Capsule for storage, mixing and dispensing materials

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule for storage, mixing and dispensing of materials, preferably dental materials like glass ionomer cement. The capsule comprises a capsule body member that provides a main chamber and comprises a dispensing opening, a receptacle providing an auxiliary chamber, said receptacle being accommodated in said capsule body member, and an applicator member being slideably accommodated in said capsule body member.

1 . Capsule for storage, mixing and dispensing of materials comprising: 
 a capsule body member providing a main chamber, and comprising a dispensing opening at the front end of said capsule body member;    a receptacle comprising an auxiliary chamber, said receptacle being accommodated in said capsule body member; and    an applicator member for activating said capsule and for dispensing mixed materials; said applicator member being slideably accommodated in said capsule body member, said applicator member being provided at the rear end of the capsule body member;    said main chamber and said auxiliary chamber being selectively connectable for fluid communication between said chambers upon activation of said capsule by said applicator member;    said applicator member and/or said receptacle being adapted such that said receptacle releases material contained in the auxiliary chamber under pressure created by said applicator member.    
   
   
       2 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of said capsule body member comprises a stepped configuration forming a step in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the capsule body member.  
   
   
       3 . The capsule of  claim 2 , wherein said step divides the interior of said capsule body member into a first part and a second part, said first part being located between said dispensing opening and said second part and having a smaller diameter than said second part.  
   
   
       4 . The capsule of  claim 2 , wherein said receptacle rests on said step.  
   
   
       5 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle comprises an annular element and two film elements being attached to the annular element at the two sides of the annular element in order to form said auxiliary chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The capsule of  claim 2 , wherein said receptacle comprises an annular element and two film elements being attached to the annular element at the two sides of the annular element in order to form said auxiliary chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The capsule of  claim 3 , wherein said receptacle comprises an annular element and two film elements being attached to the annular element at the two sides of the annular element in order to form said auxiliary chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The capsule of  claim 5 , wherein the inner diameter of said annular element equals the diameter of said first part of said capsule body member.  
   
   
       9 . The capsule of  claim 5 , wherein said two films are attached to said annular element in order to form a hermetically sealed chamber.  
   
   
       10 . The capsule of  claim 5 , wherein at least one film of said receptacle comprises an area of weakness in order to facilitate breaking of the film upon application of pressure.  
   
   
       11 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator member comprises a piston element and a tubular element accommodating said piston element.  
   
   
       12 . The capsule of  claim 11 , wherein the diameter of said piston element equals the diameter of said first part of said capsule body member.  
   
   
       13 . The capsule of  claim 1 , said applicator member further comprising a punching element.  
   
   
       14 . The capsule of  claim 13 , said punching element being a conical spike.  
   
   
       15 . The capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising a cannula member.  
   
   
       16 . The capsule of  claim 15 , the cannula member being connected to said dispensing opening or being integrally formed with said capsule body member.  
   
   
       17 . The capsule of  claim 16 , said connected cannula member being rotatable in order to provide a dispensing valve.  
   
   
       18 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said materials comprise dental materials.  
   
   
       19 . The capsule of  claim 18 , wherein said materials are glass ionomer cements or resin modified glass ionomer cements.  
   
   
       20 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said main chamber contains a first, preferably powdery, component of said material, and said auxiliary chamber contains a second, preferably liquid, component of said material.  
   
   
       21 . A kit, comprising at least one of the capsules of  claim 1.