Flexible mixing bag for mixing solids, liquids, and gases

Abstract

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a disposable and flexible mixing tank, configurable as a bag, having a sealed sleeve therein for arrangement of a mixing device. The volume of the mixing tank is defined by an inner wall of the mixing tank and an inner wall of the sleeve. The mixing tank may be used to mix, store, reconstitute and/or dispense materials therein. Draining of a mixture may be aided with pressurized gas. Heating or cooling of the contents of a mixing tank may be accomplished with a thermal exchange fluid disposed within a thermal exchange vessel and in thermal communication with the tank.

1. A mixing apparatus comprising:
 a hollow mixing container having at least one interior wall; 
 a mixing paddle adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source, the mixing paddle having at least one widened paddle portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the support rod; 
 a coupling guide joined to the mixing container, the coupling guide defining an aperture sized to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing container; 
 an integral sleeve sealingly and permanently welded proximate the coupling guide aperture to any of the container and the coupling guide, the sleeve having a closed end protruding into the interior of the hollow container, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, the cavity having at least one widened cavity portion disposed about the at least one widened paddle portion; 
 a drain port associated with the mixing container; and 
 at least one inlet port associated with the mixing container; 
 wherein (i) the at least one interior wall of the mixing container and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve encloses a volume, (ii) the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle, and (iii) the mixing container is adapted to permit pressure-assisted draining of any contents thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing container comprises a mixing bag comprising a substantially transparent polymeric film material. 
     
     
       3. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one inlet port is adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized gas. 
     
     
       4. The mixing apparatus of  claim 3 , coupled in fluid-receiving relationship to a source of pressurized gas. 
     
     
       5. The mixing container of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is sized and shaped to be substantially form-fitting around the mixing paddle. 
     
     
       6. The mixing container of  claim 1 , wherein any of the mixing container and the sleeve comprises a polymeric film. 
     
     
       7. The mixing container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the mixing bag and the sleeve comprises a polymeric film, and the polymeric film of the mixing bag has substantially the same composition as the polymeric film of the sleeve. 
     
     
       8. A mixing system including the mixing apparatus of  claim 1  coupled to a kinetic energy source. 
     
     
       9. A mixing method employing a mixing apparatus including (i) a kinetic energy source, (ii) a hollow mixing bag having a flexible integral sleeve joined thereto with a closed end of the sleeve protruding into the mixing bag, and having an associated drain port and an associated at least one inlet port, and (iii) a mixing paddle enveloped by the sleeve and adapted to receive a support rod coupleable to the kinetic energy source, wherein at least one interior wall of the bag and an exterior wall of the sleeve defines an interior volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the interior volume and the mixing paddle, the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying at least two components of a mixture to the interior volume; 
 engaging the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing paddle; 
 mixing the at least two components by moving the enveloped mixing paddle in a closed curvilinear path within the interior volume without continuous rotation of the support rod about a longitudinal axis defined by the support rod to combine the at least two components and form said mixture; 
 supplying pressurized gas to the container via any inlet port of the at least one inlet port; and 
 draining at least a portion of said mixture via said drain port. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the moving step comprises moving the mixing element within the tank through a defined path at a nonzero angle relative to a substantially central vertical axis of the tank. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the closed curvilinear path comprises a substantially circular path. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mixing bag comprises a coupling guide defining an aperture sized and shaped to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing bag, and the mixing step includes pivotally moving support rod through the coupling guide to direct the mixing paddle in the closed curvilinear path. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said supplying of at least two components to the interior volume is performed through any of the at least one inlet port. 
     
     
       14. A mixing apparatus comprising:
 a hollow mixing container having at least one interior wall; 
 a mixing paddle adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source, the mixing paddle having at least one widened paddle portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the support rod; 
 a coupling guide joined to the mixing container, the coupling guide defining an aperture sized to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing container; 
 an integral sleeve sealingly and permanently welded proximate the coupling guide aperture to any of the container and the coupling guide, the sleeve having a closed end protruding into the interior of the hollow container, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, the cavity having at least one widened cavity portion disposed about the at least one widened paddle portion; 
 a thermal exchange vessel arranged to contain a thermal exchange fluid in thermal communication with at least a portion of the mixing container; and 
 a thermal exchange element disposed in at least intermittent thermal communication with the thermal exchange fluid; 
 wherein the at least one interior wall of the mixing container and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve encloses a volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle. 
 
     
     
       15. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the mixing container comprises a mixing bag comprising a substantially transparent polymeric film material. 
     
