Pharmaceutical mixing container with buoyant mixing element

• US 5,246,670 A
• Filed: 09/23/1992
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Foster, Clark B., Smedley, William H., Haber, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I.
• Application Number:
  US07/949,651
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 206/220, 222/394, 366/129, 366/130, 422/99, 422/100, 422/102, 422/104, 604/82, 604/187, 604/218, 604/232, 604/403, 604/416
• US Class Current: 422/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2448 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/20 Mixing the contents of independent containers, e.g. test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/25 Mixers with loose mixing elements, e.g. loose balls in a receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/251 using balls as loose mixing element
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3202 Hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/32021 Shaking by hand a portable receptacle or stirrer for mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/04 Means for mixing or for promoting flow of contents hydro-dynamic means for influencing the flow of liquids F15D

Abstract

A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A housing has an inner volume and is closed at one end by a septum arrangement and at another end by a slidable sealing member. A buoyant member is located within the housing and floats within the liquid faction of the pharmaceutical contained within the housing. By manually translating and rotating the housing, the buoyant member is forcibly moved along the liquid surface causing gentle turbulent waves which provide thorough admixing for the pharmaceutical constituents without causing mechanical damage to delicate constituents, such as crystalline factions found in NPH type insulin.

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid with a miscible component, said container comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end and a wall structure defining an inner volume;

a closure member at said first end providing a first fluid seal;

means for providing a second fluid seal so that said inner volume is closed; and

a buoyant hollow member located within said inner volume, said buoyant member having a specific gravity less than that of the liquid to be contained so that the liquid can be gently mixed by imparting motion to said housing.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said buoyant hollow member comprises a sphere.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said sphere is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic and an inert plastic.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said closure member comprises a septum.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said closure member further includes a retaining band.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein said housing has cylindrical geometry.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein said means for providing a second fluid seal is located adjacent said second end.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein said second fluid seal providing means comprises a sealing member having a portion positioned within said housing.

9. The container of claim 8 further including means for enabling the liquid within the container to be ejected from said first end when said closure member is opened.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein said sealing member is slidably received by said housing;

and wherein said enabling means comprises a drive stem coupled to said sealing member.