WO2017092884A1

WO2017092884A1 - Mixing and application system for a dental preparation

Info

Publication number: WO2017092884A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/066172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andy Greter
Original assignee: Medmix Systems Ag
Priority date: 2015-11-30
Filing date: 2016-07-07
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: EP3383307A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixing and application system comprising a handpiece (200) and a base station (300). The handpiece has a receptacle (212) for the mixing and application capsule and a feed mechanism in order to advance an application piston in the capsule housing (110) of the mixing and application capsule. According to the invention, the base station receives the handpiece. A rotary oscillation drive (340) is arranged in the base station in order to generate rotary oscillations. The handpiece has a transfer mechanism in order to transfer the rotary oscillations from the rotary oscillation drive to the capsule housing. A mixing and application capsule, specially designed for this purpose, has a mixing chamber in which mixing vanes are arranged. Various types of capsules can be used in the mixing and application system. The capsules can carry a machine-readable data carrier having relevant parameters for the mixing and application process.

Description

TITLE

MIXING AND APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR A DENTAL COMPONENT

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a mixing and application system for producing and discharging a mixed product of two components, in particular a dental preparation, a bone cement or a bone substitute. The present invention also relates to a mixing and application capsule for use in such a mixing and application system and to a method for producing a mixed product with such a mixing and application system. STATE OF THE ART

From the prior art, a large number of different mixing and application capsules for dental preparations is known. Such a capsule usually contains a mixing chamber, in which a powdery first component of the dental preparation is received. The capsule also contains a fluid chamber in which a fluid second component of the dental preparation is received. To produce the mixed product, the fluid second component is first transferred by means of a pair of pliers or manually from the fluid chamber into the mixing chamber. The capsule is then placed in a shaker to mix the two components together to produce the mixed product. Subsequently, the capsule is removed from the shaker and placed in a pair of pliers. With the help of this forceps, the finished mixed product is then applied to the desired location, for example, in a cavity to be filled a tooth. In this method is disadvantageous that the handling of the capsule is relatively complicated. The capsule must be transferred several times between different equipment until the finished mixed product can be discharged. In addition, the mixing effect in a shaker can be unsatisfactory. A mixing and application capsule of the aforementioned type is disclosed, for example, in WO 00/23002 A1. The capsule has a mixing chamber in which a hollow application piston is slidably disposed. The hollow application piston forms a fluid chamber in which in turn a stopper is slidably disposed. In the mixing chamber, a powdery first component of a product to be produced is received, and in the fluid chamber, a liquid second component of the product is added. To make the product, the stopper is pressed by hand into the application flask. As a result, the liquid second component is transferred into the mixing chamber with the powdery first component. The capsule is then placed in a shaker to mix the components. Finally, the finished product is discharged with a known discharge tongs. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing and application system which enables easier handling of a mixing and application capsule.

This object is achieved by a mixing and application system according to claim 1. Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The present invention thus provides a mixing and application system. This is designed for use with a mixing and application capsule. A mixing and application capsule suitable for this purpose has a capsule housing and an application piston displaceably arranged in the capsule housing along a longitudinal axis. The mixing and application system has:

a handpiece with a receptacle for the mixing and application capsule and with a feed mechanism for advancing the application piston in the capsule housing along a longitudinal axis; and

a torsional vibration drive for generating torsional vibrations. The handpiece has a transmission mechanism for transmitting the torsional vibrations from the torsional vibration drive to the capsule housing of a mixing and application capsule received in the handpiece. In this way, an extremely simple handling of the mixing and application capsule is made possible. The mixing and application capsule is inserted into the handpiece. Then, the feed mechanism in the handpiece can be activated a first time to transfer a fluid second component from a fluid chamber of the capsule into a mixing chamber of the capsule with a (in particular pulverulent) first component (or the transfer of the fluid second component into the mixing chamber occurs otherwise, depending on the design of the capsule). After the fluid second component is in the mixing chamber, the torsional vibration drive is activated to set the capsule housing in torsional vibrations. As a result, the two components are mixed in the mixing chamber due to their inertia. Now the finished mixed product is discharged from the capsule with the aid of the feed mechanism. The capsule needs to be used only once in the handpiece. It remains in the handpiece throughout the mixing and dispensing process and does not need to be transferred between different equipment. A mixing and application system of this type can alternatively be used with capsules containing only a single component, or in which the components are mixed only after they have left the capsule, for example in a static mixer arranged outside the capsule. In this case, of course, eliminating the transfer of the fluid second component in the mixing chamber and the mixing of the components. The torsional vibration drive can remain functionless, or it can take on other tasks, such as the task of homogenizing the component (s) in the capsule, or the task of rotating the capsule housing to read a data carrier on the capsule, as follows will be described in more detail. The mixing and application system can thus be used with a variety of different types of capsules.

In preferred embodiments, the mixing and application system comprises a base station with a receptacle for the handpiece. The torsional vibration drive is then preferably arranged in or at the base station. Alternatively, however, the torsional vibration drive can also be arranged in or on the handpiece.

A base station makes handling easier. When not in use, the handpiece can easily be kept in the base station. The base station can simultaneously be designed as a charging station for a rechargeable energy store (in particular a rechargeable battery) in the handpiece. By locating the torsional vibration drive in or at the base station, the handpiece can be made substantially more compact and lighter in weight than when the torsional vibration drive is located in or on the handpiece. This is advantageous because the torsional vibration drive can be relatively large and heavy. Moreover, it is advantageous if the torsional vibration drive in a component with a relatively large mass (more precisely: a large moment of inertia) is held or even has a large moment of inertia, because in this way make the stator vibrations of the torsional vibration drive less disturbing due to the reaction forces ,

The base station can in particular be designed to be parked on a flat work surface. The receptacle for the handpiece is preferably open at the top, if the base station is intended to be on a flat work surface. The handpiece is preferably receivable upright in the base station, i. the longitudinal axis is preferably substantially vertical when the handpiece is properly received in the base station, or at an angle of at most 45 °, preferably at most 30 ° to the vertical. The mixing and application capsule is preferably located at the upper end of the handpiece when the handpiece is received in the base station.

The mixing and dispensing system can be used for producing a dental preparation, for example a tooth filling, but can also be used for the preparation of other two-component mixtures for medical or non-medical use, for example a bone cement or bone substitute material. It can also be used to discharge a product that consists only of a single component, in which case a mixing process can be omitted. The feed mechanism may in particular comprise:

a piston rod adapted to act on the application piston;

a drive motor for generating a rotary motion; and

a gear to convert the rotational movement of the drive motor in an axial feed movement of the piston rod along the longitudinal axis.

As a result, all discharge operations can be motorized. The user does not need to apply large mechanical forces, and the discharge process can be controlled very accurately.

The handpiece may also include energy storage for powering the drive motor (e.g., a battery, particularly a rechargeable battery, or a supercapacitor). As a result, the handpiece can be supplied with energy autonomously, without a cable connection to the base station being necessary during the discharge process. In order to charge the energy storage when the handpiece is in the base station, the base station may be formed as a charger for the handpiece. In particular, a device for inductive energy transmission can be provided at the base station and at the handpiece. Such devices are known, for example, from electric toothbrushes. Alternatively, electrical contacts can be formed on the base station and on the handpiece.

The feed mechanism can be constructed as follows:

the piston rod is arranged centrally along the longitudinal axis;

the transmission has at least two decentrally arranged threaded rods and associated threaded nuts;

each of the threaded rods cooperates with a respective threaded nut to convert the rotational movement of the drive motor in a feed movement of the piston rod; and

between the threaded rods at least a part of the transmission mechanism is arranged. The decentralized arrangement of the threaded rods so space is created for the transmission mechanism and opens up a possibility to pass the transmission mechanism laterally on the piston rod. The threaded rods are preferably evenly distributed in the circumferential direction. In the event that exactly two threaded rods are present, they are therefore preferably arranged diametrically opposite one another. In the event that three threaded rods are present, they are preferably arranged at the corners of an equilateral triangle. In the event that four threaded rods are present, they are preferably located at the corners of a square, etc.

