Device, system and method for mixing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166514-B2
Application number	US-201514927082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 17, 2006
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A device or system includes a mixer comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough. The mixer is in communication with sources or streams of at least two separate components which, when mixed, form a combined fluid stream. The sources or streams may be, at least initially, on opposite sides of the mixer, or the sources or streams may be on the upstream side of the mixer with an outlet disposed downstream of the mixer. A related method may include providing a mixer comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough, and selecting a material for the mixer based on physical characteristics of said material, said characteristics including a selected one or more of mean flow pore size, thickness and porosity volume.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mixing and dispensing assembly for receiving first and second substances and causing the first and second substances to be mixed and then dispensed, the mixing and dispensing assembly comprising:
a first input port;
a second input port;
an output passageway having a receiving end and a dispensing end;
a first passageway in fluid communication with the first input port and the receiving end of the output passageway and configured to receive the first substance and communicate the first substance from the first input port to the receiving end of the output passageway;
a second passageway in fluid communication with the second input port and the receiving end of the output passageway and configured to receive the second substance and communicate the second substance from the second input port to the receiving end of the output passageway, wherein the first and second passageways are positioned oblique to one another along their respective lengths and with respect to the output passageway to enable combination of the first and second substances; and
a first mixing element disposed in the output passageway downstream of the first and second passageways and upstream of the dispensing end, the first mixing element comprising a three-dimensional matrix or lattice that defines a plurality of tortuous, interconnected passageways,
wherein the first substance and the second substance enter the output passageway from the respective first and second oblique passageways, combining to become partially mixed between the first and second passageways and the first mixing element, and
wherein the partially mixed combination of the first and second substances, upon passing through the first mixing element, is further mixed by passing through the tortuous, interconnected passageways in the first mixing element.

2. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second input ports, and the first and second passageways, form a flow director, and wherein the first and second input ports are disposed at a proximal end of the flow director and enter the receiving end of the output passageway at a distal end of the flow director.

3. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second oblique passageways are positioned at respective first and second non-perpendicular angles with respect to the receiving end of the output passageway, wherein the first and second angles are selected to assist in combination of the first and second substances.

4. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the respective first and second angles are selected such that interactions between the first and second substances and a wall of the output passageway facilitate mixing of the first and second substances.

5. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first mixing element comprises a polymeric material formed by sintering.

6. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mixing element is disposed downstream of the first and second passageways by a distance, L, between 0 and 6 mm, inclusive.

7. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein L is between 1 and 6 mm, inclusive.

8. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein L is between 4 and 6 mm, inclusive.

9. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a second mixing element downstream of the first mixing element and upstream of the dispensing end, the second mixing element comprising a three dimensional matrix or lattice that defines a plurality of tortuous, interconnected passageways.

10. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second mixing elements are separated from one another by a distance, V, between 0 and 6 mm, inclusive.

11. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 10 , wherein V is between 3 and 6 mm, inclusive.

12. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second mixing elements differ in one or more of porosity, mean pore size, and length.

13. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second mixing elements has a porosity between 20 and 60 percent, inclusive.

14. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first mixing element has a porosity between 20 and 60 percent, inclusive.

15. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the first mixing element has a porosity between 20 and 50 percent, inclusive.

16. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the first mixing element has a porosity between 20 and 40 percent, inclusive.

17. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first mixing element is characterized by a mean flow pore size in millimeters, a thickness in millimeters, and a porosity volume as a percent, and wherein the product of mean flow pore size, the thickness, and the porosity volume, multiplied by 1000, is between 16 and 55, inclusive.

18. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a third passageway for injecting a liquid or gas for the purpose of ejecting, flushing, and/or cleaning the output passageway and/or the first mixing element.

19. A mixing and dispensing assembly for receiving first and second substances and causing the first and second substances to be mixed and then dispensed, the mixing and dispensing assembly comprising:
a first input port;
a second input port, wherein at least one of the first and second input ports is configured to matingly receive a syringe;
an output passageway having a receiving end and a dispensing end;
a first passageway in fluid communication with the first input port and the receiving end of the output passageway and configured to receive the first substance and communicate the first substance from the first input port to the receiving end of the output passageway;
a second passageway in fluid communication with the second input port and the receiving end of the output passageway and configured to receive the second substance and communicate the second substance from the second input port to the receiving end of the output passageway, wherein the first and second passageways are positioned oblique to one another along their respective lengths and with respect to the output passageway to enable combination of the first and second substances; and
a first mixing element disposed in the output passageway downstream of the first and second passageways and upstream of the dispensing end, the first mixing element comprising a three-dimensional matrix or lattice that defines a plurality of tortuous, interconnected passageways,
wherein the first substance and the second substance enter the output passageway from the respective first and second passageways, combining to become partially mixed between the first and second passageways and the first mixing element, and
wherein the partially mixed combination of the first and second substances, upon passing through the first mixing element, is further mixed by passing through the tortuous, interconnected passageways in the first mixing element.

20. The mixing and dispensing assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one of first and second input ports includes a luer fitting to matingly receive the syringe.

Assignees

• Baxter Int
• Baxter Healthcare Sa

Inventors

• Delmotte Yves A

Classifications

• B01F13/002

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F5/0691

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F5/0603

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• A61K9/12

  Aerosols; Foams {(A61K9/0043, A61K9/0056, A61K9/006, A61K9/0073 take precedence; spray-films A61K9/7015)} · CPC title

• B01F2215/0032

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic