Insulated container having a temperature monitoring device

A method of preparing an insulated container having a temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a container having a plurality of walls, the container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container;
• positioning a temperature sensor within the container in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container, wherein the temperature sensor is electrically interconnected with a radio frequency transponder;
• and
• positioning a battery at least partially in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the transponder and the temperature sensor via an electric circuit, and wherein the position of the battery is spaced apart from the interior space of the container so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery, wherein the battery and the radio frequency antenna are disposed in a housing having an interior space and wherein the electric circuit extends through an opening in the housing and is in electrical communication with the temperature sensor so that the temperature sensor is disposed at a location outside of the interior space of the housing.

A method of monitoring the temperature of a temperature-sensitive object, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a temperature-sensitive object in the interior space of an insulated container, the container comprising:
• i. a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the container comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container;
• ii. a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency antenna;
• iii. a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container, and that is interconnected with the radio frequency antenna via an electric circuit so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder;
• and
• iv. a battery that is at least partially disposed in one or more walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery;
• and wherein the battery and the radio frequency antenna are disposed in a housing having an interior space and wherein the electric circuit extends through an opening in the housing so that the temperature sensor is disposed at a location outside of the interior space of the housing;
• and
• placing a refrigerant in the interior space of the container to maintain the temperature-sensitive object at a temperature that is below the normal operating temperature of the battery.