IP Library Granted Patent US 11,648,178
Granted Patent B2
US 11,648,178 · App. 16/297,003 · Granted May 16, 2023

Medical product transportation and storage enclosure with directed cooling and heating

Inventor: Andreas Vlahinos (Castle Rock, CO)
Assignee: Thaddeus Medical Systems, Inc.
A61J1/165F25D17/045F25D17/06A61J2200/42A61J2200/44A61J2200/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,648,178
App. No.
16/297,003
Granted
May 16, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A medical fluid storage and transportation enclosure can include a housing, a chamber, an exhaust duct, an inlet duct, and a valve. The housing can include walls defining a cavity, where the cavity can be configured to receive a medical product therein. The chamber can be adjacent to the cavity and can be configured to exchange heat with the cavity. The valve can be located in the inlet duct, where the valve can be movable in response to an air.

Claims (39)

1. A medical product transportation and storage enclosure comprising:

a housing including walls defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive a medical product therein;

a chamber adjacent to the cavity and configured to exchange heat with the cavity;

a container including outer walls and configured to receive the housing therein;

an exhaust duct connected to the chamber and extending through an outer wall of the container;

an inlet duct connected to the chamber and extending through the outer wall of the container; and

a valve located in the inlet duct, the valve movable, in response to an air pressure, between a first position and a second position, the valve configured to allow air flow into the chamber through the inlet duct when the valve is in the first position, and the valve configured to inhibit or prevent air flow out of the chamber through the inlet duct when the valve is in the second position.

2. The medical product transportation and storage enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:

an insulation portion at least partially defining the chamber, the insulation portion defining the inlet duct.

3. The medical product transportation and storage enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the valve is formed using the insulation portion and extends into the inlet duct from the insulation portion.

4. The medical product transportation and storage enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the valve is connected to the insulation portion through a living hinge, the living hinge enabling movement of the valve between the first position and the second position.

5. The medical product transportation and storage enclosure of claim 4 , further comprising:

a notch in the insulation portion opposite the living hinge, the notch configured to receive a tip of the valve to form a seal to prevent air flow out of the chamber through the inlet duct when the valve is in the second position.

6. The medical product transportation and storage enclosure of claim 4 , wherein the living hinge is formed by a reduced thickness portion of the valve at a connection point between the valve and the insulation portion.

7. The medical product transportation and storage enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the living hinge is formed by first and second channels disposed on upstream and downstream sides of the connection point.

8. A medical product transportation system comprising:

a container including outer walls;

a housing positionable within the container, the housing defining a cavity configured to receive a medical product therein;

a chamber adjacent to the cavity and configured to exchange heat with the cavity;

an exhaust duct connected to the chamber and extending through an outer wall of the housing;

an inlet duct connected to the chamber and extending through the outer wall of the housing;

a fan connected to the inlet duct and configured to deliver air from an ambient environment to the chamber through the inlet duct, and

a valve located in the inlet duct, the valve movable, in response to an air pressure, between an open position and a closed position, the valve to allow air flow into the chamber through the inlet duct when the valve is open, and the valve configured to prevent air flow out of the chamber through the inlet duct when the valve is closed.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

an insulation portion at least partially defining the chamber, the insulation portion defining the inlet duct.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the valve is formed of the insulation portion and extends into the inlet duct from the insulation portion.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the valve includes a living hinge connecting a body of the valve to the insulation portion, the living hinge enabling movement of the valve between the open position and the closed position.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a notch in the insulation portion opposite the living hinge, the notch configured to receive a tip of the valve to form a seal to prevent air flow out of the chamber through the inlet duct when the valve is in the closed position.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the living hinge is formed by a reduced thickness portion of the body of the valve at a connection point between the valve and the insulation portion.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the living hinge is formed in part by first and second channels disposed on upstream and downstream sides of the connection point.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the downstream channel is configured to receive a proximal portion of the body of the valve therein when the valve is in the open position.

16. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

an exhaust louver connected to the exhaust duct adjacent the outer wall of the container.

17. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a heat sink connected to cavity and the chamber to exchange heat therebetween.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the intake duct is directly connected to the heatsink to deliver ambient air thereto.

19. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second valve located in the exhaust duct, the second valve movable in response to an air pressure between an open position and a closed position, the second valve to allow air flow out of the chamber through the exhaust duct when the second valve is open, and the second valve configured to prevent air flow into of the chamber through the exhaust duct when the second valve is closed.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a third valve located in the exhaust duct in series with the second valve.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2025
From: THADDEUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: AT HOME HEALTH, INC.
Reel/Frame 073328/0674 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2019
From: VLAHINOS, ANDREAS
To: THADDEUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049175/0235 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62640531 · Mar 8, 2018
Related Publication 20190277553A1 · Sep 12, 2019