System and method for mixing and delivering a solution

Abstract

A device for mixing and delivering a solution includes a tubular barrel that includes a first end, a second end, and interior compartment. A first plunger is positionable at the first end, is moveable within the interior compartment, and includes a spike protruding into the interior compartment, the spike having an end configured for piercing a membrane. A second plunger is positionable within the barrel, moveable within the interior compartment, and has a pierceable membrane. The second plunger and the second end form a first area housing a first solution and the first and second plungers form a second area housing a second solution. The first and second plungers are slidably arranged within the interior area such that moving the first plunger toward the second plunger causes the spike to pierce the pierceable membrane and push the second solution through the pierced membrane to mix with the first solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for mixing and delivering a solution, the device comprising:
 a tubular barrel comprising a first end, a second end, and defining an interior space;   a first plunger positioned near the first end of the barrel and slidably moveable within the interior space of the barrel, wherein the first plunger separates the interior space from an exterior space;   a second plunger positioned within the barrel and slidably movable within the interior space of the barrel, wherein the second plunger includes a membrane;   a first and second compartment defined within the interior space and separated by the membrane; and   a piercing device configured as a spike attached directly to the first plunger and extending from the first plunger towards the membrane, wherein the piercing device is movable within the interior space in conjunction with the first plunger and wherein the piercing device is configured to pierce the membrane when in contact with the membrane;   wherein the first compartment is configured to house a first solution and the second compartment is configured to house a second solution; and   wherein, when the first and second solutions are housed:
 the piercing device is at least partially submersed within the first compartment and configured to move into contact with and pierce the membrane when a force is applied to the first plunger to move it toward the second plunger thereby pushing the second solution through the pierced membrane and allowing the first and second solutions to intermix into a mixed solution; 
 the first plunger is movable within the barrel to expel the mixed solution through the second end of the barrel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a local anesthetic solution as the first solution. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the local anesthetic solution is selected from one or more of articaine, bupivacaine, carticaine, cinchocaine/dibucaine, etidocaine, levobupivacaine, lidocaine/lignocaine, mepivacaine, piperocaine, prilocaine, ropivacaine, trimecaine, procaine/benzocaine, chloroprocaine, cyclomethycaine, dimethocaine/larocaine, propoxycaine, procaine/novocaine, proparacaine, tetracaine/amethocaine, lidocaine/prilocaine, saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer as the second solution. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the buffer is selected from one or more of sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plunger includes a main body with an exterior cross-sectional circumference that is approximately equal to the interior cross-sectional circumference of the barrel and includes one or more sealing ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the barrel is transparent. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pierceable membrane is frangible. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pierceable membrane comprises one or more weakened areas comprising perforations, thinner material, or both. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be incorporated in a standard syringe set up with needle. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to allow, after mixing the first and second solutions to a mixed solution, the mixed solution to be drawn out of the device by a needle and deposited into a syringe. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a syringe with needle such that a needle and other syringe components are attachable to the device either before or after mixing the first and second solutions. 
     
     
         13 . A method of mixing and delivering a solution, the method comprising:
 housing first and second solutions to be mixed within first and second compartments of a tubular barrel having a first end, a second end, a first plunger including a spike, a second plunger including a membrane, and an interior space, with the first and second compartments separated by the membrane and the spike protruding from the first plunger towards the membrane within one of the first and second compartments;   moving the spike within the interior space to pierce the membrane and allow intermixing of the first and second solutions into a mixed solution, wherein external force is applied to the first plunger to move the spike to pierce the membrane; and   moving a first plunger within the barrel from a first end of the barrel toward the second end to expel the mixed solution through the second end of the barrel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first solution comprises a local anesthetic solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the local anesthetic solution is selected from one or more of articaine, bupivacaine, carticaine, cinchocaine/dibucaine, etidocaine, levobupivacaine, lidocaine/lignocaine, mepivacaine, piperocaine, prilocaine, ropivacaine, trimecaine, procaine/benzocaine, chloroprocaine, cyclomethycaine, dimethocaine/larocaine, propoxycaine, procaine/novocaine, proparacaine, tetracaine/amethocaine, lidocaine/prilocaine, saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second solution comprises a buffer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the buffer is selected from one or more of sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising attaching a needle to the second end to expel the mixed solution through the needle.