Abstract
A mixing device for supplying media from containers, mixing media in containers and dispensing media or mixtures of the media into containers, including a connecting element and a shut-off unit. The connecting element has multiple container connections and a guide bore with a connecting duct extending from each container connection to the guide bore, leading to a wall of the guide bore. The shut-off unit is mounted in the guide bore of the connecting element so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis and displaceable along its longitudinal axis. In the shut-off unit, a distribution duct is formed, which can be brought into alignment with different connecting ducts, depending on a position of the shut-off unit, wherein different connecting ducts can be brought into mutual media communication by rotating and/or axially displacing the shut-off unit in a switchable manner.
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. A mixing device for supplying media from containers, mixing media in containers and dispensing media or mixtures of the media into containers, comprising a connecting element and a shut-off unit, with the connecting element having a plurality of container connections and a guide bore and with at least one connecting duct extending from each container connection to the guide bore, leading to a wall of the guide bore, wherein the shut-off unit is mounted in the guide bore of the connecting element so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis and displaceable along its longitudinal axis, wherein, in the shut-off unit, at least one distribution duct having orifices in a peripheral wall of the shut-off unit is formed, wherein orifices of the distribution duct can be brought into sealing alignment with orifices of the connecting ducts, depending on a position of the shut-off unit, and those connecting ducts can thereby be brought into mutual media communication and different connecting ducts can be brought into mutual media communication by rotating and/or axially displacing the shut-off unit in a switchable manner, and wherein the orifices of the at least one distributor duct are located in the same axial plane of the shut-off unit.
17. A mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distributor duct runs through the shut-off unit in a straight line.
18. A mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distributor duct runs through the shut-off unit in an angled fashion or with a bend.
19. A mixing device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one distributor duct has at least one branch which leads to the external wall of the shut-off unit.
20. A mixing device according to claim 16, wherein the shut-off unit comprises a plurality of distribution ducts located in different axial planes of the shut-off unit.
21. A mixing device according claim 16, wherein the connecting element comprises latching lugs, the latching lugs configured to support the containers.
22. A mixing device according to claim 16, wherein at least one container connection comprises a Luer lock connector.
23. A mixing device according to claim 22, wherein the mixing device comprises at least one connection coupling which can be connected to the connecting element via the Luer lock connector and which comprises a vial connection, wherein, when at least one connection coupling is connected to the connecting element, a coupling duct formed in the least one connection coupling is connected, for communication, to the connecting duct extending from the Luer lock connector to the guide bore.
24. A mixing device according to claim 23, wherein the vial connection comprises a protrusion projecting from an external surface of the connection coupling.
25. A mixing device according to claim 23, wherein the connection coupling comprises further latching lugs, the further latching lugs configured to support the containers.
26. A mixing device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one container connection comprises a vial connection.
27. A mixing device according to claim 11, wherein the vial connection comprises a protrusion projecting from an external surface of the connecting element.
28. A mixing device according to claim 24, wherein the protrusion is formed by a hollow needle.
Description
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment variant of the mixing device according to the invention in a perspective view.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a connecting element of the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows the connecting element as shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective sectional view.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view during the plugging of a vial container onto the connecting element.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective sectional view with a plugged-on vial container.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view with a plugged-on syringe.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view with two syringes plugged onto the connecting element and two plugged-on vial containers.
[0028] FIGS. 8 to 17 each show the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective (sectional) view during the mixing process.
[0029] FIG. 18 shows a further embodiment variant of the mixing device in a perspective view with two plugged-on connection couplings.
[0030] FIGS. 19 and 20 each show a connecting element of the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 18 in a perspective (sectional) view.
