Flexible and conformable medical reservoir temperature monitoring, regulation, and security devices and methods

Abstract

This document provides devices and methods for monitoring and maintenance of the temperature of medical reservoirs and boxes in a secure fashion that enables for documentation of a chain of custody and history of temperature while in storage or transit. For example, this document provides devices and methods for monitoring the temperature of blood in phlebotomy tubes or boxes of biological products. In some embodiments of the devices and methods, the temperature of the contents of the medical reservoirs are regulated, modulated, and/or maintained by the devices provided herein.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A reservoir temperature monitoring and control device comprising:
 a housing at least partially expandable to receive to a reservoir therein;   a temperature sensor coupled to the housing, the temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a material within the reservoir when the reservoir is positioned within the housing;   a stretch sensor connected to the housing and expandable with the housing, the stretch sensor configured to detect when the reservoir is positioned in the housing; and   a temperature control device within or coupled to the housing and configured to, when the reservoir is located within the housing, cool the reservoir based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir.   
     
     
         12 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is located on an inner surface of the housing and configured to contact the reservoir when the reservoir is position in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an outside temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to, when the reservoir is located within the housing, heat the reservoir based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature control device is located on an inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature control device includes a micro-Peltier device. 
     
     
         17 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 11 , wherein the stretch sensor is configured to detect instances the reservoir is inserted into the housing and removed from the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a processor within the housing, the processor in communication with the temperature sensor and the temperature control device, the processor configured to control the temperature control device based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir.   
     
     
         19 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive the temperature of the material within the reservoir from the temperature sensor; and   operate the temperature control device to cool the reservoir based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir.   
     
     
         20 . The reservoir temperature monitoring and control device of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a display positioned on the housing, the display configured to display a current temperature based on the measured temperature of the material within the housing.   
     
     
         21 . A reservoir temperature monitoring device comprising:
 a housing at least partially expandable to receive to a reservoir therein, the using conformable to a shape of at least a portion of the reservoir; and   an occupancy sensor connected to the housing to detect whether the reservoir is positioned in the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a temperature sensor coupled to the housing, the temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a material within the reservoir when the reservoir is positioned within the housing, and   a temperature control device within or coupled to the housing and configured to, when the reservoir is located within the housing, cool the reservoir based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir.   
     
     
         23 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature sensor is located on an inner surface of the housing and configured to contact the reservoir when the reservoir is located within the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to, when the reservoir is located within the housing, heat the reservoir based on the temperature of the material within the reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 22 , comprising:
 a processor within the housing and in communication with the temperature sensor and the temperature control device, the processor configured to:
 receive the temperature of the material within the reservoir from the temperature sensor; and 
 operate the thermoelectric temperature control device to heat and cool the reservoir based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir. 
   
     
     
         26 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 22 , comprising:
 a second temperature sensor configured to measure an exterior temperature, wherein the processor is configured to receive the exterior temperature from the second temperature sensor for determining whether to heat or cool the reservoir.   
     
     
         27 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 21 , wherein the occupancy sensor includes a stretch sensor or a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         28 . A reservoir monitoring and maintenance device comprising:
 a housing expandable to receive to a reservoir therein;   a temperature sensor coupled to the housing, the temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a material within the reservoir when the reservoir is positioned within the housing; and   a stretch sensor connected to the housing and expandable with the housing, the stretch sensor configured to detect when the reservoir is located in the housing.   
     
     
         29 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 28 , comprising:
 a temperature control device coupled to the housing and configured to, when the reservoir is located within the housing, cool the reservoir based on the measured temperature of the material within the reservoir.   
     
     
         30 . The reservoir monitoring device of  claim 28 , wherein the stretch sensor is configured to detect every instance the reservoir is accessed.