Life sciences & Healthcare Archives - Pluss Advanced Technologies

Exploring the Hidden Dangers of Dry Ice

Vishnu Sasidharan — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:16:53 +0000

Cold Truths: Exploring the Hidden Dangers of Dry Ice

On 2^nd March at a café in Gurgaon, there was a disturbing incident that brought to news with visuals for 5 customers vomiting blood. Apparently, the unsuspecting customers after their meal were served these small white tablets shaped material which could easily pass off as a mouth freshener. The 5 customers were hospitalised with internal bleeding and one of them critical.

What really was this substance? Why was it kept at the table?

“Dry Ice” are used in restaurants and cafes to give that smoky effect to drinks or desserts. The staff might have confused it with mouth freshener. The injuries can be permanent, similar and more severe than frostbite., also worse is when they are ingested, it’s literally freeze-burning their stomach and oesophagus in the digestive system.

Dry ice is solidified CO² (carbon-dioxide), releasing CO² the moment it is exposed to Atmospheric pressure.

Solid carbon dioxide or dry ice is manufactured by spontaneous cooling of carbon dioxide at a temperature of around minus 79 degree Celsius under a high pressure. The gas turns in to a white solid mass which needs to be stored at high pressure. Practically, once manufactured the dry ice are moved in a very highly insulated container to slow down the rate of evaporation.

This solid mass when placed around products that need to be kept at a frozen state, helps in lowering the temperature of the surrounding as it slowly sublimates. This application makes dry ice suitable in many industries and specially the logistics industry for frozen and chilled products.

There are three major issues which could lead to a hazard in the use of dry ice;

1) Explosion if not containerised appropriately – The slow sublimation starts to build pressure in the transport or storage containers, which if closed tightly will lead to an explosion.

2) Suffocation due to saturation of CO² in the surrounding – The surrounding space inhabited by people or animals should be well ventilated as the level of CO² keeps building up. 1 kg of dry ice can easily liberate up to 541 litres of toxic gaseous carbon dioxide which can lead asphyxiation of the occupants and even lead to death.

3) Extreme low temperature – Many of the frozen products require not more than minus 20 deg C, the extreme temperature dry ice is used in carefully calculated manner to offer the net effect after dilution with the atmospheric air. At minus 79 deg C temperatures exposure to skin causes frostbite and freeze burns which can cause irreversible tissue damage.

Phase Change Materials (PCM) and its advantages over Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide)

Phase Change Materials (PCM) are chemical compositions formulated to exhibit a designed phase change point, which determines the high latent energy capacity point. For instance there are choice of PCMs to choose depending on the desired temperature control for example some of the common temperature PCMs are – 30, – 26 °C, – 23 °C, -18 °C, -15 °C, -10 °C, -5 °C and more from a range of PCM products.

Shipping with Phase Change Materials (PCMs) offers several advantages over Dry ice , but it also comes with its own set of challenges.

Advantages:

Reusable and Refreezable: Unlike dry ice or wet ice, PCMs can be refrozen and reused multiple times, making them a more sustainable option.

Precise Temperature Control: PCMs maintain a specific temperature range, which is often cold but not frozen, ensuring that sensitive shipments are kept at optimal conditions.

Bidirectional Thermal Regulation: PCMs have the unique ability to absorb and release heat, effectively regulating temperature fluctuations and preventing the contents of a shipment from becoming too cold or too hot.

Disadvantages:

Pre-Conditioning Requirements: PCMs need to undergo a pre-conditioning process, which involves freezing or refrigerating them to the correct temperature. This process can be time-consuming and may require specialized equipment.

Non-Linear Impact on Shipping Duration: Increasing the quantity of PCMs in a shipment does not necessarily linearly extend the duration for which the desired temperature can be maintained. For example, doubling the number of gel packs may not double the shipping duration.

Logistical Challenges: While dry ice is widely available and relatively easy to use for recipients, the re-freezing process of PCMs may require additional time and resources, making them less convenient for some users.

Additional Considerations:

Environmental Impact: PCMs are often considered more environmentally friendly than dry ice, as they can be reused and do not produce carbon dioxide gas upon sublimation.

Cost Considerations: While PCMs may require upfront investment in pre-conditioning equipment, their reusability can result in long-term cost savings compared to single-use alternatives like dry ice.

Customization Options: PCMs can be tailored to specific temperature requirements and shipping conditions, providing greater flexibility for businesses with diverse shipping needs.

In summary, while PCMs offer numerous benefits for temperature-controlled shipping, including reusability and precise temperature control, they also present challenges such as pre-conditioning requirements and logistical considerations. Ultimately, the choice between PCMs and traditional methods like dry ice depends on factors such as cost, convenience, and environmental impact.

