A processing vessel (1) provided with a material inlet (2, 3, 4, 5) and a processed material outlet (25) wherein the material flows continuously through the vessel which is split into a series of zones (6, 7, 8) through which the material passes wherein the zones are shielded from each other by controlling the rate at which the material flows and an increasing level of vacuum is applied inconsecutive zones and the system is provided with acoustic energy which imparts energy to the process material by virtue of the contact between the zone dividers and the process material and processing material in such a vessel.

A mixer is disclosed including a sealed mixing chamber having an interior, and a rotating mixing bowl within the interior of the sealed mixing chamber. A stand operatively supports the sealed mixing chamber. The stand includes: a foundation, a mixing chamber base movably coupled to the foundation and positioning the sealed mixing chamber at an angle relative to horizontal, and a linear actuator system configured to move the mixing chamber base relative to the foundation in at least one linear direction. A rotating mixing head is operatively positioned and sealingly disposed within the sealed mixing chamber, the rotating mixing head rotating within the rotating mixing bowl. The mixer and a related method provide for ceramic suspension mixing with reduced cooling and possibly without cooling the suspension.

A device for mixing a bone material with a liquid is provided. The device comprises a chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, and the bone material disposed within the chamber, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of milled and lyophilized demineralized bone fibers; and a plunger having at least a portion slidably disposed within the proximal end of the chamber and configured to dispense the bone material mixed with liquid from the distal end of the chamber, when the plunger is in an extended position.

A method for controlling pressure in a blending apparatus includes sealingly coupling a blade platform to a rim of a vessel including foodstuffs to form a blending chamber. The blade platform includes a blade assembly. The method includes injecting fluid via an opening defined within the blade platform into the blending chamber while the blade platform is sealingly coupled to the vessel. The injection of fluid causes a change in pressure in the blending chamber. The method includes rotating blades of the blade assembly to process the foodstuffs in the blending chamber. The method includes introducing air into the blending chamber to decrease a difference between the pressure within the blending chamber and a pressure external to the blending chamber. The method includes decoupling the blade platform from the rim.

An apparatus includes a pump body, two or more arms extending from the pump body configured to hold a cement mixing container, a vacuum port exposed on an exterior surface of the pump body and positioned to engage a port on the cement mixing container, a venturi positioned proximate the vacuum port; a perforator within the pump body, the perforator configured to puncture a gas container to release gas to the venturi to create a vacuum at the vacuum port; and an actuator configured to puncture the gas container with the perforator.

A vacuum blender having the ability to reduce oxidation of ingredients for a more nutrient-rich product. The blender includes a container for holding ingredients to be blended, the container being open at a top end and having blender blades at a lower end, a lid for covering the open end of the container, and a base having a motor contained therein for driving the blender blades, an interface for coupling with the blender blades of the container, a vacuum system for effecting a vacuum to the container and electronic controls for operating the motor and vacuum system. The vacuum system is configured to couple with the lid to draw a vacuum from the top of the container when activated.

Methods and systems for chromatography are disclosed that employ a flexible container configured to fit within a support structure and adapted to receive a filtration or absorptive medium. The flexible container can include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a separation barrier peripherally sealed within the container to separate the container into a resin containing portion and a drainage portion. The barrier can be configured to exclude the resin material from the drainage portion while allowing fluids to pass therethrough. The disposable chromatography system can further include one or more agitators disposed within the flexible container and adjustably configured to be raised or lowered in the flexible container. When the agitator is in the raised position, the resin packing material can operate in a settled, packed-bed configuration. Alternatively, the agitator in the lowered position permits the chromatography resin packing material to operate in a mixed, slurry configuration.

A container for bone cement includes a first member defining a chamber, which contains a first ingredient. The chamber also includes a second member movably coupled to the first member. The second member includes a mixing device that is movably disposed within the first chamber, and the second member defines a second chamber containing a second ingredient. The container additional includes an opening device that selectively opens the second chamber and allows the second ingredient to enter from the second chamber into the first chamber. The mixing device is movable within the first chamber to promote mixing of the first ingredient and the second ingredient to prepare the bone cement. A corresponding method of preparing bone cement is also disclosed.

A gel production system and method, in which a powder configured for mixing with an aqueous solvent such as water to form a gel is metered into a pressurized air stream to fluidize the powder, and the fluidized powder is injected into a pressurized water supply. The fluidized powder is at a greater pressure than the water supply, helping to hydrate the fluidized powder in the water, and the water supply plus fluidized powder are subsequently mixed in a mixing chamber to form the gel.

A bone material for hydration with a liquid is provided, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of milled and demineralized bone fibers, the coherent mass having no binder disposed in or on the coherent mass. In some embodiments, a bone material for hydration with a liquid is provided, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of cartridge milled, lyophilized and demineralized bone fibers, the coherent mass having no binder on the coherent mass. In some embodiments, a method of implanting a bone material is provided, the method comprising contacting the bone material with a liquid, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of cartridge milled, lyophilized and demineralized bone fibers, the coherent mass having no binder disposed in or on the coherent mass; molding the bone material into a shape to implant the bone material; and implanting the bone material at the target tissue site.