In preferred embodiments, each of the threaded rods is non-rotatably connected at a distal end, and preferably also fixed axially fixed to the piston rod, and the threaded nuts are driven by the drive motor to a rotational movement. In other embodiments, however, the threaded rods from the drive motor can be driven to rotate, and the threaded nuts are rotatably and preferably also axially fixed to the piston rod. Between the drive motor and the threaded nuts or the threaded rod transmission gears may be provided.

The transmission mechanism may include the following elements:

a central transmission rod having proximal and distal ends; a connecting element at the proximal end of the transmission rod for connecting the transmission rod to the torsional vibration drive; and

a fork element at the distal end of the transmission rod, with two legs which run decentrally parallel to the longitudinal axis and a coupling region for releasably connecting the fork element to the capsule housing of a mixing and application capsule received in the handpiece.

The piston rod then preferably extends at least partially between the legs of the fork element.

In order to ensure effective transmission of forces in the circumferential direction, the coupling region may have a non-rotationally symmetrical driver region to form a positive connection with a circumferential direction To produce coupling element of the mixing and application capsule. In particular, the coupling region can have a toothing extending in the circumferential direction as such a driver region. This is preferably an external toothing. For this purpose, the coupling region can be configured as a transmission ring, which carries the teeth. This toothing may be formed circumferentially, or it may be formed only in segments or even only as individual teeth. Instead of a toothing, another type of non-rotationally symmetrical driving region can also be provided, as long as this allows a positive connection in the circumferential direction. However, a positive connection is not mandatory. The coupling region may, for example, also be designed to produce a frictional connection, in particular a clamping connection with the coupling element of the capsule. In particular, the coupling region may have clamping jaws for this purpose.

In order to allow an engagement between the coupling region of the transmission mechanism and the mixing capsule to be automatically established when the

Piston rod is advanced axially, the transmission mechanism and the

Cooperate piston rod as follows:

The transmission mechanism (in particular, one connecting the legs

Cross bar of the fork element) strikes in an initial position of the piston rod so axially on the piston rod (in particular at its proximal end) to that of

Transmission mechanism by the piston rod to move to a distal

Direction is hindered, and

the transmission mechanism is spring biased in the distal direction such that the coupling portion is pressed in a distal direction as the piston rod moves from the home position to the distal direction.

The mixing and application system may also include a reader to read data from a machine-readable medium connected to the capsule. In particular, the reader may be one of the following devices:

an optical reader for reading an optical code, in particular a

Barcodes or QR codes, or,

an RFID reader. The mixing and application system may have at least one control unit which is directly or indirectly connected to the reading device in order to receive the read-out data from the reading device. Such a control unit may be arranged in particular in the base station and / or in the handpiece. The at least one control unit can then be designed to determine at least one of the following parameters from the data read out:

Type of mixing and application capsule (e.g., "two-component capsule with a hollow application plunger", "two-component capsule with bag-like fluid reservoir", "two-component capsule with two parallel chambers" or "one-component capsule");

Contents of the mixing and application capsule (for example "powder P in chamber Kl and

Activator liquid F in chamber K2 ");

Amount of the contents of the mixing and application capsule (e.g., "2 grams of powder P and 2 ml of fluid F");

Information on the mixing and discharging process (e.g., "mixing by 20 ° amplitude vibration for 15 seconds; discharging the product by incrementally advancing the feed mechanism in 3mm increments at a rate of 1.5mm per second").

The at least one control unit is then designed to define and execute a mixing and dispensing program as a function of at least one of these parameters.

In order to facilitate read-out of the data carrier, the at least one control unit can be designed to control the torsional vibration drive in such a way that it rotates the capsule about its longitudinal axis while the reading device reads out the data from the data carrier. If the data carrier is an optical code which is mounted on the jacket wall of the capsule housing, it is thereby guided past the reading device in a targeted manner, as a result of which read-out may only be possible, or at least made easier. If the data carrier is an RFID tag, this results in advantages that the tag can be passed in the immediate vicinity of the reader.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a mixing and application capsule for the preparation and application of a mixed product, in particular a dental material, a bone cement or a bone substitute material, of two components, which is specially designed for use with a mixing and application system of the type described above. The mixing and application capsule has:

a capsule housing with a circumferential shell wall and a distal

End wall and a discharge port formed in the distal end wall, the casing wall and the end wall defining a cylindrical mixing chamber for receiving a first component, and wherein the cylindrical mixing chamber defines a longitudinal axis;

an application piston slidably disposed in the cylindrical mixing chamber along the longitudinal axis to discharge the mixed product through the discharge port from the mixing chamber;

a fluid chamber for receiving a fluid second component; and a fluid passage connecting the fluid chamber to the mixing chamber for introducing the second component from the fluid chamber into the mixing chamber.

In the mixing chamber at least one mixing element is arranged, which is connected to the application piston or with the capsule housing and protrudes into the mixing chamber.

By at least one mixing element is arranged in the mixing chamber, the mixing effect is improved when the capsule housing is set in torsional vibrations, as is the case with the mixing and application system of the type described above. The mixing element exerts a shearing action on the components in the mixing chamber. However, in the mixing chamber arranged mixing elements also improve the mixing effect, when the mixing and application capsule is used in the traditional way with a shaker, as well as a shearing occurs.

The fluid channel may initially be closed by a closure element. Preferably, the at least one mixing element is already formed in the mixing chamber when the fluid channel is still closed. In particular, the at least one mixing element is preferably not first formed by the closure element being removed or destroyed. The at least one mixing element can in particular be designed as a mixing blade or mixing paddle. However, other shapes are possible, for example the shape of a helix, a filament, etc. The at least one mixing element preferably has a fixed first end, which is connected to the application piston or to the capsule housing. Preferably, it also has a free second end which projects into the mixing chamber. The at least one mixing element is preferably a mixing blade or mixing paddle. This may have a flat elongate shape, for example the shape of an elongated rectangular plate. However, other forms are conceivable. The mixing blade or mixing paddle can be twisted along its longitudinal axis. The at least one mixing element preferably protrudes inwards in relation to the longitudinal axis from an area close to the jacket wall into the interior of the mixing chamber. It preferably has a thickness of at least 02. millimeters and is preferably made of a thermoplastic material.

The at least one mixing element is preferably non-releasable (i.e., permanently, non-destructively releasable) connected to the application piston or capsule housing. In order to simplify the production, the at least one mixing element can be formed integrally with the application piston or the capsule housing.

In some embodiments, the at least one mixing element is connected to the application piston at a region of the application piston adjoining the jacket wall of the capsule housing. In other embodiments, the at least one mixing element is connected to the capsule housing in a transition region between the jacket wall and the end wall. Of course, mixing elements can be provided both on the application piston and on the capsule housing.

Preferably, at least two mixing elements are arranged distributed in the mixing chamber with respect to a circumferential direction. These are preferably arranged distributed uniformly along the circumferential direction.

The mixing elements are preferably designed and arranged in such a way that they lie flat against the distal end of the application piston when it contacts the distal end The front wall of the capsule housing abuts. It is preferred if the mixing elements do not overlap in the flat-lying position.

In order to facilitate the transmission of torsional vibrations to the capsule housing, the mixing and application capsule preferably has a coupling element which is designed to transmit a torsional vibration about the longitudinal axis of a transmission mechanism of the mixing and application system to the capsule housing. The coupling element is preferably rigidly connected to the capsule housing. The coupling element may in particular be designed to be complementary to the coupling region of the transmission mechanism. It may form a receptacle open in the proximal direction for such a coupling region. In order to ensure a secure transmission of the torsional vibrations, the coupling element may have a non-rotationally symmetrical driving region, which is designed to produce a form fit with a correspondingly designed driver element of the transmission mechanism with respect to a circumferential direction. In particular, the coupling element can have a driving area extending in the circumferential direction toothing. This is preferably an internal toothing.

