Abstract:
A lockable blood and urine sample transporter. The transporter has a thermostatically controlled cooling unit which maintains the specimens at a fixed temperature. The transporter also has a securing lock which prevents unauthorized access to the specimens contained therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of blood and urine testing. More specifically, the invention comprises a lockable and portable specimen transporter. The transporter has a thermostatically controlled cooling unit which maintains the specimens at a fixed temperature. The transporter also has a securing lock which prevents unauthorized access to the specimens contained therein. 
     BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     Blood and urine testing is an expanding field. Employers are now conducting drug screens of their employees. General blood testing is also performed for the purpose of obtaining health and life insurance. Collection of the samples is often performed on site. The samples must then be transported to a laboratory where the testing is conducted. If there is a significant delay between collection and testing, refrigeration of the samples is required. 
     The practical aspects of specimen collection and transportation are further complicated by the fact that many statutes apply to the preservation of samples which are to be used in evidence. These statutory requirements, often called “chain of custody” requirements, mandate that the samples must be maintained in a secure vessel from the time of collection to the time of testing. 
     Numerous prior art devices exist for the transportation of biological specimens. U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,678 to Lenmark (1991) discloses a hollow transport container having a number of pre-cut foam inserts. The focus of this device is cushioning the specimens from impact. It does not refrigerate the specimens, nor does it provide secure storage. 
     Refrigeration is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,064 to Kellow et.al. (1993). The &#39;064 device is intended to safely store temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals in an ambulance or the like. It provides thermostatically controlled refrigeration, as well as an alarm that sounds if the storage temperature is exceeded for a set length of time (indicating that the pharmaceuticals need to be discarded). The invention also provides that the temperature alarm can only be reset with a key. However, the &#39;064 device does not provide any mechanism to prevent unauthorized access. 
     A small and relatively simple specimen transporter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,012 to Shindler et.al. (1995). The base of the &#39;012 device is configured to be molded from styrene or Styrofoam. Refrigeration is provided by the addition of a “cold pack” (commonly an enclosed container in which an irreversible chemical reaction produces cold temperatures). While it is capable of maintaining cool temperatures for some time, the lack of a controlled refrigeration system limits the time the specimens can be safely stored within the device. It also lacks any anti-tamper mechanism. 
     A very simple and potentially disposable specimen storage device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,142 to Silber (1995). This device is well-suited to packaging and shipping of specimens via common carriers. It is not sufficiently durable for long term use, nor is it capable of preventing unauthorized access. 
     A more sophisticated specimen transporter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,799 to Dalto (1996). This device features a thermostatically controlled heat sink mechanism capable of heating or cooling the storage compartment. It employs logic circuitry to allow user-defined minimum and maximum temperatures. It does not include any type of securing mechanism which would prevent unauthorized access. 
     A different approach to specimen transport is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,478 (1999) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,040 (2000) to Bostic et.al. These patents disclose a double-walled closed container. The space between the walls can be evacuated to provide insulation, and to prevent tampering. The device includes a pneumatic hand pump used to evacuate the container upon sealing. It also includes structural foam placed between the walls to prevent collapse when the vacuum is introduced. Neither device is capable of maintaining reduced temperatures indefinitely. Although the pneumatic sealing approach does provide some security, it is impractical for a container which must be opened periodically to admit new specimens (as it would have to be re-evacuated after each opening). 
     The known methods for securely transporting biological specimens are therefore limited in that they: 
     1. Cannot maintain reduced temperatures indefinitely; 
     2. Do not provide sufficient anti-tamper means; 
     3. Cannot be opened regularly to admit new specimens; 
     4. Do not provide separate storage areas for different types of specimens; and 
     5. Do not allow for a variety of power sources. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     1. To maintain reduced temperatures indefinitely; 
     2. To provide sufficient anti-tamper means; 
     3. To allow the storage vessel to be opened regularly to admit new specimens; 
     4. To provide separate storage areas for different types of specimens; and 
     5. To allow for a variety of power sources. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view, showing the chassis of the proposed transporter. 
