Container-Integrated Elastic Mixers for Low-Shear Fluid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid mixers suffer from limitations such as high shear stress, large footprint, and high cost, which can damage biological materials and limit throughput.
Innovation Solution
The use of a mixer with an elastic substrate and flaps that deflect out of plane upon axial deformation, integrated within a container, driven by actuators such as pneumatic or hydraulic systems, to induce fluid flow with reduced shear stress and compact footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional motor-driven propellers or rocking platforms are used for fluid mixing, then mixing function is achieved, but high shear stress is generated that can damage biological materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional motor-driven mechanical mixing systems with a pneumatic or hydraulic actuation system. The actuator deforms the flexible substrate, causing the flaps to move and mix the fluid through a different mechanical mechanism that generates lower shear stress, thereby protecting biological materials while achieving mixing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible substrate with flaps that can deform under actuation. This flexible structure allows for gentler fluid interaction compared to rigid propellers, reducing shear stress on biological materials while maintaining effective mixing through the deformation and movement of the flexible flaps.
2Reliability
If conventional fluid mixers with motor-driven components are used, then mixing is achieved, but the device occupies a large footprint and has high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the mixer directly within the container, with the flexible substrate and flaps nested inside the container volume. The actuator is also positioned within the container, creating a compact nested arrangement that eliminates the need for external mixing equipment, thereby reducing footprint while maintaining mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the container, mixer, and actuator into a single integrated system. The mixer is disposed within the container, and the actuator is positioned to directly actuate the mixer inside the same volume, merging multiple functions into one compact device that reduces overall footprint and cost.
3Productivity
If conventional mixing systems are used, then mixing function is provided, but throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic flexible substrate that can be rapidly deformed by the actuator, enabling fast mixing cycles. The flexible flaps can quickly respond to actuation signals, allowing for higher throughput compared to conventional systems. The dynamic nature of the flexible structure enables rapid mixing without requiring complex multi-component systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient, low-shear mixing with a smaller footprint and lower cost, improving viability of biological materials and increasing throughput.
Implementation Method 1
a mixer with an elastic substrate and flaps that deflect out of plane upon axial deformation
Data Source
AI summary
Containers including internal mixers and actuators assemblies and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a container may include a mixer and an actuator, at least one of which may be located inside of the container. The actuator may actuate the mixer to induce flow within the container and mix the contents of the container with a low volumetric footprint and high mixing efficiency. In some embodiments, the actuator may be configured to deform the mixer, which may include one or more features which may be deformed out of plane in a Kirigami or Origami fashion. The actuator and mixer may be arranged in series or in parallel. The actuator may be used without a mixer to induce flow within the container. The actuator may be driven pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically, and/or in any other suitable manner.