The coupling element and the application piston can be integrally formed as a cover, which is connected as a whole with the capsule housing. As a result, on the one hand, the production of the mixing and application capsule is facilitated. In particular, the mixing chamber can be easily filled with a (e.g., powdery) first component, and then simply the lid attached to the capsule housing. On the other hand, it is ensured by the one-piece design of the coupling element with the application piston, that the application piston is initially held securely in the capsule housing and can not be moved inadvertently in the capsule housing. Finally, in this way, the fluid-tightness of the mixing chamber can be improved if the coupling element and the application piston are peripherally connected to each other, and if the coupling element is fluid-tightly attached to the capsule housing.

In order to facilitate the separation of the application piston from the coupling element, the coupling element and the application piston can thus over a weakening range be connected to each other, that the application piston can be separated from the coupling element by axial pressure on the application piston.

In alternative embodiments, however, the coupling element can also be formed integrally with the capsule housing.

In preferred embodiments, the fluid chamber is arranged on or in the application piston, and the fluid channel extends through the application piston, in particular through an end wall region of the application piston.

Initially, the fluid channel can be closed by a closure element, and the closure element can be brought by distal pressure on the closure element in an open position in which the closure element at least partially releases the fluid channel.

In some embodiments, the closure element is formed integrally with the application piston and connected to the application piston via a weakened area such that the closure element can be separated from the application piston by distal pressure on the closure element at the weakened area. In other embodiments, the closure element is axially displaceable and sealing arranged as a plug in the fluid channel. In both cases, the fluid channel can be opened by distal pressure on the closure.

In the fluid chamber, a transmission element may be arranged such that the closure element can be brought into the open position by distal pressure on the transmission element. In particular, the transmission element may be an axial pin integrally formed with the closure element, which extends in a proximal direction away from the closure element into the fluid chamber. In this way, the fluid channel between the fluid chamber and the mixing chamber can be opened in a very simple manner, for example by the advance of a piston rod, which acts on the transmission element.

The mixing and application capsule may have a proximal bounding foil. which is connected in a peripheral edge region with the application piston and which limits the fluid chamber in a proximal direction. The fluid chamber is then piggybacked, as it were, on the proximal side of the application plunger. In the simplest case, the fluid chamber is formed directly between the proximal boundary foil and the application piston and is delimited directly by the proximal boundary foil and the application piston. In other embodiments, a distal boundary foil is also provided, which is connected in a peripheral edge region with the application piston and with the proximal boundary foil, and the fluid chamber is formed between the proximal and the distal boundary foil and is bounded by these two boundary foil. In this case ("bag-like fluid chamber"), the capsule may further comprise a piercing member (for example a piercing spike) formed adjacent to the distal constraining foil on the application plunger to penetrate the distal constraining foil against the piercing member at distal pressure to provide a connection between the fluid chamber and the mixing chamber produce.

The delimiting foils can in particular be composite foils with at least one metal layer and at least one plastic layer, wherein the plastic layer preferably delimits the fluid chamber.

In other embodiments, the fluid chamber may be formed as a cylindrical cavity in the application piston, and the mixing and application capsule may comprise an activator piston which is displaceable in the cylindrical cavity forming the fluid chamber along the longitudinal axis. In this case, the fluid channel may initially be closed by a closure element and the activator piston may have a transmission element extending distally into the fluid chamber such that the transmission element acts on the closure element by a distal movement of the activator piston to move it to an open position bring, in which the closure element releases the fluid channel at least partially. In this way, the fluid channel can be very easily opened by axial pressure on the activator piston. The filling of the fluid chamber with the second component can be done in a very simple manner by the activator piston a little is pulled out of the cylindrical cavity in the application piston, wherein it entrains the closure element via the transmission element and releases the fluid channel, so that the second component can be filled into the cylindrical cavity.

The mixing and application capsule may have a machine-readable data carrier. This can carry data for at least one of the following parameters:

Type of mixing and application capsule;

Content of the mixing and application capsule;

Amount of the contents of the mixing and application capsule;

Information about the mixing and discharging process.

These data may be in a suitable binary form. The data carrier may include in particular:

an optical code, in particular a bar code or QR code, which is mounted on the jacket wall of the capsule housing; or

an RFID tag, which may preferably be located on or in the jacket wall of the capsule housing.

The present invention also provides a process for producing and dispensing a mixed product, in particular a dental material, with a mixing and application system of the type mentioned above, i. an operating procedure for the mixing and application system. The method comprises:

a) inserting a mixing and application capsule into the handpiece, wherein the mixing and application capsule comprises a capsule housing and an application piston displaceably arranged in the capsule housing and a mixing chamber bounded by the capsule housing and the application piston with a first component and a fluid chamber formed on or in the application piston a fluid second component defined, wherein between the fluid chamber and the mixing chamber, a fluid channel is present;

(b) distally advancing the piston rod in the handpiece to introduce the second component from the fluid chamber into the mixing chamber; (c) activating the torsional vibration drive to rotationally vibrate the capsule housing of the mixing and application capsule in the handpiece thereby mixing the second component in the mixing chamber with the first component to form the mixed product;

(d) pushing the piston rod distally in the handpiece to advance the application piston in the capsule housing and to discharge the mixed product.

The method may further comprise between step (b) and (c):

(bl) Proximal retraction of the piston rod to avoid distal pressure on the application plunger during mixing.

In addition, the method between step (c) and step (d) may include:

(cl) distal advancement of the piston rod in the handpiece in order to release the application piston from the capsule housing for the first time and optionally to bleed the mixing chamber.

Preferably, the handpiece is located in steps of (a) to (c) and, if necessary, during step (c1) in the base station. For this purpose, the method may include:

(al) inserting the handpiece into the base station (preferably before step (a) or between steps (a) and (b)); and or

(c2) removing the handpiece from the base station (preferably before step (d) and after step (c) and optionally after step (c l).

At the end of the process, that is after step (d), the process may comprise:

(e) proximally retracting the piston rod to release the mixing and application capsule for removal from the handpiece.

In particular, this step may be triggered by one of the following events: (i) the user actuates a control on the handpiece or on the base station; (ii) the user returns the handpiece to the base station; or (iii) the application piston abuts the distal end of the capsule housing.

If the mixing and application capsule comprises a data carrier, the method comprises after inserting the mixing and application capsule into the handpiece preferably the following steps:

Reading data from the data carrier;

Determine at least one of the following parameters based on the read out

Dates:

- Type of mixing and application capsule;

Content of the mixing and application capsule;

Amount of the contents of the mixing and application capsule;

Information about the mixing and discharge process,

and

Defining a mixing and discharge program depending on at least one of these parameters.

Subsequently, then the activation of the feed mechanism and the torsional vibration drive is carried out according to the specified mixing and discharge program.

As already explained, the mixing and application system can be used not only with mixing and application capsules of the type described in more detail above, but also with capsules in which a mixing process does not necessarily have to be carried out. Such capsules may nevertheless be designed to be compatible with the above-described mixing and application system. In this respect, in a further aspect, the present invention relates to a more general form of an application capsule for the application of a product of at least one component, which is particularly well suited for use in a mixing and application system of the type described above. The capsule has:

a capsule housing defining at least one component chamber for receiving the at least one component; and

an application piston displaceable in a distal direction in the cylindrical component chamber along a longitudinal axis for discharging the at least one component out of the component chamber through at least one distal discharge opening;

wherein the application capsule has a coupling element which is designed to transmit a rotation about the longitudinal axis to the capsule housing. Preferably, the coupling element has a non-rotationally symmetrical driving region, which is designed to produce a form fit with a coupling region of a transmission element for the rotation with respect to a circumferential direction. In particular, the non-rotationally symmetrical entrainment region can be formed in a proximal end region of the application capsule. In this case, the driving region can form an open receptacle for the coupling region in the proximal direction. The coupling element may have a toothing extending in the circumferential direction.