     
       16. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal exchange vessel comprises a secondary containment vessel containing at least a substantial portion of said mixing container. 
     
     
       17. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal exchange vessel substantially envelops the mixing container. 
     
     
       18. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal exchange vessel is disposed exterior to the mixing container. 
     
     
       19. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said the thermal exchange vessel and said mixing container define a substantially sealed gap or space therebetween adapted to contain said thermal exchange fluid. 
     
     
       20. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a circulation element adapted to circulate the thermal exchange fluid in or through the thermal exchange vessel. 
     
     
       21. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a temperature control element, wherein said apparatus is adapted to alter any of temperature and circulation of said thermal exchange fluid responsive to a signal provided by said temperature control element. 
     
     
       22. The mixing apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a temperature control element controlling temperature of said mixture by affecting any of temperature and circulation of said thermal exchange fluid. 
     
     
       23. The mixing container apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve is sized and shaped to be substantially form-fitting around the mixing paddle. 
     
     
       24. The mixing container apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein any of the mixing container and the sleeve comprises a polymeric film. 
     
     
       25. The mixing container apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each of the mixing bag and the sleeve comprises a polymeric film, and the polymeric film of the mixing bag has substantially the same composition as the polymeric film of the sleeve. 
     
     
       26. A mixing system including the mixing apparatus of  claim 14  coupled to a kinetic energy source. 
     
     
       27. A material processing method employing a mixing apparatus including (i) a kinetic energy source, (ii) a hollow mixing bag having a flexible integral sleeve joined thereto with a closed end of the sleeve protruding into the mixing bag, and (iii) a mixing paddle enveloped by the sleeve and adapted to receive a support rod coupleable to the kinetic energy source, wherein at least one interior wall of the bag and an exterior wall of the sleeve defines an interior volume, and the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the interior volume and the mixing paddle, and (iv) a thermal exchange vessel arranged to contain a thermal exchange fluid in thermal communication with at least a portion of the mixing container, the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying at least two components of a mixture to the interior volume; 
 engaging the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing paddle; 
 mixing the at least two components by moving the enveloped mixing paddle in a closed curvilinear path within the interior volume without continuous rotation of the support rod about a longitudinal axis defined by the support rod to combine the at least two components and form said mixture; and 
 controlling temperature of said mixture by altering any of temperature and circulation of said thermal exchange fluid. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the moving step comprises moving the mixing element within the tank through a defined path at a nonzero angle relative to a substantially central vertical axis of the tank. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the closed curvilinear path comprises a substantially circular path. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the mixing bag comprises a coupling guide defining an aperture sized and shaped to permit pivotal arrangement of the support rod between the kinetic energy source and the mixing bag, and the mixing step includes pivotally moving support rod through the coupling guide to direct the mixing paddle in the closed curvilinear path. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the thermal exchange vessel comprises a secondary containment vessel containing at least a substantial portion of said mixing container. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the thermal exchange vessel substantially envelops the mixing container. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the thermal exchange vessel is disposed exterior to the mixing container. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising circulating said thermal exchange fluid in or through the thermal exchange vessel. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising altering any of temperature and circulation of said thermal exchange fluid responsive to a signal provided by a temperature control element. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising controlling temperature of said mixture by affecting any of temperature and circulation of said thermal exchange fluid. 
     
     
       37. A mixing container comprising:
 a plurality of walls including a bottom wall, a top wall, and four lateral walls, the plurality of walls bounding an interior of the container;   a sleeve located on or attached to any wall of the plurality of walls, the sleeve having a closed end protruding into the interior, and defining a cavity adapted to receive a mixing element, wherein the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the interior and a mixing element when located within the cavity; and   a mixing element disposed within the cavity, wherein the mixing element comprising a paddle having a widened portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or width of an associated support rod;   whereby the mixing container forms a substantially parallelepiped shape when it is filled with materials.   
     
     
       38. The mixing container of claim 37, wherein at least one of the bottom wall, the top wall, and the four lateral walls comprises a polymeric film. 
     
     
       39. The mixing container of claim 37, wherein the sleeve comprises a polymeric film. 
     
     
       40. The mixing container of claim 39, the sleeve is joined to the top wall by welding. 
     
     
       41. The mixing container of claim 37, wherein each of the bottom wall, the top wall, the four lateral walls, and the sleeve comprises a polymeric film of substantially the same composition. 
     
