Patent ID: 8881540
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: F25D,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A process of ensuring low cost shipment of biological products requiring temperature-control, comprising: determining a maximum predicted period of shipment for biological products and predicted ambient temperature ranges during shipment; selecting a system of containers and solid phase refrigerants, which change from solid phase during shipment, likely to maintain the biological products within a specified range of temperatures during the shipment period; shipping the products in the selected system and monitoring the temperatures encountered to a certain point during the shipment period using an on board monitor which monitors and records the temperatures and the length of time the system was exposed to particular temperatures throughout the shipment period, and wherein the monitor displays the record of temperatures and times of exposure in a form which can be scanned; calculating the amount of the solid phase of the refrigerant remaining at said point during the shipment period based on the temperatures encountered; calculating a value, at said point during shipment, representing the likelihood that the remaining solid phase refrigerant is sufficient to preserve the biological products, for the remaining shipment period, based on the expected ambient temperature range during said remaining shipment period; and if the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within said specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period is below a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo, which is one of: adding refrigerant to the shipment, moving the shipment to a faster transportation mode, moving the shipment to a temperature-controlled environment, or diverting the shipment to a different recipient.