Such an application capsule may have further features of the above-described mixing and application capsules. In particular, the coupling element and the application piston can be integrally formed together as a lid, which is connected as a whole with the capsule housing. The coupling element and the application piston can be connected to each other in such a way over a weakening range, that the application piston can be separated by axial pressure from the coupling element. Alternatively, the coupling element can in turn be formed integrally with the capsule housing.

The application capsule may in turn comprise a machine-readable data carrier. This can carry data for at least one of the following parameters:

Type of application capsule;

Content of the application capsule;

Amount of content of the application capsule;

Information about the discharge process. These data may be in a suitable binary form.

The data carrier may include in particular:

an RFID tag, preferably on or in the mantle wall of the

Capsule housing can be located.

The present invention also further generally relates to An application system for use with an application capsule comprising a capsule housing and at least one product received in the capsule housing, the application system comprising:

a handpiece with a receptacle for the application capsule and with a feed mechanism to discharge the product from the capsule housing; and

a reader to read data from a data carrier connected to the application capsule.

The above considerations on the data medium and its readout also apply mutatis mutandis to such a more general application system. The reader may in particular be one of the following devices:

an optical reader for reading an optical code, in particular a barcode or QR code, or.

an RFID reader.

If the application system comprises a base station with a holder for the handpiece, the reader is preferably arranged on the base station.

The application system can in turn have at least one control unit which is connected directly or indirectly to the reading device in order to receive the read-out data from the reading device, and the at least one control unit can be designed to determine at least one of the following parameters from the data read out:

Type of application capsule;

- content of the application capsule;

Amount of content of the application capsule;

Information about the discharge process,

The at least one control unit can in turn be designed to define and execute a mixing and dispensing program as a function of at least one of these parameters.

To facilitate reading the data carrier, the application system can Having a rotary drive for generating rotations, wherein the handpiece has a transmission mechanism to transmit the rotations of the rotary drive to the capsule housing of the recorded in the handpiece application capsule. The reader may then be configured to read the data from the data carrier while the capsule housing is rotating.

The present invention accordingly also relates more generally to a capsule with a corresponding data carrier. In particular, the invention relates to an application capsule for applying a product of at least one component, comprising:

a capsule housing defining at least one cylindrical chamber for receiving the at least one component, the cylindrical chamber defining a longitudinal axis; and

an application piston slidably disposed in the cylindrical chamber along the longitudinal axis for discharging the component from the chamber, the application capsule having a machine-readable data carrier, and the data carrier carrying data for at least one of the following parameters:

Type of application capsule;

Content of the application capsule;

- amount of the contents of the application capsule;

Information about the discharge process.

Again, the volume may include:

an RFID tag.

If the capsule housing has a circumferential jacket wall, a distal end wall and a discharge opening formed in the distal end wall, the data carrier is preferably arranged in the region of the jacket wall.

In order to facilitate the read-out of the data carrier, the application capsule can be designed to be rotated in an application system. This can be the Applikationskapsel have a coupling element which is adapted to transmit a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the capsule housing. The coupling element can be configured as already described in more detail above. In particular, the coupling element may have a non-rotationally symmetrical entrainment region, which is designed to produce a form fit with a coupling region of a transmission element for the rotation with respect to a circumferential direction. The non-rotationally symmetrical entrainment region can be formed in a proximal end region of the application capsule. In this case, the driving region can form an open receptacle for the coupling region in the proximal direction. The coupling element may have a toothing extending in the circumferential direction.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a particularly well ventilated application capsule for applying at least one component. This capsule features:

a capsule housing defining a cylindrical chamber for receiving the component, the cylindrical chamber defining a longitudinal axis; and

an application piston slidably disposed in the cylindrical chamber along the longitudinal axis to discharge the component from the chamber, the application piston having a vent passage for venting the chamber,

wherein the application capsule has a sealing plug which can be inserted into the ventilation channel,

wherein the closure plug is arranged on the application piston in such a way that a gas exchange between the chamber and an environment of the capsule through the ventilation channel is possible, and

wherein the sealing plug can be inserted into the ventilation channel, so that the sealing plug closes the ventilation channel.

In advantageous embodiments, the sealing plug in the delivery condition is connected by means of predetermined breaking point bridges to the application piston, and the predetermined breaking point bridges break during the axial insertion of the sealing plug into the ventilation channel. The closure plug can be designed as follows: The closure stopper has a cylindrical jacket surface which forms an annular peripheral sealing surface at a proximal end of the closure stopper. Distal from the sealing surface, the lateral surface forms a plurality of guide surfaces which merge in a proximal direction in the annular sealing surface, and between the guide surfaces a plurality of longitudinal grooves are formed in the lateral surface, which serve for venting when the sealing plug is partially inserted into the through hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the mixing and

Application system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mixing and

Application system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the mixing and application capsule of

Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the mixing and application system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the mixing and application system of Fig. 1 in the

Plane A-A of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the mixing and application system of Fig. 1 in the

Plane B-B of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a part of the elements in the interior of the handpiece of

Mixing and application system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the mixing and

Application capsule of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a further perspective exploded view of the mixing and

Application capsule of Fig. 3;

10 is a central sectional view of the mixing and application capsule of FIG. 3, together with a piston rod and a part of a Transmission mechanism, in a starting position;

FIG. 11 shows the elements of FIG. 10 in a first intermediate position; FIG.

FIG. 12 shows the elements of FIG. 10 in a second intermediate position; FIG.

FIG. 13 shows the elements of FIG. 10 in an end position; FIG.

14 is a perspective sectional view of the mixing and application system of

Fig. 1;

FIG. 15 shows a detailed view of a distal part of the mixing and application system of FIG. 1 in the starting position; FIG.

Fig. 16 is a detail view of a proximal part of the mixing and

Application system of Figure 1 in the starting position.

FIG. 17 is a detailed view of a distal part of the mixing and application system of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position; FIG.

Fig. 18 is a detail view of a proximal part of the mixing and

Application system of Figure 1 in an intermediate position.

Fig. 19 is a central sectional view of a first variant of the mixing and

Application capsule;

Fig. 20 is a central sectional view of a second variant of the mixing and

Application capsule;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a variant of a lid of the mixing and

Application capsule;

FIG. 22 shows a central sectional view of a mixing and application capsule according to a second embodiment; FIG.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the mixing and application capsule of FIG. 22; FIG.

Fig. 24 is a central sectional view of the mixing and application capsule of Fig. 22 in the plane C-C of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is an exploded view of the mixing and application capsule of Fig. 22;

Fig. 26 is a further exploded view of the mixing and application capsule of

Fig. 22;

Fig. 27 is a central sectional view of the mixing and application capsule of Fig. 22, together with a piston rod and a part of a

Transmission mechanism, in a starting position;

FIG. 28 shows the elements of FIG. 22 in a first intermediate position; FIG.

FIG. 29 shows the elements of FIG. 22 in a second intermediate position; FIG. the elements of Figure 22 in a third intermediate position.

the elements of Figure 22 in an end position.

a flow chart of an operating method for the mixing and application system of Fig. 1;

a central sectional view of a mixing and application capsule according to a third embodiment;

a perspective view of an application capsule for a finished product; a top view of the application capsule for illustrating two sectional planes E- E and F-F;

the application capsule in a starting position; (a) central longitudinal section in plane F-F; (b) detail G; (c) central longitudinal section in plane E-E; (d) detail H;

the application capsule in a first intermediate position; (a) central longitudinal section in plane F-F; (b) detail G; (c) central longitudinal section in plane E-E; (d) detail H;

the application capsule in a second intermediate position; (a) central longitudinal section in plane F-F; (b) detail G; (c) central longitudinal section in plane E-E; (d) detail H;

the application capsule in a third intermediate position; (a) central longitudinal section in plane F-F; (b) detail G; (c) central longitudinal section in plane E-E; (d) detail H;

a perspective view of a second embodiment of the Mi scuff application system of the present invention;

a partial perspective view of a third embodiment of the mixing and application system of the present invention; and

a flowchart of an operating method for the mixing and application system of FIG. 40 or 41.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a mixing and application system for producing and dispensing a dental material in different views. The mixing and application system comprises a Mixing and application capsule 100 (hereinafter referred to simply as a capsule) according to a first embodiment, a handpiece 200 and a base station 300.

