Patent ID: 7231771

Claim:
A thermoelectric cooler for maintaining intravenous solution, or other appropriate fluid, within a set temperature range for the specific purpose of inducing rapid, point-of-injury, mild-to-moderate hypothermia, comprising: an insulated container comprising a storage compartment having two generally parallel end walls, generally parallel top and bottom walls, and a back wall, each of the walls and a door having internally oriented and externally oriented surfaces, the top, bottom, and end walls having front edge surfaces, the storage compartment having an opening in proximity to the front, and a generally rectangular door having at least one horizontally positioned hinge which pivotally attaches the bottom edge of the door to the bottom front edge of the storage compartment, the door in the closed position sealing the opening at the front of the storage compartment, and the storage compartment and the door in the closed position together defining an interior volume of the thermoelectric cooler; a thermoelectric cooling device for cooling the interior volume of the insulated container, having a cooling element mounted between interior and exterior heat exchangers, each with an associated electrically powered fan; an electronic control unit with an associated temperature sensor, for detecting and maintaining the temperature of the interior volume within a set temperature range; a display panel positioned on the insulated container, for enabling the user to control the operation of the cooling device, having an on-off power switch for selectively powering the cooling device, a warning light to indicate when power is on, a warning light to indicate when the temperature of the interior volume is within the set temperature range, and a warning light to indicate when the temperature of the interior volume is outside temperature range; and a connector jack positioned on the insulated container with an associated power cord to provide electrical power to the thermoelectric cooler by connection to a standard electrical outlet.