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US 11,692,916 B2Granted
System for mixing contents of containers and related methods of use
AssigneeGen-Probe Incorporated
InventorDavid A. Buse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for mixing fluids in containers may include performing a mixing procedure on a plurality of containers on a container support, at least a portion of the plurality of containers being differently sized. The mixing procedure may include a plurality of mixing phases, wherein in each mixing phase the container support may be subjected to a mixing motion at a single rate for a period of time of about 5 seconds or longer, and wherein the single rate for at least one mixing phase of the plurality of mixing phases may differ from the single rate for at least one other mixing phase of the plurality of mixing phases. The mixing procedure also may include at least one non-mixing phase, wherein the container support may not be subjected to the mixing motion.
Claims29
A method for mixing fluids in containers, comprising:
- simultaneously performing a first mixing procedure on each of a plurality of containers situated on a container support platform, the container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses for holding the plurality of containers, the plurality of containers comprising at least two differently sized containers, wherein the first mixing procedure includes:
- a plurality of mixing phases, wherein each mixing phase of the plurality of mixing phases consists of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at a single rate for a period of time of about 5 seconds or longer, and wherein the single rate for at least one mixing phase of the plurality of mixing phases differs from the single rate for at least one other mixing phase of the plurality of mixing phases, wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the container tray;
- and
- at least one non-mixing phase, wherein the container support platform is not subjected to the mixing motion.
1 more element
A method for mixing fluids in containers, comprising:
- simultaneously performing a mixing procedure on each of a plurality of containers situated on a container support platform, the container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses for holding the plurality of containers, the plurality of containers including at least a first container and a second container sized differently than the first container, the mixing procedure including:
- a first mixing phase, wherein the first mixing phase consists of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at a first rate for a first period of time of about 5 seconds or longer;
- a second mixing phase performed after the first mixing phase, wherein the second mixing phase consists of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about the single axis at a second rate for a second period of time of about 5 seconds or longer, the first rate being different than the second rate, and the first period of time being different than the second period of time;
- and
- after the second mixing phase, not performing any mixing motion for a third period of time,
- wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the container tray.
3 more elements
A method for mixing fluids in containers, comprising:
- performing a mixing procedure on each of a plurality of containers situated on a container support platform, the container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses for holding the plurality of containers, the mixing procedure including:
- a first phase, wherein the first phase consists of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at a first rate for a first period of time longer than about 5 seconds, wherein the first rate and the first period of time are selected to substantially uniformly mix a fluid in a first container of the plurality of containers, wherein the first container has a first size;
- a second phase performed after the first phase, wherein the second phase consists of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about the single axis at a second rate for a second period of time longer than about 5 seconds, the first rate being different than the second rate, wherein the second rate and the second period of time are selected to substantially uniformly mix a fluid in a second container of the plurality of containers, and wherein the second container has a second size different than the first size;
- and
- a third phase performed after the second phase, wherein the third phase includes not moving the container support platform for a third period of time, and wherein the third period of time is selected to allow foam formed in the fluid of at least one of the first and second containers to dissipate,
- wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the container tray.
3 more elements
A method for mixing fluids in containers, comprising:
- identifying a first set of rates at which a first container having a first size is movable to result in a first set of values indicative of degrees of mixing of a first fluid in the first container, and identifying a second set of rates at which a second container having a second size different than the first size is movable to result in a second set of values indicative of degrees of mixing of a second fluid in the second container;
- selecting a first rate from the first set of rates based at least in part on the first set of values, and selecting a second rate from the second set of rates based at least in part on the second set of values;
- performing a mixing procedure with a container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses holding the first and second containers so that the first and second fluids are mixed at the same time, wherein the mixing procedure includes a first phase consisting of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at the first rate for a first period of time longer than about 5 seconds and a second phase consisting of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about the single axis at the second rate for a second period of time longer than about 5 seconds, wherein the first and second containers are situated on the container support platform during the mixing procedure, wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the container tray;
- and
- subjecting the container support platform to no mixing motion for a third period of time while the first and second containers are situated on the container support platform.
2 more elements
A method for mixing fluids in containers, comprising:
- (a) performing a first mixing procedure on each of a plurality of containers situated on a container support platform, the container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses for holding the plurality of containers, wherein the first mixing procedure consists of the following ordered sub-steps:
- (i) rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at a first rate for a first period of time longer than about 5 seconds;
- (ii) rotating the container support platform with the container tray about the single axis at a second rate for a second period of time longer than about 5 seconds, wherein the first rate is different than the second rate;
- and
- (iii) stopping the container support platform, and not moving the container support platform for a third period of time,
- wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the tray.
3 more elements
A method for mixing fluids in containers, comprising:
- (a) performing a mixing procedure on each of a plurality of containers situated on a container support platform, the container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses for holding the plurality of containers, the mixing procedure including the following ordered sub-steps:
- (i) a first phase consisting of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at a first rate for a first period of time longer than about 5 seconds, wherein the first rate and the first period of time are selected to substantially uniformly mix a first fluid in a first container of the plurality of containers, wherein the first container has a first size;
- (ii) a second phase consisting of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about the single axis at a second rate for a second period of time longer than about 5 seconds, wherein the first rate is different than the second rate, wherein the second rate and the second period of time are selected to substantially uniformly mix a second fluid in a second container of the plurality of containers, wherein the second container has a second size different than the first size;
- and
- (iii) at least one non-mixing phase consisting of not performing the mixing motion on the container support platform for a third period of time,
- wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the container tray.
3 more elements
A system for mixing fluids in a plurality of differently sized containers, comprising:
- a container support platform including a container tray defining a plurality of recesses for receiving the plurality of differently sized containers thereon, wherein the plurality of differently sized containers include a first container having a first size and a second container having a second size different than the first size;
- a drive system operatively coupled to the container support platform, wherein the drive system is configured to simultaneously move the plurality of differently sized containers received by the plurality of recesses of the container tray disposed on the container support platform, and the container support platform, in a mixing motion;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the drive system, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the drive system to perform a mixing procedure with the container support platform, wherein the mixing procedure includes:
- a first phase consisting of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about a single axis at a first rate for a first period of time longer than about 5 seconds,
- a second phase consisting of rotating the container support platform with the container tray about the single axis at a second rate for a second period of time longer than about 5 seconds, the first rate being different than the second rate, and
- at least one non-mixing phase consisting of stopping the container support platform and not moving the container support platform for a third period of time,
- wherein the single axis extends substantially perpendicular to the container tray and is offset from each of the plurality of recesses defined in the container tray.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.