1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cold storage remains system, and more particularly, to a portable remains cooling system having a series of storage pouches with a cold fluid tubing network connected to a manifold system and a chiller for cycling cold fluid through the tubing network to maintain a desired temperature in the storage pouches.
2) Description of Related Art
In dealing with mass casualty situations, maintaining remains in a refrigerated condition for an extended period of time presents substantial logistical concerns. For example, in the U.S. Military, the standards for dealing with human remains require 40 to 60 pounds of ice per remains to maintain the remains at a chilled temperature for approximately 10 hours. In a war time setting when casualties are high, this creates a serious issue of providing sufficient ice to properly handle the remains in the field and through transport to a processing facility, such as a mortuary.
In some field situation, refrigerated tractor trailers have been used to temporarily house remains. The portability of this arrangement is extremely limited due to practical matters of moving such a large trailer around and providing sufficient power to refrigerate the entire trailer to a sufficiently low near freezing temperature. Additionally, such large refrigerated systems take time to set up and are completely impractical in battlefield situations where locations are constantly changing and immediate temporary storage and cooling of the remains is required, for example, when remains are being transported from the front lines to a casualty collection point. Further, in situations where biological or chemical contamination is present, it is desired to control the remains in individual sealed containers to prevent cross-contamination with other remains, as well as to prevent infection or exposure for those dealing with the remains.
The prior art is replete with various human remains cooling systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,290 (Hogan) discloses a portable container able to provide refrigeration for a human corpse. The container includes an outer shell, a lining and a conduit system of tubes and hoses. A freezable liquid is released from reservoirs and flows through the connecting hoses into the flow tubes. The freezable liquid is absorbed into the container lining and frozen. The liquid is not re-circulated through the flow tubes and a chiller system to maintain a constant temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,181 (Takasugi) shows a method of keeping a cadaver at a low temperature in a casket that includes supplying a liquefied cooling gas to the cooling chamber, which is transformed into a precipitate within the casket interior. The liquid is not re-circulated through flow tubes and a chiller system to maintain a constant temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 0,311,764 (Johnson) shows a single corpse cooler and preserver that circulates cool gas through pipes in a casket and then vents the spent gas. There is no recirculation of the gas.
U.S. Publication No. 2004/0252918 A1 (Yu et al.) shows a body bag that includes an outer bag case and an inner bag case. Air is extracted from the bag by vacuum means. No re-circulating cooling system is disclosed to maintain the temperature inside the body bag.
Japanese Publication No. 2006346428 (Omori) shows a low-temperature cold reserving body storage bag that includes a pipeline for circulating a cooling fluid. There is no disclosure of a manifold system for circulating fluid to multiple storage bags, or that the system is adaptable to meeting the needs of a mass casualty situation.
Japanese Publication No. 409286701 A (Aoyanagi) shows injecting a liquefied gas into a bag for rapidly cooling a corpse.
Japanese Publication No. 409253141 A (Aoyanagi) shows a dead body housing storing bag that includes means for introducing a cold air into the bag and a return pipe. There is no disclosure of a manifold system for circulating fluid to multiple storage bags, or that the system is adaptable to meeting the needs of a mass casualty situation.
French Application No. 2 539 620 (Perroud et al.) shows an envelope for covering a body. The inside surface of the envelope is cooled by a network of flexible tubes through which a refrigerating medium flows. There is no disclosure of a manifold system for circulating fluid to multiple storage bags, or that the system is adaptable to meeting the needs of a mass casualty situation.
While the idea of providing cold storage for human remains is clearly known, the prior art simply has not adequately addressed the problems associated with quickly preserving mass casualties in a field environment, such as on a battlefield. The prior art does not address the concerns of portability and scalability needed in dealing with cold storage of human remains systems for mass casualty situations where biological or chemical contamination may be present. The prior art does not adequately address the logistical concerns of providing acceptable levels of rapid cooling and storage for remains in the field, and for the transport of those remains while maintaining a required level of cooling. Thus, there is a need to address the logistical concerns for a portable remains cooling system able to support numerous casualties in individual containers.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cold storage remains system which utilizes a series of individual storage pouches having a cold fluid tubing network connected to a manifold system with a chiller for cycling cold fluid through the tubing network to maintain a desired temperature in the storage pouches.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable cold storage remains system for dealing with mass casualties in the field.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a scalable cold storage remains system that can be adapted to accommodate changing numbers of remains for individual storage in a field environment.
