Mixing Apparatus

• US 20080212405A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Beyar, Mordechay, Globerman, Oren
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8833 Osteosynthesis tools specially adapted for handling bone cement or fluid fillers; Means for supplying bone cement or fluid fillers to introducing tools, e.g. cartridge handling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4685 by means of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4693 hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/20 Mixing of ingredients for bone cement
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/116 Stirrers shaped as cylinders, balls or rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/2322 with parallel axes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/2324 planetary
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/95 with stirrers having planetary motion, i.e. rotating about their own axis and about a sun axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/951 with at least one stirrer mounted on the sun axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5014 movable by human force, e.g. kitchen or table devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/123 using scrapers for cleaning mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/145 Washing or cleaning mixers not provided for in other groups in this subclass; Inhibiting build-up of material on machine parts using other means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/323 for vertical stirrer shafts B01F35/324 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/75425 using pistons or plungers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86035 : Combined with fluid receiver

Abstract

A mixing apparatus comprising: a) a mixing well characterized by an internal volume not exceeding 100 ml.; b) a drive mechanism including a stationary circumferential gear on an inner surface of the mixing well; and c) a planetary mixing element driven by a mixing element gear which engages the stationary circumferential gear.

Claims

1. A mixing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a) a mixing well characterized by an internal volume not exceeding 100 ml.;

b) a drive mechanism including a stationary circumferential gear on an inner surface of the mixing well; and

c) a planetary mixing element driven by a mixing element gear which engages the stationary circumferential gear.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to provide sufficient shear force to mix a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second is achieved within 90 seconds of an onset of mixing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

d) a cover engageable by the mixing well and adapted for closure thereof.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cover includes a locking ring.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted for manual operation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

d) a wiping element adapted to concurrently engage an inner surface of the mixing well and the planetary mixing element.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

d) a central mixing element positioned substantially at a center of the mixing well.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising:

e) a wiping element adapted to concurrently engage an inner surface of the mixing well, the planetary mixing element and the central mixing element.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the central mixing element rotates about its own axis.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the central mixing element and the planetary mixing element rotate in opposite directions.

12. A mixing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a) a mixing well characterized by an internal volume not exceeding 100 ml.;

b) a drive mechanism adapted to operate at least one mixing element positioned in the mixing well; and

c) a wiping element adapted to engage an inner surface of the mixing well and including at least one wiping aperture substantially conforming to the at least one mixing element;

wherein the wiping element does not interfere with operation of the drive mechanism; and

wherein the withdrawal of the at least one mixing element from the mixing well causes the at least one wiping aperture to remove at least a portion of the mixture from the at least one mixing element.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the wiping element rotates within the mixing well while engaging an inner surface thereof.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to provide sufficient shear force to mix a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

d) a cover engageable by the mixing well and adapted for closure thereof.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the cover includes a locking ring.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second is achieved within 90 seconds of an onset of mixing.

18. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the wiping element is adapted to remove an adherent portion of a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second from the at least one mixing element.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one mixing element includes at least two mixing elements.

20. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted for manual operation.

21. A mixing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a) a mixing well characterized by an internal volume not exceeding 100 ml.;

b) a central mixing element deployed substantially at a center of the mixing well;

c) at least one planetary mixing element which revolves around the central mixing element;

wherein a first distance (d₁) between the central mixing element and the planetary mixing element is substantially equivalent to a second distance (d₂) between the planetary mixing element and an inner surface of the mixing well.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the planetary mixing element is adapted for manual operation.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the planetary mixing element and central mixing element are adapted to provide sufficient shear force to mix a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second.

24. A drive mechanism for a mixing apparatus, the drive mechanism comprising;

a) a set of teeth defining a circular path on an inner circumference of a vessel characterized by an internal volume not exceeding 100 ml;

b) a toothed wheel characterized by an axis, the wheel adapted to engage said set of teeth and to rotate about the axis; and

c) an actuator adapted to provide a force which causes the toothed wheel to advance along the circular path.

25. A mechanism according to claim 24, comprising

d) a drive transfer element connecting between the axis of the toothed wheel and a second wheel positioned substantially at a center of the circular path.

26. A mechanism according to claim 25, wherein provision of a force through the actuator causes the drive transfer element to rotate the second wheel about an axis through the center of the circular path.

27. A mechanism according to claim 24, wherein the toothed wheel drives a planetary mixing element.

28. A mechanism according to claim 25, wherein the second wheel drives a central mixing element.

29. A mechanism according to claim 24, wherein the actuator is manually powered.

30. A mechanism according to claim 24, adapted to provide sufficient shear force to mix a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second.

31. A method of mixing components of a viscous mixture, the method comprising:

a) placing the components in a mixing well characterized by an inner volume of not more than 100 ml;

b) deploying at least one planetary mixing element and a central mixing element in the mixing well; and

c) operating a manual drive mechanism to cause the planetary mixing element to both rotate about its own axis and revolve around the central mixing element in order to mix the components to form a mixture.

32. A method according to claim 31, comprising:

e) engaging a wiping element to at least one of the mixing elements such that withdrawal of the mixing element from the mixing well causes the wiping element to wipe mixture from the mixing element.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to provide sufficient shear force to mix a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second is achieved within 90 seconds of an onset of mixing.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein the manual drive mechanism supplies a sufficient force to cause the planetary mixing element to move through a mixture characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal-second.

36. An apparatus for transferring a viscous material, the apparatus comprising:

a) a first container capable of containing a viscous material;

b) a transfer piston insertable in the first container so that the piston forms a circumferential seal with respect to the container, the transfer piston including a hole; and

c) a mechanism for attaching an aperture of a second container to the hole in the transfer piston;

wherein insertion of the transfer piston into the first container causes the viscous material to pass through the aperture into the second container.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, adapted to provide sufficient force to cause a viscous material characterized by a viscosity of at least 500 Pascal/second to flow through the aperture of the second container.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, configured so that manual manipulation of the first container and the transfer piston produces the sufficient force.

39. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the transfer piston is adapted to remove at least a portion of the viscous material from a mixing element as the mixing element is removed from the first container.

40. A method of mixing components of a viscous mixture, the method comprising:

a) placing the components in a mixing well characterized by an inner volume of not more than 100 ml;

b) operating a drive mechanism to cause mixing of the material in the inner volume during a period when the viscosity is at least 500 Pascal/sec.

41. A method according to claim 40, comprising driving a planetary mixing element by means of the drive mechanism.