"A Robotic Device For Mixing And Analysis Of Solutions And Suspension Under Microgravity Conditions"

Inventor: R.H. Hammerstedt

PSU Inv. Disc. No. 957

Licensing Contact: Ronald J. Huss

Issued U.S. Patent No. 5,188,455

An apparatus for mixing fluids is described which includes a flexible tubular member disposed between opposed ends. Filling and clamp systems are placed adjacent each of the opposed ends, creating sealed chambers in the tubular member, each chamber including a reagent fluid. The sealed reagent chambers are separated by a mixing chamber, and all of the chambers are disposed within the tubular member. A spring driven plate pressurizes each of the reagent chambers. A control system is coupled to each of the clamp systems for selectively opening a channel between at least one reagent chamber and the mixing chamber, with reagent in a reagent chamber being forced, via the open channel, into the mixing chamber by the spring biased pressurizing plate.