Two-stage mixing system, apparatus, and method

• US 7,354,190 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Staub, Edward J., Demers, Jason A., Gray, Larry B., McGill, David W., Harris, Matthew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SORKIN, DAVID L
• Application Number:
  US10/696,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 435/2, 435/236, 435/238, 366/142, 366/152.6, 366/154.1, 366/348, 366/151.1
• US Class Current: 366/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0213 with isolated sections of the tube used as additive reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0272 Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to or for conservation, e.g. freezing, drying or centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0281 Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to transfusion, e.g. washing, filtering or thawing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3687 Chemical treatment A61M1/3675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/451 by injecting one liquid into another
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/105 Mixing heads, i.e. compact mixing units or modules, using mixing valves for feeding and mixing at least two components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/60 Pump mixers, i.e. mixing within a pump
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/811 in two or more consecutive, i.e. successive, mixing receptacles or being consecutively arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/711 for feeding a mixture of components, i.e. solids in liquid, solids in a gas stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/715 Feeding the components in several steps, e.g. successive steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8823 using diaphragms or bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0009 : Special features
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 : Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/22 : by means of valves F04B49/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/06 : Venting
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 : Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 : Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 : by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 : Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 : Controlled by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86131 : Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87652 : With means to promote mixing or combining of plural fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 : Means to assemble or disassemble
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0911 : Hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/212 : With expanding or contracting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/438 : Spring-arm catch

Abstract

A two-stage mixing system, apparatus, and method produces a solution including a first substance and a second substance in a predetermined ratio by first mixing the first substance with a first liquid to produce a first solution and then mixing the first solution with the second substance to produce a second solution. Multiple batches of second solution may be produced from a single batch of first solution. Multiple batches of second solution may be produced in parallel.

Claims

1. In a system for combining a first substance with a second substance that cannot be mixed directly with the first substance without damaging at least one of the first substance and the second substance, a method comprising:

mixing the first substance with a first liquid to produce a first solution, the first solution having a first predetermined concentration of first substance capable of being mixed directly with the second substance without damaging one of the first substance and the second substance;

maintaining a timer to monitor the age of the first solution;

determining whether mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce a second solution having a second predetermined concentration of first substance relative to the second substance can be completed prior to an expiration time for the first solution based on the timer; and

mixing the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution only if it is determined that mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution can be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first substance comprises an anti-pathogen compound and the second substance comprises red blood cell concentrate.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid comprises a buffer solution.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid comprises a diluting solution.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the first solution can be mixed with the second substance to produce the second solution prior to the expiration time for the first solution comprises:

determining an elapsed time since production of the first solution.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein determining whether the first solution can be mixed with the second substance to produce the second solution prior to the expiration time for the first solution further comprises:

comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined time limit.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is permitted to commence only if it is determined that mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution can be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is prevented from commencing if it is determined that mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution cannot be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether there is a sufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance to produce the second solution; and

mixing the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution only if it is determined that there is a sufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein determining whether there is a sufficient quantity of first solution comprises:

monitoring the quantity of first solution produced.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein determining whether there is a sufficient quantity of first solution comprises:

monitoring the quantity of first solution remaining after an earlier production of second solution.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein monitoring the quantity of first solution remaining after an earlier production of second solution comprises:

determining the quantity of first solution initially produced;

determining the quantity of first solution used in the earlier production of second solution; and

determining the quantity of first solution remaining based on the quantity of first solution initially produced and the quantity of first solution used in the earlier production.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is permitted to commence only if it is determined that there is a sufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance and mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution can be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is prevented from commencing if it is determined that there is an insufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance or mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution cannot be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

15. In a system for combining a first substance with a second substance that cannot be mixed directly with the first substance without damaging at least one of the first substance and the second substance, a computer controlled method comprising:

preparing a first solution having a first predetermined concentration of first substance capable of being mixed directly with the second substance without damaging one of the first substance and the second substance;

maintaining a timer to monitor the age of the first solution;

determining whether mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce a second solution having a second predetermined concentration of first substance relative to the second substance can be completed prior to an expiration time for the first solution based on the timer; and

permitting mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution only if it is determined that mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution can be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first substance comprises an anti-pathogen compound and the second substance comprises red blood cell concentrate.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the first liquid comprises a buffer solution.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first liquid comprises a diluting solution.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein determining whether the first solution can be mixed with the second substance to produce the second solution prior to the expiration time for the first solution comprises:

determining an elapsed time since production of the first solution.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein determining whether the first solution can be mixed with the second substance to produce the second solution prior to the expiration time for the first solution further comprises:

comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined time limit.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is permitted to commence only if it is determined that mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution can be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is prevented from commencing if it is determined that mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution cannot be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

23. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether there is a sufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance to produce the second solution; and

permitting mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution only if it is determined that there is a sufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein determining whether there is a sufficient quantity of first solution comprises:

monitoring the quantity of first solution produced.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein determining whether there is a sufficient quantity of first solution comprises:

monitoring the quantity of first solution remaining after an earlier production of second solution.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein monitoring the quantity of first solution remaining after an earlier production of second solution comprises:

determining the quantity of first solution initially produced;

determining the quantity of first solution used in the earlier production of second solution; and

determining the quantity of first solution remaining based on the quantity of first solution initially produced and the quantity of first solution used in the earlier production.

27. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is permitted to commence only if it is determined that there is a sufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance and mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution can be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.

28. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first substance is mixed with the first liquid in a first process and the first solution is mixed with the second substance in a second process, and wherein the second process is prevented from commencing if it determined that there is an insufficient quantity of first solution to mix with the second substance or mixing of the first solution with the second substance to produce the second solution cannot be completed prior to the expiration time for the first solution.