[0031] FIGS. 21 and 22 each show two connection couplings of the embodiment variant of the mixing device according to FIG. 18 in a perspective (sectional) view.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, an embodiment variant of a mixing device 1 according to the invention for feeding media from containers, mixing media in containers and dispensing media or mixtures of the media into containers. The mixing device 1 according to the invention comprises a connecting element 2 and a shut-off unit 3, wherein the shut-off unit 3 is mounted in a guide bore 9 of the connecting element 2 so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis and displaceable along its longitudinal axis. At the shut-off unit 3, two wings 4 are formed in an upper region.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows the connecting element 2 in a perspective view. Latching lugs 5 and latching grooves 15 are formed on the connecting element 2.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows the connecting element 2 in a perspective sectional view. The connecting element 2 comprises four container connections which are formed by two Luer lock connectors 6 and two vial connections 7. The vial connections 7 each have a protrusion formed by a hollow needle 8. A connecting duct 10 extends, in each case, from a wall of the guide bore 9 to one vial connection 7 each, and a connecting duct 10 extends, in each case, to one Luer lock connector 6 each. In this embodiment variant, the Luer lock connectors 6 are configured as female Luer lock connectors, but they may also be formed by male Luer lock connectors. The connecting ducts 10, which extend to the vial connections 7, are arranged coaxially to the hollow needle 8 and form the extension of an interior of the hollow needle 8. The hollow needle 8 is advantageously made of stainless steel or a synthetic material and is glued into the connecting element 2. Preferably, the connecting element 2 is made of a synthetic material and manufactured by means of injection moulding. In the embodiment variant of the connecting element 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting ducts 10 are all arranged in one plane.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows the mixing device 1 in a perspective view during the attachment of a first container which encloses a first medium in the form of a first liquid. The first container is formed by a vial container, which will be referred to hereinbelow as an outlet container 11a. When the outlet container 11a is plugged onto the connecting element 2, a plug 18 of the outlet container 11a is pierced by the hollow needle 8, whereby a media communication is established between the connecting duct 10 associated to the vial connection 7 and the outlet container 11a.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows the mixing device 1 in a perspective sectional view with the connection container 11a plugged on. When the connection container 11a is plugged onto the connecting element 2, the connection container 11a is held by the latching lugs 5, with the latching lugs 5 being designed such that it is possible to release the connection container 11a from the connecting element 2 by applying a minor force.
[0037] FIG. 6 shows the mixing device 1 in a perspective view with a second container plugged onto the connecting element 2 via the Luer lock connector 6. The second container is formed by a syringe, which is referred to hereinbelow as a mixing syringe 12a.
[0038] FIG. 7 shows the mixing device 1 in a perspective view with a connection container 11a plugged onto the connecting element 2 and a plugged-on mixing syringe 12a. Furthermore, a third and a fourth container are plugged onto the mixing device 1. The third container is formed by a further vial container which encloses a second medium in the form of a second liquid and which is referred to hereinbelow as a mixing container 11b. The fourth container is formed by a further syringe, which is referred to hereinbelow as an injection syringe 12b. The individual containers are plugged onto the connecting element 2 in such a way that an interior of the plugged-on containers will communicate with the respective connecting duct 10 associated to the container connection.
[0039] FIGS. 8 to 17 show the mixing device 1 during the mixing of two media and during the filling of the mixture into the injection syringe 12b. In a first position, the shut-off unit 3 is positioned relative to the connecting element 2 such that a first distribution duct 13 formed in the shut-off unit 3 connects an interior of the first outlet container 11a, for communication, to an interior of the mixing syringe 12a via the respective connecting ducts 10. By drawing up the mixing syringe 12a, a negative pressure is generated inside the mixing syringe 12a, whereby the first liquid is conveyed from the outlet container 11a into the mixing syringe 12a. Depending on a draw-up volume of the mixing syringe 12a, a quantity required for the mixture can be adjusted. Through a 90 degree rotation of the shut-off unit 3 in the direction of rotation 17, the shut-off unit 3 is shifted into a second position. In the second position, the interior of the mixing syringe 12a is connected, for communication, to an interior of the mixing container 11b via the first distribution duct 13 and the corresponding connecting ducts 10. By squeezing the first liquid from the first mixing syringe 12a, the first liquid is conveyed into the mixing container 11b, whereby the first liquid mixes with the second liquid. In the further step, the mixture is conveyed back into the interior of the first mixing syringe 12a by drawing up the mixing syringe 12a. Due to the turbulences arising when the mixing syringe 12a is being drawn up, the advantage is obtained that a high degree of mixing of the liquids is achieved.