The base station 300 comprises a housing 310, on which a handpiece receptacle 320 is formed. A button 330 serves to operate the base station.

The handpiece 200 is inserted into the handpiece receiver 320 of the base station 300. In order to ensure a defined orientation of the handpiece 200 in the base station, two coding ribs 211 are formed on the handpiece housing 210 as well as two coding grooves 321 which are complementary to the handpiece receptacle 320. These prevent rotation of the handpiece 200 in the base station 300. To accommodate the capsule 100, the handpiece 200 has a laterally open capsule receptacle 212 into which the capsule 100 can be inserted laterally. Two buttons 213, 214 serve to operate the handpiece 200.

The capsule 100 of the first embodiment shown alone in FIG. 3 comprises a capsule housing 110, a cover 120 and an application tip 140.

The internal structure of the handpiece 200 and the base station 300 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Inside the handpiece housing 210 there are a piston rod 220, a transmission 230 for advancing the piston rod 220, which will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIG. 7, and a transmission mechanism 240, also explained below in connection with FIG. 7, for transmitting torsional vibrations from the base station 300 on the capsule housing 110, a drive motor 250 which drives the gear 230, a power source for the drive motor 250 in the form of a rechargeable battery 260 and a control unit 270. The control unit 270 is on the one hand adapted to the drive motor 250 according to a program described in more detail below head for. On the other hand, the control unit 270 serves to inductively recharge the rechargeable battery 260 in a manner known per se with the aid of an induction coil, which is not illustrated, and likewise to inductively communicate with the base station 300. Inside the housing 310 of the base station 300 is a torsional vibration drive 340. This generates torsional vibrations, ie an oscillating rotational movement. The frequency of the torsional vibrations can be, for example, in the range of about 2 Hz to 200 Hz. In particular, the frequency can be at least 5 Hz. The amplitude of the torsional vibrations from reversal point to reversal point is preferably at least 5 °, more preferably at least 10 °. It can be at least 20 °. Deviating amounts are possible. Frequency and amplitude together determine the spin and thus the achievable mixing effect; the greater the frequency and the amplitude, the better will be the mixing effect as a rule. Suitable torsional vibration drives are known per se and are used, for example, in electric toothbrushes (in particular so-called sonic toothbrushes). On the one hand, a control unit 350 controls the torsional vibration drive 340. On the other hand, the control unit 350 generates an alternating electromagnetic field via an induction coil, not shown, to inductively charge the battery 260 in the handpiece via the control unit 270 of the handpiece 200. In addition, the control unit 350 is designed to inductively communicate with the control unit 270 in the handpiece, ie to transmit control data inductively in both directions. In addition, in the housing 310 of the base station 300, a transformer 360 is provided to power the control unit 350. Instead, the transformer can also be designed as a separate unit, for example as a plug transformer. To give the base station 300 a sufficiently large inertial mass, one or more weights may also be provided in the base station 300. In FIG. 7, the piston rod 220, the gear 230, the transmission mechanism 240 and the drive motor 250 of the handpiece 200 are illustrated in greater detail.

The piston rod 220 runs centrally along a longitudinal axis L. At its distal end, it has a feed flange 221 with an enlarged diameter. At its proximal end, the piston rod 220 on both sides on two diametrically opposite sides radially outwardly projecting connecting flange 222. The piston rod 220 acts on the capsule 100 in a manner described in more detail below. The transmission 230 comprises two threaded rods 231 extending decentrally parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The threaded rods 231 are fixedly attached to the connecting flange 222 of the piston rod 220. The transmission 230 also includes a base plate 232, to the decentralized drive gear 233, two intermediate gears 234 and two externally toothed threaded nuts 235 are mounted. The drive gear 233 is rotationally secured to the drive shaft 251 of the drive motor 250 is connected. The two intermediate gears 234 mesh with the drive gear 233 and with each one of the threaded nuts 235. Thus, the intermediate gears 234 transmit a rotational movement of the drive shaft 251 on the threaded nuts 235. Each one of these threaded nuts 235 runs on each one of the threaded rods 231 and thereby pushes in a rotary motion the respective threaded rod 231 in the axial direction. Overall, this achieves that a rotational movement of the drive shaft 251 is converted into an axial feed movement of the piston rod 220.

The transmission mechanism 240 comprises a central transmission rod 241, to which a fork element 242 adjoins in the distal direction. The fork element comprises a transversely extending to the longitudinal axis crossbar 243 (also referred to as a yoke) and two decentralized parallel to the longitudinal axis extending leg. At their respective distal end, the legs are connected to a coupling region in the form of a circumferentially closed transmission ring 244. The transmission ring 244 is designed to be inserted in a rotationally secured manner in a proximally open region of the lid 120 of the capsule 100. For this purpose, the transmission ring 244 is equipped on its outer circumference with an external toothing 245. The transmission rod 241 has at its proximal end a plug-in receptacle 246 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), into which the drive shaft 341 of the torsional vibration drive 340 is inserted in a rotationally secured manner. In the circumferential direction, there is a positive connection between the drive shaft 341 and the plug receptacle 246 in order to be able to securely transmit torsional vibrations to the transmission mechanism 240. Overall, in this way, the transmission mechanism 240 causes a transmission of torsional vibrations from the torsional vibration drive 340 on the capsule housing 110th

The capsule 100 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 8-10. The capsule housing 110 has a circumferential jacket wall 111. In the region of the proximal end of the jacket wall III, a circumferential collar 112 projects radially outward. Proximal from the collar 112 is on the shell wall 111 an outwardly projecting annular bead 114 is formed. Between the collar 112 and the annular bead 114 thus a circumferential outer annular groove is formed. The part of the jacket wall 111 located proximally from the collar 112 forms a retaining ring 113 for the cover 120. At its distal end, the capsule housing 110 has a distal end wall 115 on which a connection region 116 for the application tip 140 is formed. The connection region 116 surrounds a discharge opening for the finished dental material to be discharged. This discharge opening is initially closed by a relatively thin sealing film 117 (see FIG. 10). The closure film 117 is formed integrally with the end wall 115 and has a cross-shaped weakened area. With its jacket wall 11, its distal end wall 115 and the sealing film 117, the capsule housing 110 delimits a cylindrical mixing chamber K1 for receiving a powdery first component of the dental material to be produced. With its cylinder axis, the cylindrical mixing chamber Kl defines the position of the central longitudinal axis L.

The cover 120 has an application piston 121, which protrudes in the region of the retaining ring 1 13 in the proximal end of the capsule housing 1 10. At the application piston 121, two mutually radially opposed mixing vanes 122 are formed. These protrude from the radially outer, circumferential edge of the distal end of the application piston 121 along each of a direction which is inclined to the longitudinal axis L, inwardly into the cylindrical mixing chamber Kl inside. Each mixing blade 122 has an elongate, flat shape, here the shape of an elongated rectangular plate, and is attached with one of its short sides to the radially outer edge of the distal end of the application piston 121. Instead of a rectangular shape, the mixing blades can also have any other shape. The application piston 121 has a continuous central bore 124, which forms a fluid channel. On the proximal side of the application piston 121, a pin 123 extending axially along the longitudinal axis and projecting in the proximal direction is subsequently arranged on the bore 124. At its distal end, the pin 123 is integrally connected to the application piston 121 via a peripheral weakening region. The distal end of the pin 123 thereby forms a closure element for the bore 124, while the remaining pin 123 forms a transmission element for transmitting an axial compressive force on the closure element. In other words, in the present example, the closure member for the bore 124 and the transmission member are integrally formed integrally in the form of the pin 123.

