Patent ID: 9682351
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: B01F

Claim:
1. A laboratory mixer for preparing a sample and a diluent solution stored in a bag, the mixer comprising: a mixing chamber for receiving the bag containing the sample and the diluent solution wherein the mixing chamber comprises a supporting surface; first and second movable mixing elements retained within the mixing chamber operative to mix the sample and the diluent solution within the bag from a disposition exterior to the bag wherein the first and second movable mixing are alternatingly reciprocable toward and away from the supporting surface whereby the bag containing the sample and the diluents solution can be disposed between the supporting surface of the mixing chamber and the first and second movable mixing elements and the sample and the diluents can be mixed by alternating reciprocation of the first and second movable mixing elements to compress the bag against the supporting surface intermittently; wherein the first and second movable mixing elements have contact surfaces that are disposed generally parallel to the supporting surface and wherein the supporting surface and the contact surfaces of the first and second mixing elements are disposed generally vertically; at least one liquid detector retained relative to the mixing chamber and exterior to the bag for detecting liquid leaked from the bag; and an electrical monitoring system electrically connected to the at least one liquid detector and wherein the first and second movable mixing elements are automatically stopped by the electrical monitoring system upon a detection of leaked liquid by the at least one liquid detector.