Fluid handling – Destructible or deformable element controlled – Destructible element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-05-22
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Destructible or deformable element controlled
Destructible element
C137S068190, C137S493800, C206S219000, C604S087000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234190
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of methods and devices for mixing and dispensing compositions. More particularly, this application is directed to methods and devices for mixing and dispensing multi-part medical and dental compositions.
2. The Relevant Technology
Adaptors have been employed in the art in order to couple one syringe in fluid communication with another syringe. Such adaptors are typically configured to be positioned between the syringes by coupling one portion of the adaptor to one syringe and another portion of the adaptor to another syringe. Typical adaptors have a passageway therethrough in order to enable material in one syringe to pass through the passageway of the adaptor to the opposing syringe. After coupling the adaptor between opposing syringes, material from one syringe may be delivered through the adaptor into another syringe.
A variety of different uses for such so-called “syringe-to-syringe adaptors” are available. For example, syringe-to-syringe adaptors may be useful for connecting a large reservoir syringe to the small dose syringe so that the material stored in the large reservoir syringe may be transferred to a small dose syringe. Syringe-to-syringe adaptors may also be used for back-filling a syringe or for combining materials in different syringes to form a mixture.
First and second syringes may also be coupled directly together without the use of an adaptor therebetween in order to combine materials disposed within the syringes. The plungers of the syringes are alternatively compressed or actuated in cycles until the materials within the syringes mix.
There are many advantages to typical syringe-to-syringe mixing applications, both with respect to applications involving syringes which directly couple in order to combine material and with respect to syringes which couple through the use of an adaptor. However, each of such typical syringe-to-syringe mixing applications feature a single, linear pathway which extends from one syringe to another or from one end of an adaptor to an opposing end of the adaptor.
Consequently, material in the distal tip portion of a first syringe is delivered in a substantially linear manner through the linear pathway to the distal tip portion of a second syringe. If the plunger of the second syringe is then pressed, substantially the same material delivered to the tip of the second syringe is delivered back along the same linear pathway in an opposite direction. As a result, substantially the same material originally delivered from the distal tip of the first syringe is returned back to the distal tip of the first syringe.
Thus, material located remotely from the tips can remain in such a remote position and fail to mix. Instead, substantially the same material is pushed back and forth along the linear pathway between the tips of the syringes. Overall, this phenomenon can result in inadequate mixing of the components from one syringe to another or can require long mixing times in order to mix the components.
Another problem within the art relates to the expense and inconvenience of using removable caps to cover syringes containing materials to be mixed. Before mixing materials in first and second syringes, the syringes must typically be opened, i.e., by removing removable caps on each syringe. This technique is time consuming and requires the production of caps which can be removed from the syringes.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved adaptor and system for enabling a material to be transferred from a first delivery means for delivering material to a second delivery means for delivering material and for enabling another material to be transferred from the second delivery means to the first delivery means.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved adaptor and system for coupling opposing delivery means with each other such that the materials within the delivery means can be thoroughly mixed.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved adaptor which enables material in opposing delivery means to circulate in a non-linear flow pattern between the delivery means.
It is another object of the invention to provide an adaptor for coupling delivery means which has an asymmetric flow path.
It is another object of the invention to provide an adaptor for coupling sources of material which has a selectively openable flow channel.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system for mixing materials comprising an adaptor and mating delivery means which conveniently couple with the adaptor.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system for mixing materials which does not require a practitioner to remove caps from one or more syringes prior to mixing the materials.
The present invention relates to an adaptor for enabling a material to be transferred from a first delivery means for delivering material to a second delivery means for delivering material and for enabling a material to be transferred from the second delivery means to the first delivery means. The adaptor comprises: (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 portion of the interior surface of the main body and a first side of the septum define a first channel within the main body. The first channel extends from the first end of the main body to the second end of the main body and has a primary opening at the first end and a secondary opening at the second end of the main boy. A second portion of the interior surface of the main body and a second side of the septum define a second channel within the main body. The second channel extends from the second end of the main body to the first end of the main body and has a primary opening at the second end and a secondary opening at the first end of the main body.
A first flow path flows from the first delivery means through the first channel to the second delivery means. A second flow path flows from the second delivery means through the second channel to the first delivery means.
In order to selectively close the first and second channels, a valve is disposed at the end of each channel. Each valve includes a valve seat and a valve head. In one embodiment, each valve seat is an edge of the main body and each valve head is a substantially flexible member extending from an opposing end of the septum.
The first substantially flexible member can be configured to selectively close the secondary opening of the first channel when the member is positioned against the second end of the main body. The second substantially flexible member can be configured to selectively close the secondary opening of the second channel when the member is positioned against the first end of the main body.
In order to mix material in different syringes or other delivery means, the practitioner can deliver material back and forth between the delivery means until the material is adequately mixed. In light of the first and second channels of the adaptor of the present invention, a substantially circular, asymmetric, non-linear flow pattern can be achieved when material is alternately delivered from a first delivery means to a second delivery means. This allows convenient mixing of a first material in the first delivery means and a second material in the second delivery means. This is particularly useful for two-part type dental and medical compositions, such as epoxies, but is useful in a variety of different applications in which mixing is desired.
In light of the bidirectional nature of the first and second channels, the material in the first delivery means flows in a substantially different pathway than material flowing from the second delivery means, and vice versa, creating the substantially circular flow pattern. Material expressed from each channel preferably exits outwardly into a side portion of a given delivery means. This assist
Fischer Dan E.
Larsen Robert
Huson Gregory L.
Krishnamurthy Ramesh
Ultradent Products Inc.
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
LandOfFree
Mixing adaptor with rupturable membrane does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mixing adaptor with rupturable membrane, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mixing adaptor with rupturable membrane will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2508388