The cover 120 also has a coupling element in the form of a coupling ring 125. The coupling ring 125 is integrally connected to the application piston 121 via a peripheral weakening region on the outer circumference of the application piston 121. With its distal end, the coupling ring 125 engages around the retaining ring 113 formed at the proximal end of the capsule housing 110. At its distal end, it has a radially inwardly projecting annular bead, which engages in the annular groove on the retaining ring 113. As a result, the coupling ring 125 is locked to the proximal end of the capsule housing 110. In particular, in the circumferential direction is a frictional connection between the coupling ring 125 and the capsule housing 110. In addition or instead, the coupling ring 125 may be materially connected to the capsule housing 110. The proximal end of the coupling ring 125 is formed as a proximally open receptacle for the already mentioned transmission ring 244 of the fork element 242. In order to transmit forces in the circumferential direction, as they occur in torsional vibrations, effectively, the coupling ring 125 on the inside an internal toothing 126 which is complementary to the external teeth 245 of the transmission ring 244.

A proximal bounding foil 130 covers the proximal side of the application plunger 121 and the pin 123. It is of circular, domed shape. With its peripheral outer edge 123, the proximal boundary foil 130 is materially connected to the application piston 121. The proximal boundary foil 130 may be formed, for example, as a composite foil with an aluminum layer and at least one plastic layer. It may, for example, be sealed by inductive welding on the proximal side of the application piston 121. The cavity formed between the application piston 121 and the proximal boundary foil 130 forms a fluid chamber K2 for a fluid second component of the dental material to be produced.

The application tip 140 is provided with an insertion sleeve 141 in the connection region 116 the capsule housing 110 inserted. It has an application cannula 142 for applying the finished dental material.

The sequence of FIGS. 10 to 13 illustrates how a dental material is produced and applied with the aid of the mixing and application system.

In the figure 10, the initial state is shown. The handpiece 200 is located in the base station 100. The first, powdered component of the dental material is located in the mixing chamber K1 and the second, fluid component of the dental material in the fluid chamber K2. The bore 124 is closed by the pin 123. The outlet of the mixing chamber K 1 is closed by the sealing film 117. The piston rod 220 is located at an axial distance proximal of the proximal confinement sheet 130. The transmission ring 245 of the fork member 242 is located proximally of the coupling ring 125. The piston rod 220 abuts at its proximal end to the transverse bracket 243 of the fork member 242. As a result, the piston rod 220 prevents axial movement of the fork member 242 in the distal direction.

The preparation of the dental product is now started by the user pressing the button 330 on the base station 300. This first causes the control unit 350 of the base station 300 to communicate with the control unit 270 in the handpiece 200 to activate the drive motor 250 in the handpiece 200 so as to axially displace the piston rod 220 axially by a first amount into the distal one by means of the transmission 230 Advancing direction. As a result, the piston rod 220 exerts an axial compressive force on the pin 123 via the proximal limiting foil 130. This pressure force causes the pin 123 at the circumferential weakening region of the application piston 121 tears off and is gradually pressed into the bore 124. On the outer circumference of the pin 123 a plurality of continuous longitudinal grooves are formed, forming the fine fluid channels through which the second component from the fluid chamber K2 can get into the mixing chamber Kl. By further displacing the piston rod 220 forwards, the second component is now pressed into the mixing chamber K1 and the proximal limiting foil 130 is flattened. At the same time, the fork element 242 is inserted with the transmission ring 244 in the coupling ring 125. FIG. 11 shows the state which occurs when the piston rod 220 has advanced so far in the distal direction that the second component has been pressed completely out of the fluid chamber K2 into the mixing chamber Kl. The proximal boundary foil 130 now lies largely flat on the proximal side of the application piston 121. The pin 123 is completely received in the bore 124. The application piston 121 is still connected in one piece with the coupling ring 125, and the outlet of the mixing chamber K1 is still closed by the sealing film 117. As a result, the mixing chamber Kl unchanged on their initial volume. The transmission ring 244 of the fork element 242 is now inserted into the coupling ring 125. By the internal teeth 126 of the coupling ring 125 cooperates with the external teeth 245 of the transmission ring 244, there is a positive connection in the circumferential direction between the transmission mechanism 240 and the coupling ring 125. As a result, forces acting in the circumferential direction can be effectively transferred to the capsule housing 110.

In order to mix the two components in the mixing chamber K 1, the control unit 350 in the base station 300 now communicates with the control unit 270 in the handpiece 200 such that the drive motor 250 retracts the piston rod 220 slightly again. As a result, the piston rod 220 is decoupled in terms of its force from the capsule 100. Then, the control unit 350 activates the torsional vibration drive 340 in the base station 300. Via the transmission rod 241 and the fork member 242, the torsional vibrations are transmitted to the transmission ring 244. This transmits the torsional vibrations in turn to the coupling ring 125 and the thus positively and / or materially connected capsule housing 1 10. As a result, the entire capsule housing 1 10 is put into strong torsional vibrations. Since the components in the mixing chamber K1 can not fully follow the torsional vibrations due to their inertia, the mixing vanes 122 move through the components due to torsional vibrations and produce a shearing action. As a result, an efficient mixing of the components is achieved. As a result, the ready-to-use dental product is obtained.

Now, the control unit 350 of the base station again communicates with the control unit 270 of the handpiece 200 to again activate the drive motor 250, so that the Piston rod 220 is advanced in the distal direction again. The piston rod 220 now exerts an increasing axial compressive force on the application piston 121. When the pressure force exceeds a certain threshold, the application piston 121 ruptures at its surrounding weakened area from the coupling ring 125. By further advancing the piston rod 220, the application piston 121 now moves in the interior of the capsule housing 110 in the distal direction. As a result, the application piston 121 compresses the dental product contained in the mixing chamber K1 as well as the air also contained therein. The air collects mainly due to the buoyancy at the top. Thus, since the handpiece is upright in the base station, the air gathers at the distal end of the mixing chamber K1 in the region of the sealing film 117. When the pressure exceeds a certain threshold, the sealing film 117 ruptures and the air passes through the application tip 140 pushed out. Finally, only the finished dental product remains in the mixing chamber K1. At this point, the pressure increases again. The control unit 270 detects this and then stops the feed of the piston rod.

Subsequently, the dental product is discharged. For this purpose, first the handpiece 200 is removed from the base station 300. By pressing the front button 213 of the handpiece, the control unit 270 of the handpiece 200 again activates the drive motor 250, so that the piston rod 220 is advanced further in the distal direction. The dental product now passes through the outlet of the capsule housing 1 10 in the application tip 140. From there it is applied directly to the desired location. This situation is illustrated in FIG. As the application piston 121 advances beyond the position in the distal direction where the mixing vanes 122 first contact the distal end wall 115 of the capsule housing 110, the mixing vanes 122 begin to flex inwardly until finally flat on the distal end of the application piston 121 rest. This situation is illustrated in FIG. The dental material is now completely discharged from the mixing chamber, and the application piston 121 has reached its distal end position.

