Portable medicine cooler having an electronic cooling controller and medicine efficacy indication circuitry and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A portable medicine cooler is provided herein. In one embodiment, the portable medicine cooler includes: (1) a self-cooling and receiving structure including a thermoelectric cooler, a vial receiver and a heat sink, wherein the thermoelectric cooler thermally couples the vial receiver to the heat sink, (2) a battery configured to provide power to the thermoelectric cooler and (3) a thermoelectric cooler controller configured to employ the battery to control moving heat between the vial receiver and the heat sink based on an external temperature representing a temperature outside of the portable medicine cooler and an internal temperature representing a temperature of the vial receiver.

1 . A portable medicine cooler, comprising:
 a self-cooling and receiving structure including a thermoelectric cooler, a vial receiver and a heat sink, wherein said thermoelectric cooler thermally couples said vial receiver to said heat sink;   a battery configured to provide power to said thermoelectric cooler; and   a thermoelectric cooler controller configured to employ said battery to control moving heat between said vial receiver and said heat sink based on an external temperature representing a temperature outside of said portable medicine cooler and an internal temperature representing a temperature of said vial receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  wherein said thermoelectric cooler controller is configured to adjust a magnitude and a direction of current to said thermoelectric cooler to control said moving heat between said vial receiver and said heat sink based on said external temperature and said internal temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a processor and memory configured to generate commands to direct operation of said thermoelectric cooler controller. 
     
     
         4 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processor and memory is configured to determine efficacy of medicine vials stored in said vial receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processor and memory is configured to indicate presence of a medicine vial in said vial receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a power manager configured to monitor capacity of said battery. 
     
     
         7 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an indicator configured to provide an indication of a condition of said portable medicine cooler. 
     
     
         8 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 7  wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of:
 an open door, 
 a battery capacity, and 
 an efficacy of a medicine vial. 
 
     
     
         9 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a vial sensor configured to indicate the presence of a medicine vial in said vial receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a door configured to allow access to said vial receiver and a door sensor configured to indicate when said door is open. 
     
     
         11 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processor and memory is configured to employ said thermoelectric cooler controller to dynamically regulate a temperature of said vial receiver. 
     
     
         12 . A portable medicine cooler, comprising:
 a shell having a door configured to provide access to a cavity within said shell for containing a medicine to be cooled;   a self-cooling and receiving structure located within said shell and including a thermoelectric cooler interposing a vial receiver and a heat sink with a hollow core, wherein said thermoelectric cooler connects said heat sink to said vial receiver;   an internal temperature sensor configured to provide an internal temperature within said shell;   an external temperature sensor configured to provide an external temperature of a temperature outside of said shell;   a battery located within said shell and configured to provide power to said thermoelectric cooler; and   a processor configured to dynamically regulate, based on both of said external temperature and said internal temperature, a cooling temperature associated with said vial receiver by directing delivery of said power to said thermoelectric cooler to control movement of heat between said vial receiver and said heat sink.   
     
     
         13 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  further comprising an indicator selected from the group consisting of at least one light-emitting diode and a liquid-crystal display and configured to provide an indication of an operation of said portable medicine cooler. 
     
     
         14 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  wherein said battery is located within said hollow core. 
     
     
         15 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  wherein said processor is configured to determine efficacy of medicine stored in said vial receiver. 
     
     
         16 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a visual indicator to indicate conditions of said portable medicine cooler. 
     
     
         17 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a door configured to allow access to said vial receiver and a door sensor configured to indicate when said door is open. 
     
     
         18 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a vial sensor configured to indicate whether a vial is contained within said vial sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  further comprising an alarm configured to issue a warning indicating a condition of said portable medicine cooler. 
     
     
         20 . The portable medicine cooler as recited in  claim 12  wherein said portable medicine cooler is sized to fit entirely within a briefcase.