     FIG. 1B is an isometric view, showing the chassis from another angle. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view, showing the major components of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is an isometric view, showing the invention from another angle. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view, showing the assembled components of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view, showing the cooling circulation of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view, showing details of the control panel. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view, showing specimen trays being placed in the transporter. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view, showing details of the blood specimen tray. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view, showing details of the urine specimen tray. 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view, showing a fabric cover. 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view, showing the fabric cover of FIG. 9 placed on the transporter. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view, showing the configuration of FIG. 10 from another perspective. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Reference Numerals in Drawings 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 transporter 
                 12 
                 chassis 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 cooling module 
                 16 
                 battery 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 top 
                 20 
                 center slot 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 blood sample well 
                 24 
                 urine sample well 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 right bulkhead 
                 28 
                 left bulkhead 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 center cavity 
                 32 
                 cooling port 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 return port 
                 36 
                 cooling intake 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 circulation fan 
                 40 
                 right hatch 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 left hatch 
                 44 
                 right hatch cover 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 left hatch cover 
                 48 
                 urine sample tray 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 finger notch 
                 52 
                 blood sample tray 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 blood vial 
                 56 
                 vial cavity 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 target vector 
                 60 
                 power switch 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 power input 
                 64 
                 indicator lights 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 cooling outlet 
                 68 
                 fabric cover 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 access hole 
                 72 
                 securing flap 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 zipper track 
                 76 
                 zipper handle 
               
               
                   
                 78 
                 zipper lock 
                 80 
                 strap attachment 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 document slot 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows chassis  12 , which is essentially an elongated box having an insulated bottom and for insulated side walls. The interior of chassis  12  is subdivided by right bulkhead  26  and left bulkhead  28 . The resulting subdivisions are urine sample well  24 , center cavity  30 , and blood sample well  22 . Right bulkhead  26  and left bulkhead  28  each have a series of cooling ports  32  passing completely through them. These ports allow air within center cavity  30  to flow into urine sample well  24  and blood sample well  22 . Each bulkhead is also cut by a return port  34  (only one of the two return ports  34  may be observed in FIG.  1 ), the function of which will be explained subsequently. The front wall of chassis  12  is cut by center slot  20 , which allows external access to center cavity  30 . 
     FIG. 1B shows chassis  12  from another angle. Document slot  82  is provided to house the documentation accompanying the specimens. 
     FIG. 2 depicts the major elements of specimen cooler  10 . Cooling module  14  is configured to slide through center slot  20 , coming to rest within center cavity  30 . Cooling module  14  is fixed in place by convention a means—since it does not normally need to be removed throughout the life of the device. Cooling module  14  contains an electrically-driven cooling unit, which may, without limitation, be of the vapor-loop or thermocouple type. For purposes of general discussion, the cooling unit will be taken to contain an internal heat exchanger, which absorbs heat from the interior of chassis  12 , whereafter it is conveyed to an external heat exchanger, which expels the heat to the surrounding air. Those skilled in the art will realize that these heat exchangers may be of several different types. 
     Circulation fan  38  provides two functions. It actually employs two sets of fan blades, one circulating air on the outside of chassis  12  and one circulating air on the inside of chassis  12 . Both sets of blades are mounted on a common shaft and driven by a common motor (for cost saving purposes). The external set of fan blades circulates external air over the external heat exchanger, thereby expelling heat to the surrounding air. The internal set of fan blades circulates internal air over the internal heat exchanger, thereby cooling that air and cooling the contents of chassis  12 . 
     Cooling module  14  has a pair of cooling intakes  36 —one on either side. Cooling intakes  36  align with return ports  34  in the two bulkheads. Turning briefly now to FIG. 4, the circulation of air within chassis  12  will be explained. Cooling module  14  has cooling outlet  66 . The internal set of fan blades blows cold air out of cooling outlet  66 , as shown by the arrow. This results in a positive pressure within central cavity  30 , which causes the cool air to flow through cooling ports  32  and into urine sample well  24  and blood sample well  22 . The air within the two wells is then pulled back into cooling module  14  by return ports  34 . In this manner, air is circulated within the interior of chassis  12  so that cooling module  14  can regulate the temperature within chassis  12 . 