To allow capsule 100 to be removed from handpiece 200 again Finally, the control unit 270 in the handpiece 200 finally drives the drive motor 250 in such a way that it retracts the piston rod 220 back into the starting position of FIG. The proximal end of the piston rod 220 again abuts the proximal end of the fork element 242 and carries it along in the proximal direction. Thereby, the transmission ring 244 is pulled out of the coupling ring 125 in the proximal direction. The capsule 100 can now be easily removed laterally from the handpiece 200. This reverse movement of the piston rod 220 can be triggered by one of the following events: (i) by operation of the rear button 214 on the handpiece; (ii) automatically by the control unit 350 of the base and / or the control unit 270 of the hand piece, when one of these control units recognizes that the hand piece 200 is inserted into the base station 300; and / or (iii) in that the control unit 270 recognizes that the application piston 121 abuts against the distal end wall 15 of the capsule housing 110, that is to say that the capsule has been emptied maximally. Figures 14-18 illustrate how the handpiece 200 mechanically interacts with the base station 300. The figures 14-16 show the handpiece in the initial state, in which the piston rod 220 is in its maximum retracted position. As previously explained, in this state, the transmission mechanism 240 is in a retracted position, in which the transmission ring 244 laterally releases the capsule receiver 212. A compression spring 342 surrounds the drive shaft 341 of the torsional vibration drive 340. This compression spring is compressed in the initial state between the plug receptacle 246 of the transmission mechanism 240 and the housing of the torsional vibration drive 340. Thereby, the compression spring 342 presses the transmission mechanism 240 in the distal direction. Since the connecting flange 222 of the piston rod 220 abuts against the crossbar 243 of the fork member 242, the piston rod 229 prevents the transmission mechanism 240 from moving in the distal direction.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the handpiece in a state in which the application piston 121 has been advanced by means of the piston rod 220 so far that the second component has been pressed out of the fluid chamber. Due to the movement of the piston rod 220 in the distal direction, the transmission mechanism 240 could now also due to the spring force generated by the compression spring 342 move in the distal direction. As a result, the transmission ring 244 has penetrated into the interior of the coupling ring 125 and has produced a coupling of the transmission mechanism 240 with the capsule housing 110. Instead of between the torsional vibration drive 340 and the plug-in receptacle 246, the compression spring 342 may also be mounted at a different location, in particular at a suitable location within the handpiece 200.

FIG. 19 illustrates a variant of the capsule housing 110 of the capsule 100 according to the first embodiment. In this capsule housing, the discharge tip 140 is formed integrally with the capsule housing 110. Otherwise, the capsule housing of Figure 19 corresponds to the capsule housing of Figures 3 and 8-13.

FIG. 20 illustrates a further variant of the capsule housing 110 of the capsule 100 according to the first embodiment. This capsule housing has, in the region of the transition between the cylindrical jacket wall 111 and the distal end wall 115, two diametrically opposed mixing vanes 118, which are integrally formed with the capsule housing 110 and protrude obliquely inclined to the longitudinal axis into the interior of the mixing chamber from a region close to the jacket wall. Otherwise, the capsule housing of Figure 20 again corresponds to the capsule housing of Figures 3 and 8-13. The mixing vanes 118 may be provided instead of the mixing vanes 122 on the application piston 121, or they may be provided in addition to these. FIG. 21 illustrates a variant of the cover 120 of the capsule 100 according to the first embodiment. In this variant, the mixing vanes 122 again have an elongated, flat shape. However, the mixing vanes 122 are twisted along their own longitudinal axis in order to improve the shearing action in the torsional vibration and thus the mixing effect.

FIG. 22 shows a second embodiment of a mixing and application capsule. Like-acting parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only by the way in which the fluid chamber K2 is formed, and how the central bore 124 of the application piston 121 is closed. To form the fluid chamber K2, a first, distal boundary foil 132 is sealed onto an edge area 133 on the proximal side of the application piston 121. A second, proximal delimiting foil 130 with its edge region 131 is sealed onto this distal delimiting foil 132. Between the distal boundary film 132 and the proximal boundary film 130, the fluid chamber K2 is formed. The central bore 124 is open. In order to open the fluid chamber K2 in the direction of the central bore 124 and thus to allow the passage of the second component received therein into the mixing chamber, a piercing element in the form of a piercing mandrel 127 is formed on the proximal end face of the application piston 121. When distal pressure is applied to the proximal confinement foil 130 by the piston rod 220, this causes the distal constraint foil 132 to be pressed against the piercing mandrel 127 and thereby rupture. In this way, the second component from the fluid chamber K2 pass through the central bore 124 into the mixing chamber Kl.

FIGS. 23-31 illustrate a third embodiment of a mixing and application capsule. Like acting parts are again denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first and second embodiments. This third embodiment differs from the first and second Ausfüirungsforrn by the design of the application piston 121 and by the design of the fluid chamber K2. In this exemplary embodiment, the application piston 121 comprises a circumferential jacket wall and a distal end wall, which together define a cylindrical cavity. In this cavity, an axially displaceable activator piston 150 is used. The activator piston 150 has on its distal side an axially extending locking pin 151, at the distal end of which a sealing plug 152 with a slightly enlarged diameter is formed. The sealing plug 152 closes the central bore 124 in the distal end wall of the application piston 121. The circumferential jacket wall and the distal end wall of the application piston 121 and the activator piston 150 jointly delimit the cylindrical fluid chamber K2.

Figures 27-31 illustrate a mixing and application process with the mixing and Application capsule of the third embodiment.

In Figure 27, the initial state is shown. The application piston 121 is integrally connected to the coupling ring 125 and thereby axially fixed to the capsule housing 110. The activator piston 150 is in a proximal starting position. The sealing plug 152 closes the central bore 124 of the application piston 121. The piston rod 220 is located at a distance proximal from the application piston 121 and activator piston 150. The transmission ring 244 is located at a distance proximally from the coupling ring 125.

When the piston rod 220 is advanced in the distal direction, it initially exerts a distal compressive force only on the activator piston 150. For this purpose, the outer diameter of the feed flange 221 is smaller than the outer diameter of the activator piston 150. As a result, the activator piston 150 is advanced within the application piston 121 in the distal direction. In this case, the closure pin 151 presses the closure plug 152 out of the central bore 124 in the distal end wall of the application piston 121. As a result, the closure stopper 152 releases an annular fluid channel between the closure pin 151 and the surrounding end wall of the application piston 121. In a further movement of the activator piston 350 in the distal direction, the second component from the fluid chamber K2 is completely pushed into the mixing chamber Kl. Due to the movement of the piston rod 220 in the distal direction, the transmission mechanism 240 can now also move in the distal direction, and the transmission ring 244 enters the interior of the coupling ring 125. This situation is shown in FIG.

In the next step, in turn, the piston rod 220 is again pulled back slightly to decouple the piston rod 220 from the activator piston 150, and torsional vibrations are applied to the capsule housing 110, whereby the two components in the mixing chamber K1 are mixed. Subsequently, the piston rod 220 is advanced again in the distal direction. As a result, the application piston 121 with the activator piston 150 received therein is separated from the coupling ring 125 and advanced in the distal direction. This situation is illustrated in FIG. Now, when the application piston 121 is advanced further in the distal direction, the pressure in the mixing chamber K1 sharply increases, and the sealing film 117 ruptures. As a result, the air contained in the mixing chamber K1 escapes through the application tip 140, and the finished mixed product can be applied. This situation is illustrated in FIG.

When the application piston 121 finally reaches its distal end position, the mixing vanes 122 again lie flat against the distal side of the end wall of the application piston 121. The closure pin 151 with the sealing plug 152 reaches into the connection region 116 and thereby into the inlet sleeve 141 of the application tip 140. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 31.