The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a scalable and portable human remains cooling system comprising a chiller unit having a chilled fluid supply, at least one primary fluid supply line and at least one primary fluid return line for providing a chilled fluid for cooling human remains and circulating warmed fluid back to the chiller for re-chilling; a flow divider manifold including a chilled fluid input having a series of chilled fluid output ports in fluid communication with the primary fluid supply line from the chiller for receiving and dispersing the chilled fluid supply, the manifold having a warm fluid output including a series of warm fluid input ports in fluid communication with the primary fluid return line to the chiller unit for returning warmed fluid to the chiller for re-chilling; at least one secondary supply line in fluid communication with one of the chilled fluid output ports; at least one secondary return line in fluid communication with one of the warm fluid input ports; at least one remains chilling bag in fluid communication with the secondary supply line receiving the chilled fluid from the chiller unit, and in fluid communication with the secondary return line for returning warmed fluid to the chiller unit; whereby the chilled fluid is circulated through the chilling bag and warmed fluid that has circulated through the chilling bag is returned to the chiller unit for re-chilling in a continuous cycle to maintain a desired temperature within the remains chilling bag.
In a further embodiment, the storage system includes a plurality of flow divider manifolds arranged along the primary fluid supply line, wherein the chilled fluid input on each manifold is releasably connected in fluid communication with the primary fluid supply line, and the warm fluid output on each the manifold is releasably connected in fluid communication with the primary fluid return line so that the flow divider manifolds can be added and removed from the primary fluid supply line to scale the size of the system for the number of the remains chilling bags that may be required.
In a further embodiment, one of the chilled fluid output ports on a first flow divider manifold is connected in fluid communication with the chilled fluid input on a second flow divider manifold in a consecutive arrangement so that the chilled fluid from the primary fluid supply line passes through the first flow divider manifold before being received in the second flow divider manifold.
In a further embodiment, the chilled fluid is cooled to a temperature of approximately between 30° F. to 45° F. prior to circulation through the remains chilling bag. Preferably, the chilled fluid includes approximately 30% by volume of glycol to prevent freezing.
In a further embodiment, the chiller unit includes an outlet pressure reducing valve in fluid communication with the primary fluid supply line for providing a low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through the system. Preferably, the low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through the primary fluid supply line is approximately 10 psi.
In a further embodiment, the primary fluid supply line and the primary fluid return line are a 1″ diameter for maintaining flow volume and pressure to the flow divider manifold. Further, the secondary supply and return lines are a ⅜″ diameter for maintaining pressure and flow volume to circulate the fluid through the remains chilling bag.
In a further embodiment, the primary and secondary fluid supply lines and the primary and secondary fluid return lines are connected to the manifold using a quick connect coupling so that the supply and return lines may be connected and disconnected without turning off the chiller unit.
In a further embodiment, the remains chilling bag includes quick connect couplings for connecting in fluid communication with the secondary supply line and the secondary return line so that the remains chilling bags may be connected and disconnected without turning off the chiller unit.
In a further embodiment, the remains chilling bag includes a top outer protective layer and a bottom outer protective layer releasably interconnected forming an interior cavity for storing remains. A first cooling pad is carried by the top outer protective layer and a second cooling pad carried by the bottom outer protective layer wherein the first and second cooling pads are each connected in fluid communication with the secondary supply line and the secondary return line for circulating the chilled fluid through the bag so that the remains placed in the interior cavity are cooled simultaneously from both a top and bottom side and returning warmed fluid to the chiller.
In a further embodiment, the first and second cooling pads each include a flow director segmenting an interior fluid cavity in the cooling pads generally into a feed section and a return section so that the chilled fluid is circulated through the feed section into the return section in a consecutive one-way flow arrangement.
In a further embodiment, the interior fluid cavity of the first and second cooling pads includes a plurality of fluid dispersion cells for directing the chilled fluid throughout the feed section and the return section.
In a further embodiment, the first and second cooling pads are releasably carried by the top and bottom outer protective layers respectively for removal from the remains chilling bag.
In a further embodiment, a first charcoal filter layer is disposed between the top outer protective layer and the first cooling pad, and a second charcoal filter layer disposed between the bottom outer protective layer and the second cooling pad for absorbing odors emitted from remains placed in the interior cavity.
