Electronics Weekly Electronics Design & Components Tech News
Update: for Covid 19 vaccine storage scroll down
Called TC489, it uses a set of three LEDs to provide a clear, non-reversible indication of upper and lower temperature breaches as well as normal operation, plus it has NFC technology so users can scan with their smartphone for more information.
In this case temperature limits are preset at 2ºC to 8ºC.
The tag is 34 x 48 x 4.5mm, which includes a CR1620 lithium cell intended to run the device for a year (1 minute sampling interval). Protection is to IP54.
A tab is broken off to start operation, after which the various LEDs flash once every 30 second to indicate status, and a push button is included for an immediate reading.
Timestrip also makes chemical-based monitoring tags.
Update 18nov20: There was some disappointment in the comments below that the above tag was not applicable to ultra-cold storage for Covid-19 vaccine.
Now the company has introduced a pair of non-electronic (chemical-based) tags to monitor Covid-19 vaccine storage (product page here).
They are
- VTT 24 (Vaccine thaw timer)
- VRM (Vaccine refrigeration monitor) range
“Based on safe chemical technology, both the VTT 24 and VRM range overcome the limitations of batteries used at ultra-low temperatures,” according to Timestrip.
Aren’t we looking at -80 deg C for the Pfizer vaccine? +2 and +8 isn’t very interesting.
Hi Peter
Definitely not a Pfizer-ready product – fair point.
But, I think, interesting that a chemical indicator company, with knowledge of medical product transportation, has moved into electronic sensing.
If it is CMOS, getting down to -40C would probably be a software change
Then -55C would be a would be more software and Mil temp components, plus a slightly magic battery.
Below that would be a properly interesting design challenge – maybe powered by the reader, and not allowed to add heat to the sensed environment?
Hi Peter
see updated article for just-released Covid-19 products from Timestrip