Readers are invited to share the blog and join the conversation about promoting awareness and safety in the use of refrigerants. By raising awareness and advocating for safer alternatives like PCMs, we can help prevent accidents and protect the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

The post Exploring the Hidden Dangers of Dry Ice appeared first on Pluss Advanced Technologies.

At-Home blood sample Collection

Vishnu Sasidharan — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:16:26 +0000

At-Home blood sample Collection: Importance of Temperature integrity

In May 2022, Arshita Mahesh Aggarwal, the daughter of a high-ranking IPS officer, experienced a distressing situation during a home blood test in Chennai. After paying Rs.950 for the service, the phlebotomist’s* negligence left her with a painful bruise and a questionable report. The lab indicated her T4 (thyroxine) level was 5.6 nmol/L, starkly outside the reference range of 52 to 127 nmol/L. This alarming result led to considerable stress and a whirlwind of medical consultations, only for a retest at another lab to reveal normal levels. Seeking justice, Arshita approached the Chennai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for compensation.

*Phlebotomy – the drawing of blood – has been practised for centuries and is still one of the most common invasive procedures in health care. Each step in the process of phlebotomy affects the quality of the specimen and is thus important for preventing laboratory error, patient injury and even death. For example, the touch of a finger to verify the location of a vein before insertion of the needle increases the chance that a specimen will be contaminated.

The Root of the Problem: Pre-Analytic Errors

The lab dismissed the error as typographical, but the real issue might lie in the pre-analytic phase of sample collection. This phase, encompassing the time from sample collection to lab processing, is critical and particularly challenging in home sample collection. Temperature control plays a pivotal role, as samples must be maintained between 2-8°C to remain viable.

In India’s scorching climate, this requirement is difficult to meet, especially when samples are transported over long distances.

Why Temperature Control Matters

Blood samples exposed to extreme temperatures can undergo biochemical changes that compromise their integrity.

Blood is a complex mixture of cells, proteins, enzymes, and molecules. Temperature fluctuations can cause proteins to denature, enzymes to deactivate, and cells to degrade. These changes lead to inaccurate test results and potential misdiagnoses, jeopardizing patient care.

According to the University of California, Los Angeles, blood components should be stored as follows:

Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days at 1°C to 6°C, depending on additive.
Platelets can be stored at 20°C to 24°C for up to 5 days with constant agitation.
Plasma that is frozen at temperatures of -18°C or below within 8 hours of collection, platelets can be stored for up to 1 year.

Innovation in thermal packaging solutions:

To combat these challenges, thermal energy storage materials like Phase Change materials (PCM) are yet not fully exploited to its potential. The combination of PCM, insulation and its selection offers the thermal packaging industry to innovate and engineer thermal packaging solutions that solve several problems around precise and safe transport of diagnostic samples.

These materials offer an array of temperature options to create a robust, foolproof and custom solution depending on the required temperature, duration and criticality. PCMs are at the forefront of this innovation. PCMs absorb or release energy as they change phase, providing precise temperature control. Unlike traditional ice, PCMs offer long-lasting thermal stability.

Courtesy: RGEES LLC/Paradigm – Innovative sample carrier which doubles up as the PCM coolant carrier offering a robust protection

When designed with a phase transition temperature matching the ideal storage range, PCMs ensure samples remain within the 2-8°C window, even in extreme conditions.

Need for a different approach and temperature for different samples

Pre-validated temperature-controlled packaging using PCMs can maintain the critical 2-8°C range. This technology not only prevents temperatures from rising above 8°C but also keeps them from dropping below 2°C, even during India’s hot summers.

For certain samples such as for blood platelets which require controlled room temperature which is defined as +15 to +25°C. Selection of specific PCM designed to maintain this range is used instead of using gel packs or ice packs which are not recommended.

Whole blood intended for platelet separation must be maintained at +20 to +24°C prior to processing, as lower temperatures can impair platelet function and their separation efficiency. Platelets should be prepared within 8 hours of blood collection and stored at 20-24°C with continuous agitation to prevent aggregation, which could compromise their viability. Depending on the type of blood bag used, platelets have a shelf life of 3-5 days. Due to the room temperature storage, there is a risk of bacterial contamination; hence, the storage area should consistently remain below 24°C. During transport, platelets should be kept in a blood transport box that maintains a temperature range of 20-24°C. Platelets must not be refrigerated and should be transfused as soon as possible.

What it enables: Precise and robust Temperature control

Implementing PCM-based temperature-controlled packaging in sample transportation could transform healthcare diagnostics. Reliable temperature control ensures accurate test results, reducing stress for patients and their families.