The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described; together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:
With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. Referring to
In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
At least one remains chilling bag 20 is provided in fluid communication with secondary supply line 32 receiving the chilled fluid from chiller unit 12. The remains chilling bag 20 is also connected in fluid communication with the secondary return line 34 for returning warmed fluid to the chiller unit. Accordingly, a system is provided wherein the chilled fluid is circulated through remains chilling bag 20 and warmed fluid that has circulated through remains chilling bag 20 is returned to chiller unit 12 for re-chilling in a continuous cycle to maintain a desired temperature within remains chilling bag 20.
The chiller unit 12 cooperates with remains chilling bags 20 to circulate a chilled fluid through the bags to absorb any heat from the remains and maintain a desired internal temperature in the bag. In the preferred embodiment, chiller unit 12 includes a refrigeration circuit for cooling the fluid to a desired temperature of generally between 30°-45° F. Preferably, the temperature within remains chilling bags 20 is maintained at approximately 34°-42° F. for most temporary storage needs. A chiller unit of the type manufactured by Advantage Engineering, Inc. 525 East Stop 18 Road, Greenwood, Ind. 46142, can serve to provide and circulate a chilled fluid supply through a plurality of remains chilling bags. Preferably, the chilled fluid is a glycol and water solution or other similar fluid to prevent freezing to maintain circulation of the fluid through the various supply lines and manifolds. In a preferred embodiment, the chilled fluid includes approximately 30% by volume of glycol to prevent freezing.
In a further embodiment, chiller unit 12 is adapted to include an outlet pressure reducing valve 36 in fluid communication with primary fluid supply line 16 for creating a low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through the system. Preferably, the low flow pressure of the chilled fluid through primary fluid supply line 16 is approximately 10 psi. In a further embodiment, primary fluid supply line 16 and primary fluid return line 18 have a one-inch diameter for maintaining flow volume and pressure to flow divider manifold 22 under the low flow pressure condition of the system. Further, secondary supply and return lines 32 and 34 have a ⅜-inch diameter for maintaining pressure and flow volume to circulate the fluid through the remains chilling bag.
The chiller unit is designed to allow for connection and disconnection of remains chilling bags 20 without having to shutdown the system by using plug connections on manifold 22 and remains chilling bags 20 that seal when the plug is removed to prevent fluid from spilling out of the manifold or the bag. Preferably, primary and secondary fluid supply lines 16 and 32 and the primary and secondary fluid return lines 18 and 34 are connected to flow divider manifold 22 using a quick connect coupling so that the supply and return lines may be connected and disconnected without turning off the chiller unit or having to use tools to complete the connections. Further, remains chilling bag 20 also includes quick connect couplings for connecting in fluid communication with secondary supply line 32 and secondary return line 34 so that remains chilling bags 20 may be connected and disconnected without turning off the chiller unit or having to use tools to complete the connections. The low flow pressure of the system allows for quick connect fittings to be used in connecting the supply lines and return lines to the manifold and the remains chilling bags.
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In a further embodiment, interior fluid cavity 74 of first and second cooling pads 54 and 56 includes a plurality of fluid dispersion cells 84 for directing the chilled fluid throughout feed section 76 and return section 78. Preferably, fluid dispersion cell 84 are formed by heat welding, as indicated by reference number 86, in a staggered arrangement sections of top side 80 and bottom side 82 of the cooling pads. Arrows 88 indicate the direction of fluid flow through the cooling pad on opposite sides of flow director 72.
Referring to
Preferably, outer protective layers 42 and 44 of remains chilling bag 20 are a bio/chemical hazard approved material. In combination with cooling pads 54 and 56, and chiller unit 12, these components allow for complete long term remains chilling that meets all international, federal, and US Military requirements for the transfer of human remains both CONUS and OCONUS. In a further embodiment, remains chilling bag 20 may consist of a modified military approved Kappler Contaminated Remains Pouch (CRP). The CRP is constructed of ZYTRON® which is a barrier material that has shown barrier protection against Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC'S) and Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA's). The CRP is constructed using heat-sealed seams (inside and out), and incorporates a gas-tight zipper 48, a uni-directional pressure relief valve (not pictured) may be includes, as well as a fluid collection reservoir. The pressure relief valve would preferably be fitted to a C2AI NBC canister by way of an ISO-threaded coupling. This type of construction provides a hermetically-sealed remains pouch to protect against biological and chemical contamination for those dealing with the remains.
In a further embodiment, remains chilling bag 20 may include a temperature sensor and display (not pictured) operatively associated with the interior of remains chilling bag 20 for monitoring the core temperature of the bag for adequate cooling of the remains therein.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/934,325, filed Jun. 13, 2007.
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