Flexible mixing bag for mixing solids, liquids and gases
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mixing container comprising:
- a hollow mixing bag having at least one interior wall;
a mixing paddle adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source, the mixing paddle having at least one widened paddle portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the support rod;
a coupling guide joined to the mixing bag, the coupling guide defining an aperture sized to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing bag; and
an integral sleeve sealingly and permanently welded proximate the coupling guide aperture to any of the bag and the coupling guide, the sleeve having a closed end protruding into the interior of the hollow bag, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, the cavity having at least one widened cavity portion disposed about the at least one widened paddle portion;
wherein the at least one interior wall of the mixing bag and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve encloses a volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a disposable and flexible mixing tank having a sealed sleeve therein for arrangement of a mixing device. The volume of the mixing tank is defined by an inner wall of the mixing tank and an inner wall of the sleeve. The mixing tank may be used to mix, store, reconstitute and/or dispense materials therein.
71 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A mixing container comprising:
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a hollow mixing bag having at least one interior wall; a mixing paddle adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source, the mixing paddle having at least one widened paddle portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the support rod; a coupling guide joined to the mixing bag, the coupling guide defining an aperture sized to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing bag; and an integral sleeve sealingly and permanently welded proximate the coupling guide aperture to any of the bag and the coupling guide, the sleeve having a closed end protruding into the interior of the hollow bag, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, the cavity having at least one widened cavity portion disposed about the at least one widened paddle portion; wherein the at least one interior wall of the mixing bag and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve encloses a volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A mixing container comprising:
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a hollow mixing bag having at least one interior wall, the mixing bag comprising a substantially transparent polymeric film material and having a resealable access port; a mixing paddle adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source, the mixing paddle having at least one widened paddle portion that is substantially broader than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the support rod; a coupling guide joined to the mixing bag, the coupling guide defining an aperture sized to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing bag; and an integral sleeve comprising a substantially transparent polymeric film material, the sleeve (1) being sealingly and permanently welded proximate the coupling guide aperture to any of the bag and the coupling guide, (2) having a closed end protruding into the interior of the hollow bag, having at least one exterior wall, and (3) defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, the cavity having at least one widened cavity portion disposed about the at least one widened paddle portion; wherein the polymeric film material of the mixing bag has substantially the same composition as the polymeric film material of the sleeve, the at least one interior wall of the mixing bag and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve encloses a volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle.
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12. A mixing apparatus comprising:
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a kinetic energy source; a hollow mixing bag having at least one interior wall and a substantially central vertical axis; a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy generated by the kinetic energy source; a mixing paddle; a flexible integral sleeve protruding into the interior of the hollow mixing bag, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle and at least a portion of the support rod; wherein the at least one interior wall of the mixing bag and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve encloses a volume, with the sleeve serving as an isolation barrier to isolate the volume from the mixing paddle and the support rod; and wherein the mixing paddle contained within the sleeve is driven by the support rod when coupled to the kinetic energy source and, when so coupled, is adapted to travel within the bag through a defined path at a nonzero angle relative to the central vertical axis without continuous rotation of the support rod about a longitudinal axis defined by the support rod. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A mixing method employing a mixing apparatus including (1) a kinetic energy source, (2) a hollow mixing bag having a flexible integral sleeve joined thereto with a closed end of the sleeve protruding into the mixing bag, and (3) a mixing paddle enveloped by the sleeve and adapted to receive a support rod coupleable to the kinetic energy source, wherein at least one interior wall of the bag and an exterior wall of the sleeve defines an interior volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the interior volume and the mixing paddle, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying at least two components of a mixture to the interior volume; engaging the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing paddle; mixing the at least two components by moving the enveloped mixing paddle in a closed curvilinear path within the interior volume without continuous rotation of the support rod about a longitudinal axis defined by the support rod to combine the at least two components and form said mixture. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification