US3684455A

US3684455A - Apparatus for mixing liquids

Info

Publication number: US3684455A
Application number: US886559A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Vacirca; Port Jefferson; Michael Smith; Louis Tejera
Original assignee: Mallinckrodt Chemical Works
Current assignee: Mallinckrodt Chemical Works
Priority date: 1969-12-19
Filing date: 1969-12-19
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15

Abstract

APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUIDS SUCH AS A BLOOD SERUM AND A REAGENT EMPLOYED IN TESTING THE SERUM, WHEREIN A PREMEASURED AMOUNT OF THE REAGENT IS PREPACKED IN A SEALED PLASTIC VIAL HAVING INTERNAL THREADS IN THE MOUTH THEREOF AND A FRANGIBLE SEAL PLUG IN THE MOUTH AT THE LOWER END FOR SEALING THE PREMEASURED AMOUNT OF REAGENT IN THE VIAL. THE BLOOD SERUM IS PLACED INTO A GLASS VIAL HAVING EXTERNAL THREADS WHICH MAY BE SCREWED INTO THE MOUTH OF THE PLASTIC VIAL TO BREAK THE SEAL PLUG AND THEREBY ALLOW THE SERUM TO BE MIXED WITH THE REAGENT. IN ADDITION TO THE SEAL PROVIDED BY THE MATING THREADS ON THE VIALS, THE MIXED LIQUIDS ARE FURTHER SEALED BY INTERENGAGEMENT BETWEEN AN EXTERNAL SHOULDER ON THE GLASS VIAL AND A CORRESPONDING ANNULAR PORTION PROJECTING FROM THE MOUTH OF THE PLASTIC VIAL. THE ACTUAL MIXING OF THE LIQUIDS MAY BE PERFORMED BY GRASPING THE UNITED VIALS AND MANUALLY SHAKING THEM AS A UNIT SO THAT THE MIXING OF THE LIQUIDS TAKES PLACE IN BOTH VIALS.

Description

Aug. 1 5, 1972 v c c ET AL $584,455

APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUIDS I Filed Dec. 19, 1969 FIGI FIGS INVENTORS EL VACIRCA MICHA MICHAEL SMITH e Lows TEJERA I BY MA ti -F I4 ATTORNEYS 3,684,455 APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUIDS Michael Vacirca, Port Jetferson, Michael Smith, Ronkonkoma, and Louis Tejera, Central Islip, N.Y., assignors to Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis, Mo.

Filed Dec. 19, 1969, Ser. No. 886,559 Int. Cl. G01m 33/16; B65d 25/08, 79/00 US. Cl. 23-253 R 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for mixing liquids such as a blood serum and a reagent employed in testing the serum, wherein a premeasured amount of the reagent is prepackaged in a sealed plastic vial having internal threads in the mouth thereof and a frangible seal plug in the mouth at the lower end for sealing the premeasured amount of reagent in the vial. The blood serum is placed into a glass vial having external threads which may be screwed into the mouth of the plastic vial to break the seal plug and thereby allow the serum to be mixed with the reagent. In addition to the seal provided by the mating threads on the vials, the mixed liquids are further sealed by interengagement between an external shoulder on the glass vial and a corresponding annular portion projecting from the mouth of the plastic vial. The actual mixing of the liquids may be performed by grasping the united vials and manually shaking them as a unit so that the mixing of the liquids takes place in both vials.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION AND OBJECTS The present invention broadly relates to liquid handling, and more specifically to apparatus for handling and mixing two liquids for example in the course of performing a blood test wherein it is desired to mix a premeasured amount of blood serum with a premeasured amount of reagent. Although in one aspect, the present invention involves a novel method for handling a blood serum and a reagent during a blood test operation, it will be understood that the method and apparatus of the present invention have broader applications and need not be restricted to the specific liquids disclosed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus for handling and mixing two liquids. Included herein is the provision of a novel apparatus particularly suitable for mixing a blood serum with a reagent during the course of a blood test.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a novel apparatus which may be employed to quickly and easily mix two predetermined amounts of liquids with accuracy.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a pair of novel vials which may be combined into a single sealed container to mix liquids initially separately contained in the vials. Included herein is the provision of such vials incorporating a novel frangible seal for insuring that at least one of the liquids is sealed prior to mixing. Also included is the provision of a dual seal for sealing the vials together to contain the mixed liquids during the mixing operation.

