Phlebotomist test tube cooler

Phlebotomist draw blood. Most of the blood samples can be transported by courier without problem, but depending on the specific test some of the samples need to be kept cool to prevent the sample from degrading before they can be analyzed. This cooler will solve the problem. The cooler will hold 8 test tubes and keep them cool. The cooler will take a small 3 inch square ice pack which should keep the tubes cool and safe for about 2 hours. 

The cooler is designed to hold 8 test tubes at a time. The tubes are held in place with a TPU membrane. This allows different size tubes to be stored in the cooler. I looked at printing the whole chiller in one piece and decided that although it could be done, it could not be done using all printers. For this reason i designed it to be printed in 5 basic parts. These parts include the body, lid, tub holder, handle, and hinge pin. The handle can be installed using ¼ x 20 screws but i also provided printable screws. 

https://www.amazon.com/IceWraps-Mini-Packs-Injuries-Reusable/dp/B00ZVIG1R2?ref_=ast_sto_dp

As the cooler prints you can add insulation materials. One very good insulation is aerogel. It has the highest insulation value of any insulator. You need about 300 ccs of aerogel at a cost of $45. Please note that any insulation will work and the cooler will work just fine with no insulation. If using aerogel put a cover on top of the aerogel to prevent it from blowing out of the cooler. Aerogel is very light and the nozzle fan will blow it away unless it is captivated in place. 

http://www.buyaerogel.com/product/lumira-aerogel-particles/

My wife, the phlebotomist, recommended that instead of insulation that you place gel packs in the insulation chambers and freeze the whole container. And 6 3x3 gel packs are cheaper than insulation. 

Print all parts with the flat side down on the print bed. I used PLA but for a cooler that may be sitting in a car for periods of time PETG would be a better option. The tube holder is to be printed using a good TPU. I recommend Ninja Tek Cheetah or some other high shore modules flex filament. You can use a color change filament, but all the color change filaments i can find change color at between 30c and 40c. For this application we would want one that changed closer to 10c. When you print the main body there is a single layer of material just below the top level of the box. This layer is there to hold the holes together. It is a single layer at .3 mm so it is easy to cut out. 

low temperature test tube holders are available, but they are not insulated and have no cooling ability. It is designed to be carried around in a ice chest. 

On the recommendation of my wife i added files with biohazard symbols on the body and lid.