     Returning now to FIG.2, the reader will observe that cooling module has detachable battery  16 . This is provided so that refrigeration will not be interrupted during periods when transporter  10  cannot be plugged into external power. Battery  16  is designed to be easily removed and replaced. The user can carry multiple batteries to extend the time during which transporter  10  can operate exclusively on internal power. 
     Top  18  covers the upward-facing opening of chassis  12 . It is configured to be secured in place. The user does not normally remove top  18 , though it can be configured for easy removal in order to aid cleaning and the like. 
     FIG. 2B shows the same components from another perspective. The reader will observe that document slot  82  passes through top  18 . This allows the user to place documentation in document slot  82  while top  18  is in place on chassis  12 . 
     FIG. 3 shows transporter  10  with all its structural components assembled. Cooling module  14  is affixed in place, as is top  18 . Top  18  has two openings—right hatch  40  and left hatch  42 . Each hatch has a hinged cover—right hatch cover  44  and left hatch cover  46 . Both hatch covers are shown in the open position in FIG.  3 . Both hatch covers may be closed over both hatches, being fastened in place by plastic snaps or other conventional means. Once the user presses a hatch cover into the closed position, the fastening means will retain it in the closed position until the user desires to open it again. 
     FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the front of cooling module  14 . Battery  16  is shown in its bay within cooling module  14 . Once the user slides battery  16  into its bay, it is retained by a conventional catch mechanism. If the user wishes to remove battery  16 , he or she presses battery release  58 , which ejects battery  16  outward a short distance. The user then grasps battery  16  and manually removes it. 
     The front face of cooling module  14  is provided with power switch  60 . In the embodiment shown, once power switch  60  is pressed to the “on” position, thermostatic control means are engaged to maintain the interior of chassis  12  at a fixed temperature—such as 40 degrees F. Additional user inputs may be provided to allow the user to adjust the maintained temperature. However, as the invention is intended to be used primarily with blood and urine samples, it is advantageous to have a non-adjustable temperature (thereby eliminating a possibility of human error). 
     Indicator lights  64  are provided to inform the user whether the device is on or off, to provide battery charge status, etc. Power input  62  is a female receptacle intended to receive external DC electrical power. Different adapters are provided so that the transporter can be plugged into an automobile cigarette lighter or a 110 VAC wall outlet (through the use of an external AC to DC transformer/rectifier). As these adapters are well known in the prior art, they have not been illustrated. 
     However, it is important to appreciate the utility provided by the combination of battery  16  and power input  62 . The user typically takes transporter  10  to several sites for collection of specimens. He or she would routinely leave transporter  10  plugged into a wall outlet in the office in order to cool the interior to the desired temperature prior to departing for the first collection. When the user unplugs transporter  10 , control means automatically switch it to internal battery power. Once in a vehicle, the user plugs transporter  10  into the cigarette lighter, whereupon control means automatically switch it back to external power. One at the collecting site, the user may elect—if the collections are likely to be over an extended period—to again plug transporter  10  into a wall outlet. In this manner, the reduced temperature inside transporter  10  can be maintained indefinitely. 
     FIG. 6 shows transporter  10  with both hatch covers open. Urine sample trays  48  are carefully sized to fit through left hatch  42  and stack within urine sample well  24  (specimen cups and bags are placed within each urine sample tray  48  before it is stacked in urine sample well  24 ). Likewise, blood sample tray  52  is carefully sized to fit through right hatch  40  and stack within blood sample well  22  (blood vials are placed within blood sample tray  52  before it is stacked in blood sample well  22 ). The reader should note that although only one blood sample tray  52  is shown, two or more can be stacked within blood sample well  22 . The reader will observe that the rectangular perimeter of both types of sample trays will be held firmly by the rectangular walls of the well in which it is placed. The reader will also observe that both types of sample trays are designed to stack. The use of the trays allows the user to secure many small sample containers within the relatively spacious interior of transporter  10 . 
