Container for mixture of materials
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorsKenneth E. Wilkinson, Kenneth H. Knox, Marc T. Hedlund, Mark E. Larkin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A container having two compartments for keeping two materials in separated relation. When it is desired that the two materials be intermixed, an actuator carrying a pair of piercing pins is inserted into ports of the compartments until membranes blocking exit of the materials from their respective compartment are punctured. When these membranes are punctured the materials are received at a mixing chamber where the materials are mixed.
Claims12
A container system for mixing two materials, comprising:
- a container including first and second compartments;
- said first compartment adapted to hold a first material, said first compartment having a first port;
- said second compartment adapted to hold a second material, said second compartment having a second port adjacent said first port;
- and
- mixing chamber means having two inlet ports, an outlet and a mixing chamber, each mixing chamber port being connectable to one of said compartment ports;
- said mixing chamber comprising a single structure carrying both of said inlet ports and holding said inlet ports in spaced relationship to each other corresponding in distance to the distance between the two compartment ports;
- said mixing chamber ports comprising piercing pins with passages therethrough, and wherein said first and second compartment ports include pierceable membranes to be pierced by said piercing pins;
- whereby said inlet ports can be simultaneously connected to said first and second compartment ports, allowing the materials to flow from said compartment, mix in said mixing chamber, and emerge in a mixed condition from said mixing chamber outlet.
A method for mixing two materials, initially maintained in a separated relation, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a container having a first chamber adapted to hold a first material, a second chamber, isolated from the first chamber, adapted to hold a second material, a first channel communicable with said first chamber and a second channel communicable with said second chamber, communication between each of said first and second channels and their respective chambers being initially blocked by an impermeable membrane;
- (b) inserting first and second piercing pins into said first and second channels, respectively, to puncture said impermeable membranes blocking said passage, said piercing pins being carried on a single structure forming a mixing chamber communicating with both of said piercing pins, said structure holding said piercing pins in spaced relationship to each other corresponding in distance to the distance between the first and second channels;
- (c) passing said first material from said first chamber through an internal duct in said first piercing pin and into said mixing chamber, and passing said second material from said second chamber through an internal duct in said second piercing pin and into said mixing chamber;
- and
- (d) permitting said first and second materials to mix in said mixing chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.