Patent ID: 8366311

Claim:
A mixing apparatus comprising: a hollow mixing tank having at least one interior wall bounding an internal volume; a first rod insertion element disposed along a surface of the mixing tank; and a first sleeveless mixing paddle adapted to engage a first support rod extending through the first rod insertion element and mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from at least one kinetic energy source, the first mixing paddle having at least one widened paddle portion that is wider than a nominal diameter or cross-sectional width of the first support rod; wherein the first rod insertion element inhibits continuous rotation of the first support rod about a longitudinal axis thereof and serves to isolate the internal volume from a surrounding environment; wherein the first rod insertion element comprises a first reinforcing flange affixed to the first support rod, and comprises a first non-rotating sealed joint between the first reinforcing flange and the at least one interior wall; and wherein the mixing apparatus is adapted for coupling with a gas source, and the mixing apparatus further comprises a filter medium arranged to eliminate biological contaminants from gas supplied to the internal volume from the gas source.