US Patent 7231771 Apparatus and method for inducing emergency hypothermia

A thermoelectric cooler for maintaining intravenous (IV) solution within a temperature range of 1° C. to 4° C. for inducing rapid, emergency, point-of-injury, mild-to-moderate hypothermia. The thermoelectric cooler includes a substantially rectangular insulated container with a door extending in a vertical plane on the forward facing container wall and pivoting on a horizontal hinge located on the bottom edge of the door. The container is cooled by a thermoelectric module mounted between two heat exchangers and electrically powered fan assemblies. An electronic control unit controls the thermoelectric cooling module to maintain the interior of the insulated container and the IV solution within the set temperature range. The thermoelectric cooler has an exterior display panel with warning lights to visually communicate to the user if the interior temperature is in or out of range.