     
       42. The mixing container of claim 37, wherein the mixing container comprises a mixing bag comprising a substantially transparent polymeric film material. 
     
     
       43. The mixing container of claim 37, wherein the sleeve is sized and shaped to be substantially form-fitting around the mixing element. 
     
     
       44. The mixing container of claim 37, comprising a support rod or shaft coupled to the mixing element. 
     
     
       45. The mixing container of claim 37, further comprising an aperture-defining coupling guide that is sealed to the sleeve and that serves as a rigid guide for at least one of insertion, arrangement, and coupling of a support rod or shaft insertable into the cavity. 
     
     
       46. The mixing container of claim 37, wherein the interior has a volume between 5 liters and 10,000 liters. 
     
     
       47. The mixing container of claim 37, comprising at least one of an inlet port and an outlet port. 
     
     
       48. The mixing container of claim 37, being collapsible in character and supported by a support frame. 
     
     
       49. The mixing container of claim 37, including at least one opening adapted to receive at least one probe insertable into the interior. 
     
     
       50. An apparatus comprising the mixing container of claim 37 and a thermal exchange vessel arranged to contain a thermal exchange fluid in thermal communication with at least a portion of the mixing container. 
     
     
       51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the thermal exchange vessel comprises a secondary containment vessel containing at least a substantial portion of said mixing container. 
     
     
       52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the thermal exchange vessel substantially envelops the mixing container. 
     
     
       53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the thermal exchange vessel is disposed exterior to the mixing container. 
     
     
       54. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the thermal exchange vessel and the mixing container define a substantially sealed gap or space therebetween adapted to contain said thermal exchange fluid. 
     
     
       55. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising a circulation element adapted to circulate the thermal exchange fluid in or through the thermal exchange vessel. 
     
     
       56. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising a temperature control element, wherein said apparatus is adapted to alter any of temperature and circulation of said thermal exchange fluid responsive to a signal provided by said temperature control element. 
     
     
       57. A mixing system including the mixing container of claim 37 coupled to a kinetic energy source arranged to cause movement of the sleeve within the interior. 
     
     
       58. The mixing system of claim 57, wherein the kinetic energy source comprises a motor. 
     
     
       59. The mixing system of claim 57, comprising a processing unit arranged to control at least one of loading of materials into the interior, and operation of the kinetic energy source. 
     
     
       60. A mixing container comprising
 a plurality of walls including a bottom wall, a top wall comprising a polymeric film, and at least one lateral wall, the plurality of walls bounding an interior of the container;   a sleeve sealed to the top wall and protruding into the interior, the sleeve having a closed end and defining a cavity, wherein the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the cavity and the interior, and wherein the sleeve comprises a widened portion proximate to the closed end; and   a substantially rigid support rod including a proximal end extending outside the cavity, wherein the support rod is adapted to engage with a kinetic energy source to cause movement of the sleeve within the interior.   
     
     
       61. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein the mixing container comprises a mixing bag, and wherein each of the bottom wall, the top wall, and the at least one lateral wall comprises a polymeric film. 
     
     
       62. The mixing container of claim 61, wherein the polymeric film material is substantially transparent. 
     
     
       63. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein the sleeve is welded to the top wall. 
     
     
       64. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein the sleeve comprises a polymeric film. 
     
     
       65. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein each of the mixing bag and the sleeve comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
       66. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein a distal end of the support rod extends into the cavity. 
     
     
       67. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein the sleeve comprises a mixing paddle including at least one widened paddle portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the support rod. 
     
     
       68. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein the sleeve comprises an open end. 
     
     
       69. The mixing container of claim 68, comprising an aperture-defining coupling guide that is sealed to the sleeve along the open end and that serves as a rigid guide for at least one of insertion, arrangement, and coupling of the support rod. 
     
     
       70. The mixing container of claim 60, wherein the proximal end of the support rod extends outside the interior of the container. 
     
     
       71. The mixing container of claim 60, comprising at least one of an inlet port and an outlet port. 
     
     
       72. An apparatus comprising the mixing container of claim 60 and a thermal exchange vessel arranged to contain a thermal exchange fluid in thermal communication with at least a portion of the mixing container. 
     
     
       73. A mixing system including the mixing container of claim 60 and a kinetic energy source coupled to the support rod. 
     
     
       74. The mixing system of claim 73, wherein the kinetic energy source comprises a motor. 
     
     
       75. The mixing system of claim 73, arranged to cause the sleeve to move within the interior volume in a curvilinear path without continuous rotation of the support rod.