Method and apparatus for mixing a compound utilizing a gas permeable barrier

A container for packaging liquid and powder components that are to be mixed within the container, the container comprising:

• a first compartment containing the liquid component;
• a second compartment containing the powder component;
• a divider isolating the first and second compartments;
• a vacuum source in fluid communication with the second compartment, the vacuum source being of sufficient size and pressure to ensure take up of substantially all gasses in the first and second compartments to thereby ensure thorough admixing of the liquid and powder components after the integrity of the divider has been compromised and the first and second compartments have been brought into fluid communication with one another;
• and
• a gas permeable barrier disposed between the second compartment and the vacuum source, the gas permeable barrier including a porous membrane constructed from an oleophobic material, the porous membrane being resistant to penetration by the liquid component, the gas permeable barrier permitting the vacuum source to draw the liquid component into the second compartment after the divider has been compromised.

A container for packaging liquid and powder components that are to be mixed within the container, the container comprising:

• a first compartment containing the liquid component;
• a second compartment containing the powder component;
• a divider isolating the first and second compartments;
• a vacuum source in fluid communication with the second compartment, the vacuum source being of sufficient size and pressure to ensure take up of substantially all gasses in the first and second compartments to thereby ensure thorough admixing of the liquid and powder components after the integrity of the divider has been compromised and the first and second compartments have been brought into fluid communication with one another;
• and
• a barrier mechanism disposed between the second compartment and the vacuum source, the barrier mechanism having a barrier member that is formed from an oleophobic material and which includes a plurality of pores, the plurality of pores being generally sized to resist transmission of the liquid component through the barrier mechanism, the plurality of pores also being generally sized to permit fluid communication of residual interstitial gasses in the second compartment, the barrier mechanism permitting the vacuum source to draw the liquid component into the second compartment after the divider has been compromised.

A container for packaging liquid and powder components that are to be mixed within the container, the container comprising:

• dividing means for isolating a first compartment of the container from a second compartment of the container, the first compartment containing the first component and the second compartment containing the second component;
• vent means in fluid communication with the second compartment;
• differential pressure means for exerting a differential pressure on the liquid component to take up substantially all residual interstitial gasses to thereby ensure thorough admixing of the liquid and powder components upon release of the dividing means;
• and
• barrier means disposed between the second compartment and the vent means, the barrier means including a porous membrane that is formed from an oleophobic material, the barrier means forming a barrier to resist infiltration of the liquid component into the vent means.

A method for admixing a compound comprising the steps of:

• providing a container having first and second compartments, the first compartment being filled with a liquid component, the second compartment being filled with powder component and isolated from the first compartment;
• coupling a vacuum source having a vacuum pressure to the second compartment such that the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the second compartment;
• causing the first and second compartments to be in fluid communication with one another to thereby permit a differential pressure created by the vacuum source to force the liquid component into the second chamber;
• interposing a barrier mechanism having a gas permeable barrier that is formed from a porous oleophobic material between the vacuum source and the second compartment, the gas permeable barrier resisting penetration by the liquid component;
• and
• admixing the liquid component and powder component under vacuum pressure.