The above and other objects are achieved in one particular application relating to the testing of blood samples, wherein a predetermined amount of a blood serum to be tested is placed into a glass vial having a reduced neck defining the mouth of the vial with external threads on the neck. The other liquid to be mixed which, in the particular application disclosed, is a premeasured reagent prepackaged in another vial made from a plastic such as polypropylene. The premeasured reagent is sealed in the United States Patent 3,684,455 Patented Aug. 15, 1972 "ice plastic vial by a frangible sealing plug which may be integral with the sidewalls of the vial and is located in the mouth of the vial recessed inwardly from the outer end thereof. The mouth of the vial is provided with internal threads for receiving the external threads on the neck of the glass vial.

The frangible sealing plug is positioned in the plastic vial so that upon sufiicient advancement of the glass vial into the plastic vial, the end of the neck on the plastic vial will break or rupture the sealing plug to intercommunicate the chambers of the vials. The vials may then be shaken as a unit to mix the blood serum with the reagent during which time the interengagement of the threads on the vials provides a seal containing the mixed liquid in the vials.

An additional seal is also provided by the extremity of the mouth of the plastic vial which engages about the external wall surface of the glass vial just below the neck portion thereof. After the liquid is sufficiently mixed, it may be dispensed upon unthreading the vials from each other. The plastic vial may then be disposed of although the glass vial may be used in a subsequent test, if desired.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates perspective views of two vials constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown during a first step in accordance with the method of use of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of the vials shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the other vial during a further step in the method;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the two vials joined together during a further step in the method;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating the two vials joined together during a still further step in the method; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating a still further step in the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated two

vials

10 and 40 for handling and mixing two liquids in accordance with the present invention. In one specific method,

vials

10 and 40 are employed to mix a blood serum 43 with a reagent 11 for use in conducting a blood test. The reagent 11 is supplied in a premeasured amount in vial 10 (the reagent vial) while the blood serum to be tested is supplied or otherwise placed into the other vial 40 (the sample vial). The serum may be placed into vial 40 by any suitable method which may employ a syringe.

In the preferred embodiment, reagent vial 10 is molded of a plastic material such as polypropylene and has a cylindrical body 12 with a circular bottom wall 14 and and an open mouth generally designated 16 on the end opposite bottom wall 14. In the mouth 16 of vial 10, a plurality of threads 18 are formed as illustrated in FIG. 1. Threads 18 are recessed from outer mouth portion 20 which is cylindrical for a purpose to be subsequently described.

A predetermined amount of reagent 11 is introduced into vial 10 and sealed therein by means of a frangible sealing plug 22 integral with the body 12 and bottom wall 14 which may be a separate closure constituted by a cap as illustrated in FIG. 2. The reagent 11 is introduced through the bottom of vial 10 after which the cap 14 is inserted. Cap 14 preferably has a cup shape including a cylindrical sleeve portion which engages the internal surface of vial body 12 to provide a good seal. Cap 14 may also be formed from suitable plastic material such as polypropylene.

Plug 22 includes a frustoconical portion 24 having the relatively thin circular edge portion 26 which is integrally continuously attached to the internal surface of body 12 of vial thus sealing in the premeasured amount of regent 11. The attachment at 26 may be effected through integral formation of sealing plug 22 and the body 12 of vial 10 in which case it will be understood that the plug will be formed from the same material such as polypropylene. Sealing plug 22 also includes an outer end portion 28 having a cylindrical or disc-1ike configuration with an outer face 30 which faces the open mouth 16 of vial 10.

