The invention relates to 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.
Transfer devices for transferring and mixing media are known by means of which a first medium can be transferred from a first container plugged onto the transfer device into a second container plugged onto the transfer device. Such transfer devices are frequently used in the medical field for the mixing of two substances, without the substances being contaminated or even leaking during the mixing or, respectively, transfer. In this context and due to the ease of handling, vial containers characterized by a glass container, which is closed by a pierceable plug, have become established as containers. When such a vial container is plugged onto the transfer device, the plug is pierced by a hollow needle formed on the transfer device, with the hollow needle and the plug sealingly abutting each other. For regulating the transfer process or, respectively, the mixing process, a shut-off unit can be formed on the transfer device, by means of which handling and safety are increased for the user operating the transfer device.
Such a transfer device for transferring or, respectively, mixing media is known, for example, From patent AT 514 328 B 1.
The transfer device known from patent AT 514 328 B1 has turned out to be disadvantageous in that, for the purpose of supplying the mixed or, respectively, transferred substance to further use, the vial container must be unplugged from the transfer device, whereby leaking of the mixed or, respectively, transferred substance and/or a contamination of the substance may occur through the hole pierced into the plug by the hollow needle. Often, a minor carelessness on the part of the user or a jerky movement during the unplugging of the vial container is already enough for this.
Furthermore, the transfer device has turned out to be disadvantageous in that one of the vial containers must be charged with a negative pressure in order to support the material transport within the transfer device. So as to ensure safe handling of the vial container and to avoid contamination of an interior of the vial container, the vial container must be charged with a vacuum in an absolutely sterile environment, whereby this is generally performed by the manufacturer after or before the vial container is filled. In this case, the negative pressure in one of the two vial containers must be at least so large that a relative pressure between the vial containers will adjust itself which is sufficient for creating a medium flow between the vial containers through the transfer device against a frictional resistance or, respectively, a capillary action of a transfer duct of the transfer device. However, the generation of the negative pressure constitutes a not insignificant expense during the filling of the vial containers and is therefore expensive and complex. Furthermore, when the transfer device is used, it must be made sure that the relative pressure between the two plugged-on vial containers is sufficient for conveying a medium through the transfer device.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to build a mixing device which develops further the initially mentioned transfer device and involves the possibility of mixing several media with each other and of supplying the mixed medium to further use, without any risk of leaking or, respectively, contaminated media.
According to the present invention, the present object is achieved in that, 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.
Due to the design according to the invention of the mixing device, the advantage is obtained that different containers can be brought into mutual media communication relative to the connecting element, depending on the position of the shut-off unit. As a result, the media stored in the various containers can be mixed safely and without contamination from the outside.
Preferably, the containers are formed by syringes and vial containers. In this way, the advantage is obtained that the syringes can be used for transporting the media, in particular fluids, through the mixing device. As a result, the use of vial containers charged with a vacuum can be omitted. A syringe is preferably configured as an injection syringe into which the mixture produced in the mixing device is filled. As a result, the advantage is obtained that the mixture can be supplied to further use without contamination from the outside and without leakage from the injection syringe, without being transferred a further time. Furthermore, syringes provide the advantage that a very good mixing of the fluids can be achieved as a result of turbulences arising when the syringe is drawn up or squeezed out. Moreover, the syringes provide the advantage that a mixing ratio of the media can be adjusted via a draw-up volume or, respectively, a squeezing volume of the syringes, whereby metering of the media during mixing is no longer restricted to just one volume.
Furthermore, the advantage is obtained by the mixing device according to the invention that several media are miscible with each other in different sequences. Advantageously, a mixing sequence of different media is determined by the design of the connecting element and the shut-off unit and/or by a specification of rotation and displacement possibilities of the shut-off unit. Suitably, each container comprising its included medium is associated to a container connection and can be plugged only into said connection. Furthermore, various stoppers or detent recesses are advantageously attached to the connecting element or the shut-off unit in order to bring the corresponding containers into mutual media communication through the shut-off unit only in a predetermined sequence. As a result, an error in the mixing sequence can be ruled out, which contributes mainly to safe handling of the media and whereby unnecessary disposals of wrongly mixed media can be avoided.
Advantageously, at least one container connection is designed as a Luer lock connector. As a result, the advantage is obtained that containers, in particular containers in the form of syringes, can be coupled to the mixing device and decoupled from the mixing device with one movement of the hand. Consequently, safe handling of the mixing device is ensured also with gloves. Furthermore, the Luer lock connector provides the advantage that, due to its frequent use in a medical environment, a variety of medical devices can be connected to the mixing device, such as, for example, different types of cannulas, tubes, etc.
At least one container connection is advantageously designed as a vial connection. As a result, the advantage is obtained that vial containers can be coupled to the mixing device and decoupled from the mixing device with one movement of the hand. In this case, the vial connection is advantageously formed by a protrusion projecting from an external surface of the connecting element, which protrusion pierces a plug of the vial container as a result of a vial container being plugged onto the mixing device, whereby a medium communication is established between the interior of the vial container and the connecting duct. Suitably, the protrusion is designed as a hollow needle and forms the extension of the connecting duct. The hollow needle is advantageously made of a synthetic material or stainless steel.
Preferably, the connecting element and/or the shut-off unit is/are made of a synthetic material and manufactured by means of injection moulding.
Suitably, the connecting element comprises latching lugs, the latching lugs being designed for supporting the containers. As a result, the advantage is obtained that containers, in particular vial containers, are supported by the mixing device after they have been attached to the mixing device. Advantageously, the latching lugs are designed such that the vial containers can be released from the mixing device in a non-destructive way by applying a gentle force with one movement of the hand.
Advantageously, the shut-off unit comprises a plurality of distribution ducts located in different axial planes of the shut-off unit. The distribution ducts can run through the shut-off unit in a straight line, in an angled fashion and/or they can run through the shut-off unit with a bend. As a result, the advantage is obtained that different connecting ducts can be brought into media communication not only by twisting the shut-off unit, but they can be brought into media communication also via the axial displacement of the shut-off unit.
In a further embodiment variant, the mixing device comprises at least one connection coupling which can be connected to the connecting element via the at least one Luer lock connector and which comprises a vial connection. When a connection coupling is plugged onto the connecting element, a coupling duct formed in the connection coupling is connected, for communication, to the connecting duct extending from the at least one Luer lock connector to the guide bore. As a result, the connection coupling constitutes a link between the vial connection and the Luer lock connector. In this way, the advantage is obtained that the connecting element can always be designed in the same way, for example, only with Luer lock connectors as container connections, and, if vial connections are required, the connection couplings can be coupled to the connecting element.
In a further embodiment variant, the distributing ducts have branches which lead to the external wall of the shut-off unit. As a result, the advantage is obtained that several containers can be brought into mutual media communication simultaneously.
In a further embodiment variant, the orifices of the distributor duct are formed in different axial planes of the shut-off unit.
In this context, a medium is considered to consist in substances in a gaseous, liquid or solid physical state. The term medium covers in particular liquids, gases or powders.
Further advantageous embodiments of the mixing device according to the invention will be explained in further detail below with reference to the figures.
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.
In a further embodiment variant, the second medium is formed by a powder.
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.
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.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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A 50102/2017 | Feb 2017 | AT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/AT2018/060026 | 1/26/2018 | WO | 00 |