RFID enabled drawer refrigeration system

摘要

A automated system and associated method for storing medical items comprises a medication cabinet having at least one refrigerated drawer using a thermo-electric cooling (TEC) device and a non-refrigerated drawer. The drawer design is such that cooling gradients throughout the drawer are minimized. Faraday cages are provided about each drawer to support separate RFID readers to monitor the medical items in each drawer. The refrigerated drawer is insulated so that adjacent non-refrigerated drawers are not significantly affected by the temperature of the refrigerated drawer and they may exist at room temperature. An automatic RFID data detection system determines the temperature requirements of medical items in the refrigerated drawer and controls the TEC device to maintain the required temperature. A temperature logging system for the refrigerated drawer is provided. A separate RFID reader determines if a temperature-controlled item has been place in a non-refrigerated drawer and if so, an alert is provided.