[0040] Due to the rotation of the shut-off unit 3 into the second position, the wings 4 of the shut-off unit 3 are positioned relative to the latching grooves 15 in such a way that the shut-off unit is displaceable into a third position by a compressive axial force 16. Due to the axial displacement of the shut-off unit 3 relative to the connecting element 2, further twisting of the shut-off unit 3 is inhibited by the latching grooves 15 and a second distribution duct 14 is transported into the plane in which the connecting ducts 10 are located. Due to the rectilinear shape of the second distribution duct 14, in the third position, the interior of the mixing syringe 12a is connected, for communication, to an interior of the injection syringe 12b via the connecting element 2. By simultaneously squeezing out the mixing syringe 12a and drawing up the injection syringe 12b, the mixed liquid is conveyed into the injection syringe 12b. Thus, the mixing process is completed, and the injection syringe 12b can be unplugged from the mixing device 1, and the mixed liquid can be supplied to further use.
[0041] In a further embodiment variant, the second medium is formed by a powder.
[0042] In a further embodiment variant, three media are mixed together in the mixing device 1, with the mixing syringe 12a already containing a third medium in the form of a third liquid prior to the mixing process.
[0043] In a further embodiment variant, four media are mixed together in the mixing device 1, with the mixing syringe 12a already containing a third medium in the form of a third liquid prior to the mixing process and the injection syringe 12b already containing a fourth medium in the form of a fourth liquid prior to the mixing process.
[0044] FIG. 18 shows, in a perspective view, a further embodiment variant of the mixing device 19 for supplying media from containers, mixing media in containers and dispensing media or mixtures of the media into containers. In contrast to the mixing device 1 according to FIG. 1, the mixing device 19 comprises a connecting element 20, in which the container connections are formed only by Luer lock connectors 6. For the plugging of vial containers onto the mixing device 18, a first connection coupling 21a and a second connection coupling 21b are formed, each of them connectable to the Luer lock connectors 6.
[0045] FIG. 19 shows a detailed perspective view of the connecting element 20.
[0046] FIG. 20 shows a detailed perspective sectional view of the connecting element 20. Connecting ducts 10 connect the Luer lock connectors 6 to the guide bore 9. In this embodiment variant, the Luer lock connectors 6 are formed by three female Luer lock connectors 6a and by one male Luer lock connector 6b.
[0047] FIG. 21 shows the first connection coupling 21a and the second connection coupling 21b in a perspective view. The first connection coupling 21a comprises a male Luer lock connector 6b and a vial connection 7. The second connection coupling 21b comprises a female Luer lock connector 6a and a vial connection 7. In addition, further latching lugs 5a are formed both on the first connection coupling 21a and on the second connection coupling 21b, and both the vial connection 7 of the first connection coupling 21a and the vial connection 7 of the second connection coupling 21b have a protrusion in the form of a hollow needle 23 which projects from a surface of the connection coupling 21a, 21b. The hollow needle 23 forms the extension of the coupling duct 22 and is arranged coaxially thereto.
[0048] FIG. 22 shows the first connection coupling 21a and the second connection coupling 21b in a perspective sectional view. When the connection couplings 21a, 21b are plugged onto the connecting element 20, a coupling duct 22 formed, in each case, in the connection couplings 21a, 21b is oriented coaxially to the respective connecting duct 10 connecting the female Luer lock connector 6a or, respectively, the male Luer lock connector 6b to the guide bore 9 and is connected thereto for communication.
