TEST 1 - insulin in minus 20 ... flightcase 

Development and Testing of an Innovative Insulin Storage Solution under Extreme Conditions

In my latest endeavor to create an effective storage solution for insulin under extreme cold conditions, I have undergone an exciting journey of research, design, and testing. This project is inspired by my personal experience and the necessity of ensuring reliable medication storage for diabetics on adventures in cold climates, especially for the Svalbard trip that involves a week of skiing and tenting in sub-zero temperatures.

Development Process

The first prototype consisted of a medicinal cooling thermobox equipped with a battery-powered heating element. The challenge was to maintain a constant temperature despite the external cold degrees. My experience with NordicHeat, a Danish company specialized in heating elements in clothing, provided me with the necessary knowledge and inspiration. Together with Alex Eiding from NordicHeat, we constructed a unit containing heating elements in a flexible piece of fabric, with the ability to adjust the heat strength in three levels.

Testing Phase

After finding another Danish manufacturer of styrofoam boxes typically used for storing blood medicine in warm regions, I decided to use these for additional insulation. The combination of the thermobox and the styrofoam box was fitted into a standard flight case, creating a robust and insulated unit suitable for transportation on a sled over the snow in Svalbard.

To monitor and document the effectiveness of this solution, I used two temperature loggers that recorded data every 30 minutes. I also included a Wi-Fi-enabled alarm that would alert me if the temperature dropped below 4 degrees Celsius.

Results and Observations

The test was conducted in a freezer set to -18 degrees Celsius. By the next morning, I had already received a notification that the temperature inside the box had fallen below 4 degrees. Here are details from the logs:

Although some readings showed extreme temperatures, likely to be errors, both loggers showed a general tendency for temperature drops below the freezing point after approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. This indicates that our solution can maintain safe temperatures for insulin for about 6 hours at -18 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion and Future Considerations

This test has been a valuable part of my process to ensure that the insulin does not freeze. The results and collected data provide an in-depth understanding of how we can improve the design to further optimize temperature control. These insights will be crucial for the continued development of a reliable and practical solution for insulin storage under extreme conditions.

This article is a testament to my dedication to finding innovative solutions that can make life easier and safer for diabetics on adventures in cold areas. With each test and experiment, we take a step closer to realizing this vision.

Data logs:

CR01
Time,Celsius(∞C),Serial Number
1,2023-10-20 21:30:45,-51,061601254
2,2023-10-20 22:00:45,11
3,2023-10-20 22:30:45,5
4,2023-10-20 23:00:45,0
5,2023-10-20 23:30:45,-3
6,2023-10-21 00:00:45,7
7,2023-10-21 00:30:45,10
8,2023-10-21 01:00:45,11
9,2023-10-21 01:30:45,11
10,2023-10-21 02:00:45,10
11,2023-10-21 02:30:45,10
12,2023-10-21 03:00:45,9
13,2023-10-21 03:30:45,9
14,2023-10-21 04:00:45,9
15,2023-10-21 04:30:45,8
16,2023-10-21 05:00:45,8
17,2023-10-21 05:30:45,7
18,2023-10-21 06:00:45,7
19,2023-10-21 06:30:45,5
20,2023-10-21 07:00:45,-16
21,2023-10-21 07:30:45,150

CR02
Time,Celsius(∞C),Serial Number
1,2023-10-20 21:30:55,21,061601040
2,2023-10-20 22:00:55,12
3,2023-10-20 22:30:55,6
4,2023-10-20 23:00:55,1
5,2023-10-20 23:30:55,-2
6,2023-10-21 00:00:55,3
7,2023-10-21 00:30:55,5
8,2023-10-21 01:00:55,6
9,2023-10-21 01:30:55,6
10,2023-10-21 02:00:55,6
11,2023-10-21 02:30:55,6
12,2023-10-21 03:00:55,5
13,2023-10-21 03:30:55,5
14,2023-10-21 04:00:55,5
15,2023-10-21 04:30:55,4
16,2023-10-21 05:00:55,4
17,2023-10-21 05:30:55,4
18,2023-10-21 06:00:55,3
19,2023-10-21 06:30:55,1
20,2023-10-21 07:00:55,-7
21,2023-10-21 07:30:55,-12
22,2023-10-21 08:00:55,-17