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  System, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquidUSPTO Application #: 20080113331Title: System, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquid Abstract: A system, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquid pumps the liquid into a container of the substance to produce a solution. The container may be part of a container assembly including a port assembly for coupling with the container to produce an inlet and/or and outlet port for the container. The container assembly may be received within a receiving chamber for causing the coupling. The solution may be permitted to flow out of the outlet port when the solution rises within the container to a level of the outlet port so that the substance is partially diluted before flowing out of the outlet port. (end of abstract)
Agent: Michelle Saquet Temple - Manchester, NH, US Inventors: Jason D. Demers, James D. Dale, Brian Tracey, David W. McGill, Larry B. Gray USPTO Applicaton #: 20080113331 - Class: 435 2 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080113331. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001]This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/696,969 filed on Oct. 30, 2003, herein incorporated by reference. [0002]The present application may also include subject matter related to one or more of the following commonly-owned United States patent applications, each of which was filed on even date herewith and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: [0003]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/696,893 entitled SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR MIXING LIQUIDS (referred to herein as "Application D71"); [0004]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/696,818 entitled TWO-STAGE MIXING SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD (referred to herein as "Application D72"); [0005]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/697,176 entitled SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PUMPING FLUID USING A PUMP CASSETTE (referred to herein as "Application D73"); [0006]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/696,984 entitled DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM (referred to herein as "Application D74"); [0007]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/697,450 entitled BEZEL ASSEMBLY FOR PNEUMATIC CONTROL (referred to herein as "Application D75"); [0008]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/697,862 entitled PUMP CASSETTE WITH SPIKING ASSEMBLY (referred to herein as "Application D84"); and [0009]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/696,990 entitled PUMP CASSETTE BANK (referred to herein as "Application D85"). FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0010]The present invention relates generally to pumping liquids, and more particularly to mixing a substance with a liquid. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0011]Millions of people receive blood transfusions each year. Although helpful in many cases, blood transfusions have associated risks. Among others, there is a risk that microorganisms capable of causing disease (i.e., pathogens) could pass from the donor blood to the ultimate blood recipient. For example, untreated blood used in a blood transfusion could have pathogens causing the West Nile Virus, or AIDS. It thus is critical for the public health to ensure that transfused blood is substantially free of pathogens. [0012]The medical community has responded to this need by developing various techniques for removing known and unknown pathogens from donated blood. One technique involves mixing precise amounts of a diluted anti-pathogen compound with blood. Some time after mixing, a rinsing process removes the anti-pathogen compound from the blood. One complexity with this process, however, is the fact that the diluted anti-pathogen compound has a very short shelf life (e.g., on the order of about four hours). Accordingly, the diluted anti-pathogen compound must be produced a relatively short time before it is mixed with blood. [0013]The anti-pathogen compound is not easy to handle before it is diluted. To the contrary, it has a very high pH (e.g., on the order of 11.0 or higher) and thus, is highly caustic and toxic. Mere contact with the undiluted solution can melt plastic, or burn flesh. Because of these undesirable properties, the undiluted solution typically is manually diluted by highly trained laboratory technicians that necessarily must be protected from direct contact with it. Consequently, laboratory technicians often are required to wear relatively impermeable protective gear while diluting the solution behind a chemical laminar flowhood. Such a process, however, is inherently slow, imprecise, and costly due to the multitude of safety requirements. Moreover, even with safeguards, diluting the undiluted solution still poses a risk to the laboratory technician. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014]Embodiments of the present invention provide for safely and efficiently mixing a substance with a liquid. [0015]In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the substance is contained in a container assembly having a sealed container that contains the substance. The container assembly is joined with a port assembly within a receiving chamber. The port assembly provides at least an inlet to the container, and typically also an outlet from the container. A liquid is added to the container through the inlet to produce a solution of substance and liquid. Continued ingress of liquid may cause the solution to flow out of the container through the outlet. [0016]In accordance with other aspect of the invention, the substance is a caustic substance that is provided in a primary container having a bottom and a top, with the caustic substance filling the primary container from the bottom to a given point between the bottom and the top. An outlet is provided in the primary container, such that the outlet is between the given point and the top. A predetermined amount of liquid is added to the primary container to produce a combined caustic substance and liquid solution that rises at least to the level of the outlet. At least some of the solution is permitted to flow from the primary container through the outlet after the solution rises to the outlet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017]In the accompanying drawings: [0018]FIG. 1A shows an exemplary blood processing system 100 having a compounder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0019]FIG. 1B shows an exemplary wiring diagram for one embodiment of the blood processing system shown in FIG. 1A; Continue reading... Full patent description for System, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquid Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquid patent application. 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