The sample vial 40 which is to contain the serum 43 to be tested, is made from a suitable material such as glass and includes a cylindrical body 42 having a circular bottom wall 44 at one end and a neck portion 46 at the opposite end. Neck portion 46 as illustrated in the drawings has a reduced diameter when compared to the body 42 of vial 41). Moreover, a plurality of threads 48 are formed on the external portion of neck 46 for purposes of threading vial 40 into vial 10. Threads 48 may also be employed to receive a conventional removable cap (not shown) for sealing the serum 43 in vial 40 prior to the mixing operation.

The thickness of the walls of neck portion 46 of vial 40 as well as the diameter thereof is made so that upon sufiicient threading of vial 40 into vial 10, the outer edge 50 of neck portion 46 will engage the sealing plug surface 30 and upon continued threading, sealing plug 22 will be separated at its edge 26 from wall 12 of vial 10 to thus communicate the interiors of the vials for mixing the respective liquids.

During the mixing operation, the liquids will be sealed through the threaded engagement between

threads

18 and 48. In addition, the cylindrical mouth portion 20 of vial 10 will sealingly engage around an external peripheral portion of the body 42 of vial 40 to establish a second seal as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In performing the method involved in the use of the present invention, a vial 10 is provided with the premeasured amount of reagent 11 sealed therein through means of plug 22 and cap 14. A premeasured amount of blood serum 43 is placed into vial 40 as illustrated in FIG. 3 after which vial 10 is positioned on neck 46 of vial 40 and then rotated to engage

threads

18 and 48 to advance vial 10 axially along vial 40 (FIGS. 4 and until the end 50 of neck 46 of vial 40 engages and breaks sealing plug 22 (FIG. 6). The liquids may then be mixed by shaking the joined vials as a unit. After the liquid is sufiiciently mixed, it may be dispensed from either vial 4 by disengaging

threads

18 and 48 and removing one vial from the other.

We claim:

1. For use with a sample vial adapted to hold a sample of a substance which is to be tested by a reagent, said sample vial comprising a cylindrical body closed at one end and having a cylindrical externally threaded neck at its other end adapted to be closed by a cap threaded on said neck: a reagent vial comprising an elongate cylindrical molded plastic body having a separate closure at one end thereof, said plastic body having an integral frangible closure spaced inwardly from its other end and a cylindrical recess defined by said frangible closure and the portion of said plastic body located outward of said frangible closure, said plastic 'body having a screw thread in said recess for receiving said screw-threaded neck of the sample vial after removal of said cap, said reagent vial containing a reagent for testing the substance from the sample vial, the end of the neck of the sample vial being engageable with the frangible closure when the neck is threaded in said recess for rupturing the frangible closure for mixing of said substance and reagent within the two threaded-together vials, wherein the frangible closure has an extension into said recess engageable by the end of the neck to rupture the frangible closure.

2. A reagent vial as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frangible closure is constituted by a plug having a portion of smaller diameter than said recess extending into said recess from a base section having a relatively thin frangible circular edge portion integrally joined to the interior of said plastic body.

3. A reagent vial as set forth in claim 2 for use with a sample vial wherein the neck is of smaller diameter than the body and the body has a curved transition to the neck, said reagent vial having a relatively thin-walled tubular cylindrical extension at its said other end dimensioned for a sliding sealing fit over said transition and on to the body of said sample vial.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,443,726 5/1969 Muller et al. 206-47 A 3,451,540 6/1969 Kulischenko 206-47 A 3,476,515 11/1969 Johnson et al 23230 3,532,254 10/1970 Burke 20647 A 3,326,400 6/1967 Hamclin et al. 2l56 3,521,745 7/1970 Schwartzman 20647 A MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner E. A. KATZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.