초록 ▼

An incubator for storing blood platelets is provided. The incubator has a temperature controlled storage compartment and an apparatus for monitoring temperature within the storage compartment and other events. The incubator is configured to accept agitators within the storage compartment, the agitat

An incubator for storing blood platelets is provided. The incubator has a temperature controlled storage compartment and an apparatus for monitoring temperature within the storage compartment and other events. The incubator is configured to accept agitators within the storage compartment, the agitators operable to provide constant agitation of materials stored thereon. The information monitored is stored for access through a user interface or by an independent computer.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An incubator for storage of blood platelets, the incubator comprising: a storage cabinet defining a storage space and a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, a heating element positioned in the storage space, a refrigeration unit positioned in th

The invention claimed is: 1. An incubator for storage of blood platelets, the incubator comprising: a storage cabinet defining a storage space and a door moveable between an open position and a closed position, a heating element positioned in the storage space, a refrigeration unit positioned in the storage space, a controller electrically coupled to the heating element and refrigeration unit, a temperature sensor electrically coupled to the controller, an agitator positioned in the storage space, the agitator including a base and a frame which oscillates linearly relative to the base, and a user interface in communication with the controller and configured to receive inputs from a user and display outputs from the controller. 2. The incubator of claim 1, wherein: the controller is configured to store a log of events, and the display is configured to display the log events. 3. The incubator of claim 2, wherein: the log includes the date of the event, the time of the event, and the sensed temperature within the storage space during the event. 4. A platelet incubator, comprising: a storage cabinet defining a storage space, the cabinet including a door movable between an open position permitting access to the storage space and a closed position, a controller, a memory device in communication with the controller, a user input device in communication with the controller operable to receive input from a user, a display device in communication with controller operable to display output from the controller, a temperature sensor in communication with the controller operable to sense the temperature of the storage cabinet, an agitator positioned in the storage space, the agitator including a base and a frame which oscillates linearly relative to the base, and a heating element in communication with the controller operable to be activated by the controller and heat the storage cabinet. 5. The platelet incubator of claim 4, wherein: the controller comprises a microprocessor and the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the controller to control the temperature in the storage space. 6. The platelet incubator of claim 5, wherein: the microprocessor uses a feedback control system to control the heating element. 7. The platelet incubator of claim 6, wherein: the feedback control system is a proportional-plus-integral-plus-derivative controller. 8. The platelet incubator of claim 4, wherein: the heating element includes a thermal protection device to prevent the heating element from overheating. 9. The incubator of claim 4, wherein: the control system is configured to log events that are known to effect the temperature of the storage cabinet, the log stored in the memory device. 10. The incubator of claim 9, wherein: the information stored in the log includes the date of the event, the time of the event, and the temperature within the storage space. 11. The incubator of claim 3, wherein: an event is logged if the agitator frame fails to oscillate at an acceptable speed relative to the agitator base. 12. The incubator of claim 1, wherein: the controller is configured to monitor and control the oscillation speed of the agitator frame relative to the agitator base. 13. The incubator of claim 12, wherein: the agitator is oscillated at a rate that is sufficient to prevent coagulation of platelets stored in the incubator. 14. The incubator of claim 4, wherein: the agitator includes a sensor in communication with the controller and the controller monitors the speed of oscillation of the frame of the agitator relative to the base of the agitator. 15. The incubator of claim 5, wherein: the memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the controller to monitor the temperature in the storage cabinet and monitor the speed of oscillation of the frame of the agitator relative to the base of the agitator. 16. The incubator of claim 15, wherein: a user may input at least one alarm condition for an operational parameter and the controller logs an event if the alarm condition is met. 17. The incubator of claim 16, wherein: a user may input an alarm condition for the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor or the speed of oscillation of the agitator frame relative to the agitator base. 18. The incubator of claim 17, wherein: the information stored in the event log includes the date of the event, the time of the event, and the temperature within the storage cabinet. 19. The incubator of claim 4, wherein: the controller creates an event log and an event is logged if the door of the storage cabinet is opened. 20. The incubator of claim 19, wherein: the information stored in the event log includes the date of the event, the time of the event, and the temperature within the storage cabinet.