PCM based range of products like the Prongo® bag and Celsure® from Pluss demonstrates the efficacy of PCM-based solutions in real-world condition;

More examples of different form factors and design to enable operational ease and functional enhancements shown in the images below;

Conclusion

Arshita’s story highlights the critical importance of proper sample transportation in healthcare diagnostics. Embracing innovative solutions like thermal energy storage with PCMs can mitigate temperature-related risks and ensure the reliability of test results. It’s time to execute on and embrace technologies in materials, thermal engineering and digital integration which are today available towards development of future of blood sample collection & transportation in healthcare.

Author: Deepika Singhal & Vishnu Sasidharan

Contributor: Raman Chauhan

The post At-Home blood sample Collection appeared first on Pluss Advanced Technologies.

Decoding Phase Change Materials

Vishnu Sasidharan — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:15:59 +0000

Breaking the Ice

The use of ice as a food preservation technique dates back to 1000 BC dates and by 400 BC, Persian society had mastered the art of storing ice below ground level in desserts. The revolution really began in 1820, when an American businessman, Frederic Tudor – who was aka – Ice King of the World – developed a way to insulate ice from melting aboard the ships by using sawdust and put in place an effective national supply chain, distributing it as a commodity from New England to the hotter parts of the country and eventually to the world, rest is history!

Fast forward to 2024, in 224 years not only have we leap frogged in the supply chain efficiency of moving ice but we also have sophisticated ice-making machines, household refrigerators that can enable making ice at source. Hyper delivery ecommerce which delivers ice cubes in under 10 minutes avoids even the need for insulation to ensure you access to a bag of ice at a blink. That’s indeed a big leap forward!

Evolution of PCM

The evolution from Ice to PCM was led by the need for passive temperature control at various other temperatures other than °0 C. Different applications and products have varying requirements of temperature control. The three core attributes of Ice which may seem so natural yet exceptional are ;

Ability to maintain a constant temperature,
Ability to repeat the cycle of phase change at the same temperature point of 0°C
Ability of retaining high thermal energy within a 6 times smaller volume in comparison to water.

Note that the thermal energy gained by water for every 0°C is a fraction of the energy gained the moment water reaches 0°C. To explain further, a bowl of water absorbs approximately 4KJ/ kg-K of thermal energy for every °C drop from say ambient temperature. The moment that the temperature crosses below +1°C transitioning into to 0 deg C the gain of thermal energy is 334 KJ/Kg-k and that is the very point phase starts to change from liquid to solid state. Subsequently, once the entire mass water is converted to ice, it further starts dropping in temperature with an energy gain at the rate of 2 Kj/kg-k for every °C drop in temperature. The graph below illustrates the energy gain in relation to temperature.

Phase Change Materials (PCM) or latent heat storage material is the most efficient ways to store thermal energy. The high energy storage per unit mass during phase change from solid to liquid and vice versa happens at a constant temperature. Essentially, PCMs emulate the property of water at different temperatures, In a layman’s term we can say PCMs are ice at different temperatures.

Versatility of PCM over ICE as a thermal energy storage medium

Like ICE, PCMs provide the ability to decouple the time of consumption of energy from the time of generation. For example, a stationary fridge which generates coolth actively to keep the content inside cold vs an insulated box which keeps the content inside cold with the help of ice cubes or packaged ice (commonly known as gel packs or Ice packs). Since, this approach does not require any external source of energy being needed at the time of use, this strategy is known as passive cooling.

Each Phase Change Materials (PCM) is tailored in its chemistry to ensure that it changes its phase at a designed temperature point, which in other words is the melting / freezing point. An ideal PCM can undergo several thousand cycles of melting and freezing demonstrating repeatability and stability of performance over yeas of use. The next important parameter is the measurement of its thermal energy storage capacity, which also varies for different PCMs. The figure below shows the range of PCMs available in the portfolio of offerings by Pluss Advanced Technologies.

What should be the key factors of selecting the right PCM?

Once the objective or the “why” of using PCM is understood the selection of the PCM is determined by following parameters listed in the order of priority;

Temperature to be maintained – A ΔT of minimum 5°C to be maintained between the PCM & medium that needs to be heated or cooled.
Temperature available for charging – A ΔT of minimum 5°C to be maintained between the PCM & medium used to heat or cool PCM.
The surface of heat-exchange – Depending on demands of the application the compatibility of PCM with the surface that it comes in contact with should be checked.
Weight & Volume – To determine whether the weight & volume added by the PCM would be feasible.

In summary PCM as an energy storage medium can be exploited in any field or application which requires heating or cooling. Storage of energy, in this case in the form of ‘thermal’ offers a plethora of applications which enable one to make things convenient for consumer products, to move away from dependency on fossil-fuel based generators, to bring in efficiencies of managing demand side response.

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