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US 5,934,803 AGranted
Apparatus and method for mixing multi-part reaction materials under vacuum
AssigneePhysical Systems, Inc.
InventorPeter S. Hutter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for mixing multi-part reaction materials under a vacuum comprises a container including a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material. An agitator for mixing the reaction material to form a mix includes both rigid blades and flexible paddles. The rigid blades are substantially non-deflected during mixing and cut the mix, and the flexible paddles are deflected and knead the mix. The combined action of the rigid blades and the flexible paddles under vacuum throughly mixes reaction materials and removes entrapped gases from the mix. The mix can be dispensed directly from the mixing chamber. The apparatus can be used to mix viscous materials such as bone cement.
Claims23
An apparatus for mixing reaction materials under a vacuum, comprising:
- a) a container including a wall, an open first portion, an open second portion, and a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material during mixing;
- b) a closure at the second portion;
- c) an agitator for mixing the reaction material to form a mix, the agitator including:
- i) a plurality of rigid blades in the mixing chamber, the rigid blades being sufficiently rigid so as to be substantially non-deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- and
- ii) a plurality of flexible paddles in the mixing chamber, the flexible paddles being sufficiently flexible so as to be deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- wherein the rigid blades and the flexible paddles contact the wall of the container;
- and
- d) a channel in flow communication with the mixing chamber, gas being drawn from the mixing chamber through the channel to form a vacuum therein.
6 more elements
An apparatus for mixing reaction materials under a vacuum, comprising:
- a) a first container including a wall, an open first portion, an open second portion and a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material during mixing;
- b) a closure at the second portion;
- c) an agitator for mixing the reaction material to form a mix, the agitator including:
- i) an agitator rod disposed in the mixing chamber and extending outwardly of the first container through the first portion;
- ii) at least one rigid blade in the mixing chamber, the rigid blade being sufficiently rigid so as to be substantially non-deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- and
- iii) at least one flexible paddle in the mixing chamber, the flexible paddle being sufficiently flexible so as to be deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- wherein at least one of the rigid blades and at least one of the flexible paddles contact the wall of the container;
- and
- d) a channel formed in the agitator rod and in flow communication with the mixing chamber, gas being drawn from the mixing chamber through the channel to form a vacuum therein.
7 more elements
An apparatus for mixing reaction materials under a vacuum, comprising:
- a) a container including a wall, an open first portion, an open second portion and a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material during mixing;
- b) a closure at the second portion;
- c) an agitator for mixing the reaction material to form a mix, the agitator including:
- i) at least one rigid blade in the mixing chamber, the rigid blade being sufficiently rigid so as to be substantially non-deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- and
- ii) at least one flexible paddle in the mixing chamber, the flexible paddle being sufficiently flexible so as to be deflected during mixing of the container;
- wherein at least one of the rigid blades and the flexible paddles contact the wall of the mixing chamber;
- d) a channel in flow communication with the mixing chamber, gas being drawn from the mixing chamber through the channel to form a vacuum therein;
- and
- e) a plunger sized to be inserted into the mixing chamber, the plunger being axially movable in the mixing chamber, to dispense the mix from the first container.
7 more elements
An apparatus for mixing reaction materials under a vacuum, comprising:
- a) a first container including a wall, an open first portion, an open second portion and a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material during mixing;
- b) a closure at the second portion;
- c) an agitator for mixing the reaction material to form a mix, the agitator including:
- i) at least one rigid blade in the mixing chamber, the rigid blade being sufficiently rigid so as to be substantially non-deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- and
- ii) at least one flexible paddle in the mixing chamber, the flexible paddle being sufficiently flexible so as to be deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- wherein at least one of the rigid blades and at least one of the flexible paddles contact the wall of the first container;
- d) a channel in flow communication with the mixing chamber, gas being drawn from the mixing chamber through the channel to form a vacuum therein;
- and
- e) a second container removably attached to the first container for containing a portion of the reaction material prior to introduction of the portion into the mixing chamber.
7 more elements
An apparatus for mixing reaction materials under a vacuum, comprising:
- a) a container including a wall, an open first end, an open second end, and a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material during mixing;
- b) a closure removably attached at the second end of the first container;
- c) an agitator for mixing the reaction material in the mixing chamber to form a mix, the agitator including:
- i) an agitator rod disposed in the mixing chamber and extending outwardly of the first container through the first end;
- ii) a plurality of rigid blades extending radially outward from the agitator rod and contacting the wall of the container, the rigid blades being sufficiently rigid so as to be substantially non-deflected during mixing of the reaction
- iii) a plurality of flexible paddles extending radially outward from the agitator rod and contacting the wall of the container, the flexible paddles being sufficiently flexible so as to be deflected during mixing of the reaction material,
- wherein the rigid blades and the flexible paddles being rotatable in the mixing chamber to form the mix;
- d) a bore through which a part of the reaction material is introduced into the mixing chamber;
- and
- e) a channel through which gas is drawn from the mixing chamber to form a vacuum therein.
7 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a) a first container including a wall, an open first end, an open second end and a mixing chamber;
- b) a closure at the second end;
- c) a second container removably connectable to the first container;
- d) an agitator for mixing a reaction material in the mixing chamber to form a mix, the agitator including:
- i) an agitator rod disposed in the mixing chamber and extending outwardly of the first container through the first end;
- ii) at least one rigid blade on the agitator rod, the rigid blade being disposed in the mixing chamber and contacting the wall of the first container, the rigid blade being sufficiently rigid so as to be substantially non-deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- and
- iii) at least one flexible paddle on the agitator rod, the flexible paddle being disposed in the mixing chamber and contacting the wall of the first container, the flexible paddle being sufficiently flexible so as to be deflected during mixing of the reaction material;
- e) a bore in flow communication with the mixing chamber and the second container;
- and
- f) a vacuum pump removably connected to the first container for drawing gas from the mixing chamber to form a vacuum therein.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.