wherein the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

signal the user interface to display a first image on the display that indicates a graphical history of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor,

in response to the receipt of information that predetermined criteria for documentation has been met, signal the user interface to display an icon indicative of an event that meets predetermined criteria for documentation on the image displayed,

identify a user to be notified of the event, the user being identified based on criteria related to the event,

generate a signal that is transmitted from the medical product storage device to a location that is remote from the medical product storage device to signal the event to the user,

respond to a user input activating the icon by signaling the user interface to display a second image on the display that shows a list of event that have occurred over a history,

respond to a user input activating one of the data items in the list of events by signaling the user interface to display a third image on the display that shows details regarding a specific event,

respond to the user activating a first portion of the third image by permitting the user to input a cause associated with the specific event,

respond to the user activating a second portion of the third image by permitting a user to input a corrective action associated with the specific event,

respond to the user activating a third portion of the third image by permitting a user to enter to input a code associated with the user, and

respond to the user activating a fourth portion of the third image by permitting the user to save the input information to a record.