EP-4736105-A1 - MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF STORAGE UNITS FOR VACCINES AND OTHER CLIMATE SENSITIVE PRODUCTS

EP4736105A1EP 4736105 A1EP4736105 A1EP 4736105A1EP-4736105-A1

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of environmental monitoring devices for monitoring one or more environmental conditions ( e.g. , temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, oxygen, pressure, etc. ) of storage units, such as storage units for vaccines, medications, and other climate sensitive products, etc. Also disclosed are exemplary methods of selectively configuring an environmental monitoring device for wireless communication by selectively connecting a communication module, from a plurality of different wireless communication modules, with an expansion port/connector of a printed circuit board of the environmental monitoring device. Further disclosed are exemplary methods of copying a configuration of a first environmental monitoring device to at least one or more other more environmental monitoring devices over a wireless communication link.

Inventors

FRICKER, Scott N.
FALASCO, Niles E.
HANSEN, Ethan M.
LEHTOLA, David G.

Assignees

Copeland Cold Chain LP

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240626

Claims (20)

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An environmental monitoring device for monitoring one or more environmental conditions, the device comprising: a main printed circuit board (PCB) having a modular configuration including an expansion port/connector and capable of supporting a display module; and a plurality of different communication modules interchangeably connectible with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB, whereby the environmental monitoring device is selectively configurable for wireless communication according to different wireless protocols depending on which of the different wireless communication modules is selectively connected with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB.
2. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different communication modules comprises: a Wi-Fi communication module for selectively configuring the environmental monitoring device for Wi-Fi communication when the Wi-Fi communication module is selectively connected with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB; a cellular communication module for selectively configuring the environmental monitoring device for cellular communication when the cellular communication module is selectively connected with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB; and a 900 MHz communication module for selectively configuring the environmental monitoring device for 900 MHz communication when the 900 MHz communication module is selectively connected with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB.
3. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of different communication modules comprises a plurality of expansion boards that are interchangeably connectible with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB thereby enabling the environmental monitoring device to accommodate the different wireless communication protocols associated with the plurality of expansion boards.
4. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wireless communication interface for establishing a wireless communication link with a mobile device for enabling the mobile device to be useable over the wireless communication link for programming and/or configuring the environmental monitoring device.
5. The environmental monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the main PCB includes the wireless communication interface for establishing a wireless communication link with a mobile device.
6. The environmental monitoring device of claim 4 or 5, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a BLUETOOTH radio for establishing a BLUETOOTH communication link with the mobile device for enabling the mobile device to be usable over the BLUETOOTH communication link for programming and/or configuring the environmental monitoring device.
7. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the environmental monitoring device is a first environmental monitoring device; and the first environmental monitoring device comprises a wireless communication interface for establishing a wireless communication link with at least a second environmental monitoring device whereby the first environmental monitoring device is operable for initiating copying of the configuration of the first environmental monitoring device to the second environmental monitoring device via the wireless communication link.
8. The environmental monitoring device of claim 7, wherein the main PCB of the first environmental monitoring device includes the wireless communication interface for establishing a wireless communication link with at least the second environmental monitoring device.
9. The environmental monitoring device of claim 7 or 8, wherein the wireless communication interface of the first environmental monitoring devices comprises a BLUETOOTH radio for establishing a BLUETOOTH communication link with at least the second environmental monitoring device whereby the first environmental monitoring device is operable for initiating copying of the configuration of the first environmental monitoring device to the second environmental monitoring device via the BLUETOOTH communication link.
10. The environmental monitoring device of claim 7, 8, or 9, wherein the wireless communication interface of the first environmental monitoring device is operable for establishing a wireless communication link with a plurality of other environmental monitoring devices whereby the first environmental monitoring device is operable for initiating copying of the configuration of the first environmental monitoring device to the plurality of other environmental monitoring devices via the wireless communication link.
11. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device comprises a housing defining an interior in which are positioned the main PCB, the display modules, and the wireless communication module that is selectively connected with the expansion port/connector of the main PCB.
12. The environmental monitoring device of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a button or other user input for silencing an alarm when the environmental monitoring device has detected that a monitored environmental condition has exceeded a threshold or is outside of an acceptable range.
13. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device is configured for monitoring one or more environmental conditions of an environment including: temperature of the environment; humidity of the environment; carbon dioxide level of the environment; oxygen level of the environment; and/or pressure level of the environment.
14. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device is configured for monitoring temperature of medication, drugs, and/or vaccines in a medical environment.
15. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device is configured for monitoring temperature in a food service environment.
16. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main PCB supports a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) interface through the display module for displaying sensed environmental conditions and/or parameters.
17. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device is configured to be operable for configuring data by copying a given configuration from another environmental monitoring device.
18. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device is configured to be operable such that a configuration process is triggered by on-screen navigation.
19. The environmental monitoring device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental monitoring device is configured to meet Data Logger requirements found in Vaccine for Children program outlined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
20. An environmental monitoring device for monitoring one or more environmental conditions, the device comprising a main printed circuit board (PCB) including a wireless communication interface, whereby: the wireless communication interface is operable for establishing a wireless communication link with a mobile device for enabling the mobile device to be useable over the wireless communication link for programming and/or configuring the environmental monitoring device; and/or the environmental monitoring device is a first environmental monitoring device that includes the wireless communication interface for establishing a wireless communication link with at least a second environmental monitoring device whereby the first environmental monitoring device is operable for initiating copying of the configuration of the first environmental monitoring device to the second environmental monitoring device via the wireless communication link.