     Urine sample trays  48  are in fact an optional feature of the invention. Depending on the type of collection bags employed, the user may find it more convenient to simply place the urine sample bags directly into urine sample well  24 . 
     FIG. 7 is a detailed view of blood sample tray  52 . Its upper surface opens into a grid of via cavities  56 . Each via cavity  56  is shaped to receive and securely hold a blood via  54 . Thus, once a blood sample has been collected in blood via  54 , the user deposits it in a via cavity  56 . The configuration of blood sample tray  52 —being a thin walled structure—is such that it can easily be made of injection-molded plastic. 
     Finger notches  50  are provided on either side of blood sample tray  52 . These are provided so that the user can grasp and remove blood sample tray  52  from blood sample well  22 . Because of the fact that blood sample tray  52  fits snugly within blood sample well  22 , it would be difficult to remove the tray without finger notches  50 . 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed view of urine sample tray  48 . Urine samples are typically collected in small cups, after which they are placed in a sealed plastic bag. Urine sample tray  48  is designed to receive one or more such bags. Once the bag or bags have been placed within urine sample tray  48 , urine sample tray  48  is placed within urine sample well  24 . Finger notches are also provided to ease the removal of urine sample tray  48  from transporter  10 . It also has a thin-walled structure to facilitate its manufacture as an injection molded part. 
     The previous portions of the description have explained how the invention stores and transports biological specimens at a reduced temperature. However, those skilled in the art will realize that security is a significant concern with the transportation of such samples. Biological samples are often used in courts of law. In order to be introduced as evidence, a clear chain of custody must be maintained. This means that the individual collecting the specimens must be able to ensure that no unauthorized access to the specimens is allowed. 
     Since a collection transporter must be portable, it is impractical to have a truly secure structure. One cannot carry a steel safe. However, it is sufficient to provide a securing means which will clearly indicate if the transporter has been opened in the user&#39;s absence. The user would then know that the samples contained within the transporter can no longer be considered valid. 
     FIG. 9 shows one such securing device. Fabric cover  68  is designed to slip over transporter  10 . It is typically made of a durable fabric, such as KEVLAR or BALLISTIC NYLON. FIG. 10 shows fabric cover  68  in place on transporter  10 . Returning now to FIG. 9, the features of fabric cover  68  will be explained in detail. Fabric cover  68  is made in a hollow rectangular shape, with an opening large enough to admit transporter  10 . The opening is closed via securing flap  72 . The reader will observe that zipper track  74  runs completely around the perimeter of the opening. The user pulls zipper handle  76  to close securing flap  72 . When the zipper has traveled completely around zipper track  74 , it comes to rest within zipper lock  78 . Zipper lock  78  is a conventional prior art device—as found on bank cash bags and the like. It has a key lock (some have combinations and push buttons) which locks the zipper in place. The zipper can then only be opened by someone having the key. 
     Turning back to FIG. 10, the operation of fabric cover  68  will be explained. With securing flap  72  in the open position—as shown—the user has access to open the hatch covers and add or remove samples within transporter  10 . If however, the user must leave transporter  10  unattended for a few moments, he or she may secure it by zipping securing flap  72  in place and locking zipper lock  78 . It is then very difficult to gain entrance to transporter  10  without visibly damaging fabric cover  68 . 
     The reader will observe that access hole  70  is provided in fabric cover  68  to allow access to the front of cooling module  14 . The reader will also observe the presence of strap attachment  80 . This feature is provided to allow the attachment of a shoulder strap (not shown). FIG. 11 illustrates that the opposite end of fabric cover  68  is equipped with a second strap attachment  80 . The user may therefore attach a shoulder strap to both ends of fabric cover  68  and use it to conveniently carry transporter  10 . As such straps are well known in the prior art, a particular strap has not been illustrated. 
     SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will appreciate that the proposed invention can securably store and transport biological samples. The invention has further advantages in that it: 
     1. Can maintain reduced storage temperatures indefinitely; 
     2. Provides effective anti-tamper means; 
     3. Can be opened regularly to admit new specimens; 
     4. Provides separate storage areas for different types of specimens; and 
     5. Can be powered by a variety of power sources. 
     Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.