Mixing adaptor system

• US 6,305,413 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fischer, Dan E., Larsen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US09/638,750
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 366/130, 366/267, 366/268, 137/493.8, 137/512.4
• US Class Current: 137/493.8
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4512 with reciprocating pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/18 opening on surplus pressure on either side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1692 Rupture disc
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1714 Direct pressure causes disc to burst
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7779 Axes of ports parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7843 Integral resilient member forms plural valves

Abstract

A mixing adaptor enables a material to be transferred from a first delivery means to a second delivery means and enables another material to be transferred from the second delivery means to the first delivery means. The adaptor has (i) a hollow main body having a first end, a second end, an interior surface and an exterior surface; and (ii) a septum positioned within the interior surface of the main body. A first channel is defined by a first portion of the interior surface of the main body and by a first side of the septum. The first channel has a primary opening at the first end of the main body and a secondary opening at the second end of the main body. A second channel is defined by a second portion of the interior surface of the main body and by a second side of the septum. The second channel has a primary opening at the second end of the main body and a secondary opening at the first end of the main body. First and second substantially flexible members extend from opposing sides of the septum for selectively closing the secondary openings of the first and second channels. In one embodiment, the septum is movable between a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

first delivery means for delivering material, the first delivery means having a hollow tip;

second delivery means for delivering material, the second delivery means having a hollow tip; and

adaptor means for enabling material to be transferred from the first delivery means to the second delivery means, wherein a portion of the adaptor is configured to be coupled to the first delivery means and wherein the second delivery means is configured to be coupled to the first delivery means such that material is able to be transferred from the first delivery means to the second delivery means, wherein the tip of the second delivery means is configured to be coupled directly to the tip of the first delivery means.

2. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

first delivery means for delivering material, the first delivery means having a hollow tip;

second delivery means for delivering material, the second delivery means having a hollow tip; and

adaptor means for enabling material to be transferred from the first delivery means to the second delivery means, wherein a portion of the adaptor is configured to be coupled to the first delivery means and wherein the second delivery means is configured to be coupled to the first delivery means such that material is able to be transferred from the first delivery means to the second delivery means, wherein a portion of the adaptor is configured to be received within the tip of the first delivery means and wherein the tip of the first delivery means is configured to be received within the tip of the second delivery means.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein an opposing portion of the adaptor is received within the tip of the second delivery means.

4. A system as recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein the adaptor comprises a hollow main body and a septum positioned within an interior surface of the main body so as to define first and second channels within the main body.

5. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

a first syringe barrel, said first syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

a second syringe barrel, said syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip; and

an adaptor for enabling material to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel, wherein a portion of the adaptor is coupled to said first syringe barrel and wherein said second syringe barrel is configured to be coupled to said first syringe barrel such that material is able to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel, wherein the tip of said second syringe barrel is configured to be coupled directly to the tip of the first syringe barrel.

8. A system as recited in claim 5 or 6, wherein the adaptor comprises a hollow main body and a septum positioned within an interior surface of the main body so as to define first and second channels within the main body.

6. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

a first syringe barrel, said first syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

a second syringe barrel, said syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip; and

an adaptor for enabling material to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel, wherein a portion of the adaptor is coupled to said first syringe barrel and wherein said second syringe barrel is configured to be coupled to said first syringe barrel such that material is able to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel, wherein a portion of the adaptor is configured to be received within the tip of said first syringe barrel and wherein the tip of said first syringe barrel is configured to be received within the tip of the second syringe barrel.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein an opposing portion of the adaptor is received within the tip of said second syringe barrel.

9. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

a first syringe barrel, said first syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

a second syringe barrel, said syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip; and

an adaptor having a hollow main body that enables material to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel, wherein the adaptor has a first end opposite from a second end, wherein a portion of the adaptor is coupled to said first syringe barrel, wherein a rounded tip protrudes annularly about the first end of said adaptor so as to securely couple said adaptor with said first syringe barrel, wherein said second end of said adaptor is configured to be engaged by the second syringe barrel, and wherein said second syringe barrel is configured to be coupled to said first syringe barrel such that material is able to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to the second syringe barrel.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said second syringe barrel is coupled to said first syringe barrel with the tip of said first syringe barrel and the tip of said second syringe barrel being in a mated configuration.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said second syringe barrel is coupled to said first syringe barrel in a mated configuration with the tip of said first syringe barrel being held within the tip of said second syringe barrel.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein said second end of said adaptor is received within the tip of said second syringe barrel.

13. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the adaptor comprises a hollow main body and a septum positioned within an interior surface of the main body so as to define first and second channels within the main body.

14. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said second end of adaptor is coupled to said second syringe barrel, and wherein a circular flange extends annularly around the second end of said adaptor so as to restrain said adaptor from further movement.

20. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein a portion of the adaptor is coupled to said first syringe barrel, wherein a rounded tip protrudes annularly about the first end of said adaptor so as to secure adaptor to said first syringe barrel.

15. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

a first syringe barrel, said first syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

a second syringe barrel, said syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip; and

an adaptor having a hollow main body that enables material to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel, wherein the adaptor has a first end opposite from a second end, wherein a portion of the adaptor is coupled to said second syringe barrel, wherein a circular flange extends annularly around the second end of said adaptor so as to provide an annular top to engage said second syringe barrel in a manner that restricts movement of said adaptor relative to said second syringe barrel, wherein said first end of said adaptor is configured to be engaged by the first syringe barrel, and wherein said second syringe barrel is configured to be coupled to said first syringe barrel such that material is able to be transferred from said first syringe barrel to said second syringe barrel.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said second syringe barrel is coupled to said first syringe barrel with the tip of said first syringe barrel and the tip of said second syringe barrel being in a mated configuration.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said second syringe barrel is coupled to said first syringe barrel in a mated configuration with the tip of said first syringe barrel being held within the tip of said second syringe barrel.

18. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said second end of said adaptor is received within the tip of said second syringe barrel.

19. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the adaptor comprises a hollow main body and a septum positioned within an interior surface of the main body so as to define first and second channels within the main body.

21. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

a first syringe barrel, said first syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

a second syringe barrel, said syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

an adaptor coupled in fluid communication between said first syringe barrel and said second syringe barrel, and wherein the adaptor has first and second channels that define two separate flow paths that are distinct from one another;

a first one way valve associated with the first channel and which operates to permit the material to flow in one direction through one of the flow paths from the first syringe barrel to the second syringe barrel; and

a second one way valve associated with the second channel and which operates to permit the material to flow in an opposite direction through the other flow path from the second syringe barrel to the first syringe barrel.

22. A system for mixing materials, comprising:

a first syringe barrel, said first syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

a second syringe barrel, said syringe barrel having a hollow main body and a hollow tip, the hollow main body being coupled in fluid communication with the hollow tip;

adaptor means, coupled in fluid communication between said first and second syringe barrels, for controlling the flow of material back and forth between the first and second syringe barrels for purposes of mixing, and wherein the adaptor means comprises first and second means for defining first and second flow paths that permit the material to flow in one direction when passing from the first syringe barrel through a first flow path to the second syringe barrel, and then in an opposite direction when passing from the second syringe barrel through the second flow path and back to the first syringe barrel.