Two-stage mixing system, apparatus, and method

• US 7,993,050 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Gray, Larry B., Staub, Edward L., Harris, Matthew C., Demers, Jason A., McGill, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorkin; David L
• Application Number:
  US11/926,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20080112258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 366/154.1, 366/155.1, 366/155.2, 422 63- 67
• US Class Current: 366/154.1
• 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. A mixing system comprising:

a primary mixing unit configured to mix a first substance with a first liquid to produce a first solution, the first solution stored in a container;

a plurality of secondary mixing units fluidly connected to the container, each of said secondary mixing units configured to mix first solution from the container with a second substance to produce a second solution having a second predetermined concentration of first substance relative to the second substance; and

a process controller for controlling the primary and secondary mixing units, wherein the process controller determines the number of secondary mixing units fluidly connected to the container.

2. A mixing system according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid comprises a buffer solution.

3. A mixing system according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid comprises a diluting solution.

4. A mixing system according to claim 1, wherein the process controller only permits the first solution to be mixed with the second substance by the plurality of secondary mixing units before a predetermined age of the first solution.

5. A mixing system according to claim 1, wherein the process controller coordinates mixing operations of the primary and secondary mixing units.

6. A mixing system according to claim 5, wherein the process controller monitors the quantity of first solution and prevents the secondary mixing units from mixing the first solution with the second substance if there is an insufficient quantity of first solution for preparing the second solution.

7. A mixing system according to claim 6, wherein the process controller coordinates the primary mixing unit to produce a sufficient quantity of first solution for preparing the second solution by the plurality of secondary mixing units.

8. A mixing system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of secondary mixing units are coupled to the container of first solution via a single connection to the container.

9. A mixing system according to claim 8, wherein each of the secondary mixing units requires priming with first solution prior to mixing the first solution with the second substance, and wherein the process controller coordinates priming of the plurality of secondary mixing units from the container of first solution.

10. A mixing system according to claim 9, wherein the process controller coordinates priming of the plurality of secondary mixing units symmetrically outward from the middle of the plurality of secondary mixing units.

11. A mixing system according to claim 10, comprising an odd number of secondary mixing units including a middle unit, wherein the process controller begins priming with the middle unit and continues priming outward from the middle unit with successive pairs of units.

12. A mixing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a management rack for holding a plurality of second substance containers and a plurality of second solution receptacles for use by the plurality of secondary mixing units.

13. A mixing system according to claim 12, wherein the management rack comprises a multiple compartment tray for holding the plurality of second solution receptacles.

14. A mixing system according to claim 13, wherein the multiple compartment tray is removable from the rack and is stackable with other trays while holding the plurality of second solution receptacles.

15. A mixing system according to claim 5, wherein the process controller instructs the operator to perform various tasks, and wherein the process controller focuses the operator on one task at a time.

16. A mixing system according to claim 15, wherein the process controller controls at least one visual indicator on each mixing unit for focusing the operator on one task at a time.

17. A mixing system according to claim 16, wherein the process controller provides a graphical display to the operator for focusing the operator on one task at a time, the graphical display including a representation of the at least one visual indicator of at least one mixing unit.

18. A mixing system according to claim 15, wherein the process controller provides a graphical display to the operator for focusing the operator on one task at a time, the graphical display including a representation of at least one mixing unit, the graphical display further including a highlighting icon for indicating any mixing unit associated with the task.