Description

MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF STORAGE UNITS FOR VACCINES AND OTHER CLIMATE SENSITIVE PRODUCTS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/523,835 filed June 28, 2023. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to monitoring environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, oxygen, pressure, etc.) of storage units, such as storage units for vaccines, medications, drugs, and other climate sensitive products, etc. BACKGROUND [0003] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. [0004] Lifesaving medications and vaccines must be stored within proper temperature and humidity ranges in order to maintain effectiveness and potency. Accordingly, a wireless environmental monitoring system may be used to take readings at regular intervals and gauge appropriate temperatures based on predetermined thresholds. The wireless environmental monitoring system may generate alerts when temperatures are out of range and create an audit trail, which can help staff better protect patients and improve efficiencies facility-wide. DRAWINGS [0005] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an environmental monitoring device operable for monitoring environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, oxygen, pressure, etc.) of storage units for vaccines, medicines, and other climate sensitive products. The environmental monitoring device is configured to have a modular design enabling expansion “C” boards to be swapped or selectively interchanged depending on the communication method (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular, 900 MHz, etc.) of the end user. [0007] FIG. 2 depicts the main platform “A” board shown in FIG. 1 including its expansion connector of the expansion port header along the main platform board. [0008] FIG. 3 depicts a 900 MHz communication module (900 MHz expansion “C” board shown in FIG. 1) including its expansion connector that is selectively connectable with the expansion connector of the main platform board shown in FIG. 2 to thereby configure the device shown in FIG. 1 for 900 MHz communications. [0009] FIG. 4 depicts a Wi-Fi communication module (Wi-Fi expansion “C” board shown in FIG. 1) including its expansion connector that is selectively connectable with the expansion connector of the main platform board shown in FIG. 2 to thereby configure the device shown in FIG. 1 for Wi-Fi communications. [0010] FIG. 5 depicts a display module (display “B” board shown in FIG. 1) that may be used for providing an LCD interface for the device shown in FIG. 1. [0011] FIG. 6 depicts an assembled device for monitoring environmental conditions, which device has a modular design enabling expansion “C” boards to be swapped or selectively interchanged depending on the communication method (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular, 900 MHz, etc.). [0012] FIG. 7 depicts a BLUETOOTH configuration process according to an exemplary embodiment in which a single configured device is configured with the ability to wirelessly configure multiple devices via BLUETOOTH communication. [0013] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of an environmental monitoring device comprising a Wi-Fi Data Logger. [0014] FIG. 9 shows the Wi-Fi Data Logger shown in FIG. 8 with various exemplary features identified according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [0015] FIG. 10 shows the Wi-Fi Data Logger shown in FIG. 8 with the user interface features identified, specifically, home screen, menu button, navigation buttons, wake/enter button, back button, and page buttons according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [0016] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the Wi-Fi Data Logger shown in FIG. 8 with the speaker, channel ports, USB-C connection, sensor vent, and opening for wire retention cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [0017] FIG. 12 shows an Icon Guide for the Wi-Fi Data Logger shown in FIG. 8 including channel, type of reading, Wi-Fi signal strength, alarm indicator, page indicator, last reset, allowable range, minimum and maximum readings, and power source according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [0018] FIGS. 13 through 19 illustrate an exemplary initial set up process including steps to: Import Certificates (FIG. 13), Edit Alarms (FIG. 14), Customize Transmission Intervals (FIG. 15), Export Settings to USB (FIG. 16), Import Settings from One Device to Another (FIG. 17), and Registering Devices in Software (FIGS. 18 and 19) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present