FIG. 32 shows a schematic flow chart of a mixing and application process with the mixing and application system of the present invention. In step 401, a fresh capsule 100 is inserted into the handpiece 200 while it is in the base station 300. In step 402, the user presses the button 330 on the base station 300. This drives the drive motor inside the handpiece 200 to advance the piston rod in the handpiece 200, thereby introducing the second component from the fluid chamber K2 into the mixing chamber K1. In step 403, the piston rod is retracted somewhat in the proximal direction to decouple the application piston 121 from the piston rod 220, thus avoiding the transfer of forces between the application piston 121 to the piston rod 220 during the subsequent mixing operation. In step 404, the torsional vibration drive 340 in the base station 300 is activated, causing the mixing and application capsule 100 to be torsionally vibrated. As a result, the second component in the mixing chamber K1 is mixed with the first component and the finished mixed product is formed. In step 405, the piston rod is advanced so far in the handpiece 200 in the distal direction that the application piston 121 is torn off from the coupling ring 125. In step 406, the piston rod is advanced further, so that the application piston 121 moves in the distal direction, opens due to the resulting pressure of the closing film 1 17 and the mixing chamber Kl is vented. Steps 402-406 run after pressing the button 330 fully automatic. They are controlled by the control unit 350 inside the base station 300 together with the control unit 270 inside the handpiece 200. In step 407, the user removes the handpiece 200 from the base station 300. In step 408, the user presses the button 213 on the handpiece. As a result, the control unit 270 of the handpiece 200 again activates the drive motor 250 in order to advance the application piston 121 further and thus to discharge the finished mixed product. When the blended product has been discharged, the user presses the button 214 on the handpiece 200 in step 409, or returns the handpiece 200 to the base station 300 again. Thereby, the control unit 270 of the handpiece 200 (possibly triggered by the control unit 350 of the base station 300) activates the drive motor 250 in the opposite direction to retract the piston rod 220 from the capsule 100 so that the user can remove the capsule from the handpiece 200 , While the handpiece 200 is in the base station 300, the battery 260 in the handpiece is charged by the base station.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a variety of modifications are possible. Thus, instead of mixing vanes of the type mentioned above, other forms of mixing elements may be arranged in the mixing chamber, as long as they produce a shearing action in torsional vibrations of the mixing chamber. The torsional vibration drive can also be arranged in the handpiece instead of in the base. Various other types of mixing and application capsules can be used. Instead of a dental product, the system can also be used for other two-component mixtures. The design and size of the capsule can be adapted to the specific requirements. Thus, larger capsules can be used if e.g. a bone cement or bone substitute material to be produced and discharged.

FIG. 33 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a mixing and application capsule. Like-acting parts are again denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first and second embodiments. Once again, the capsule comprises a capsule housing 110 having a circumferential casing wall 11, a distal end wall 115 and a connection region 116 formed thereon for an application tip 140. The connection region 116 in turn surrounds a discharge opening, which is initially surrounded by a Closure film 117 is closed. Furthermore, the capsule comprises a cover 120, which in turn forms an application piston 121 and a coupling ring 125 with internal toothing 126 connected thereto over a weakened area. The lid 120 is connected to the capsule housing 110 in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the capsule shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 8-13.

However, unlike the first embodiment, the capsule housing 110 does not confine a single cylindrical mixing chamber K1 but two cylindrical component chambers K1 'and K2' which are separated from one another by a rigid partition wall 160.

The partition wall 160 in the present example runs centrally in the capsule housing 110, i. it contains the central longitudinal axis L of the capsule housing 110. It may have a varying thickness and may be e.g. in such a way from the central longitudinal axis L outwardly widen that the two component chambers Κ, K2 'receive a circular cross-section, ie a total circular cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, however, it may also be a simple flat wall, so that the two component chambers each receive a nearly semicircular cross section.

The partition 160 is connected to the capsule housing 110 laterally and distally without interruption. In particular, it is connected at its distal end continuously to the distal end wall 115 of the capsule housing. In the present example, the dividing wall 160 traverses the discharge opening and with its distal end divides the discharge opening into two partial openings. In other embodiments, two separate discharge openings may be present in the end wall 115, both opening into the application tip 140. Each of the partial openings or discharge openings is closed by a sealing film 117. Preferably, the partition wall 160 is formed integrally with the capsule housing 110.

The application piston 121 has two partial pistons 161, 162. Each partial piston 161, 162 is rigidly connected to a base region 165 via a respective piston rod 163, 164. Each partial piston 161, 162 projects into one of the two component chambers Κ or K2 'and can be displaced therein axially along the longitudinal axis L. Accordingly, each partial piston 161, 162 has a cross-section which corresponds to the cross-section the corresponding component chamber ΚΓ, K2 'corresponds. In this case, each partial piston 161, 162 lies circumferentially sealingly against the jacket wall 111 of the capsule housing 110 and the partition wall 160. Between the piston rods 163, 164, a gap 166 is formed. When the sub-pistons 161, 162 are advanced in the distal direction, this space 166 receives the rigid partition 160.

Through the partition wall 160 and the two sub-pistons 161, 162, the component chambers Κ and K2 'are hermetically separated from each other. In each of the component chambers Κ and K2 'in each case a flowable component of a dental product is taken, in particular a liquid or a paste.

In a cylindrical region of the application tip 140, here in its insertion sleeve 141, a static mixer 167 is arranged, which can be in particular a Scherblendenmischer per se known type. Such a shearblend mixer has a mixing coil with a plurality of shear shutters arranged axially one behind the other and running transversely to the direction of flow. However, it is also possible to use a static mixer of another type known per se.

To mix the components into a finished product and deliver it, the capsule is inserted into the handpiece 200, as is the case with the first embodiment of the capsule. At the push of a button, the handpiece 200 advances the piston rod 220 in the distal direction. Thereby, the application piston 121 is advanced in the distal direction along the longitudinal axis L. As a result, the sub-pistons 161, 162 in the component chambers Κ, K2 'advanced, and there is an overpressure in the component chambers Kl' and K2 '. As a result of the overpressure, the sealing film 117 ruptures at the ends of both component chambers Κ and K2 ', and the two components pass from the component chambers Κ, K2' into the applicator tip 140. Upon further advancement of the piston rod, the components are interconnected by the static mixer 167 mixed and exit as a finished product from the distal end of the application tip 140. The third embodiment shown in FIG. 33 is particularly suitable for producing liquid or pasty products from two liquid or pasty components. The mixing and application process is simpler than the first and second embodiments because it is not necessary to spin the capsule in order to mix the components. Thus, when the capsule is used with the mixing and dispensing system illustrated above, the torsional vibration drive 340 in the base station 300 may remain inoperable or used for other purposes, such as reading a bar code or RFID tag on the capsule housing 110 as well will be described in more detail below. for transmitting rotations to the capsule serves, as in the preceding embodiments of mixing and application capsules, coupling ring 125 with its coupling region arranged proximally from the application piston 121.

In simplified embodiments, such a capsule can also be used in a discharge system without torsional vibration drive.

FIGS. 34-38 illustrate an application capsule for a one-component finished product. This capsule has a device for venting before the actual discharge process. Like acting parts are again denoted by the same reference numerals as in the above-explained first embodiment of a mixing and application capsule.

The capsule in turn has a capsule housing 110 with a circumferential jacket wall 111. On the jacket wall, a barcode 190 is attached by way of example here, the function of which will be explained in more detail below. A coupling ring 170 is formed here in one piece with the capsule housing 110. The coupling ring 170 with internal teeth 171 corresponds in construction and function of the coupling ring 125 of the embodiments of mixing and application capsules described above. It is in turn arranged on a proximal end region of the capsule. In contrast to the above embodiments, however, the coupling ring 170 is made in one piece with the capsule housing 1 10, while the coupling ring 125 of the above embodiments is formed as part of a lid 120. In the capsule housing 110, an application piston 180 is displaceably arranged, which rests circumferentially sealingly on the inside of the capsule housing 110. The application piston 180 has a central bore 181, which serves as a venting channel. Above the proximal end of the bore 181, a sealing plug 182 is arranged. The closure plug 182 projects proximally over the application piston 180. The sealing plug 182 is connected at its distal end in the region of the central bore 181 via predetermined breaking point bridges 183 to the proximal end of the application piston 180. The sealing plug 182 is of approximately cylindrical shape. Its lateral surface forms a plurality of guide surfaces 184, which merge at the proximal end of the sealing plug 182 in an annular circumferential sealing surface 186. Each guide surface 184 has the shape of a cylinder jacket segment. In the circumferential direction between the guide surfaces 184 a plurality of longitudinal grooves 185 are formed. A distal end portion 187 distal to the guide surfaces 184 has the stopper 182 of reduced outer diameter; In this area, the predetermined breaking point bridges 183 are arranged, which connect the sealing plug 182 with the application piston 180. In the distal end region 187 and in the region of the longitudinal grooves, the outer diameter of the sealing plug 182 is smaller than the inner diameter of the central bore 181. As a result, there are a plurality of gas exchange channels 188 between the sealing plug 182 and the application piston 180, which allow a gas exchange. In the region of the guide surfaces 184 and the sealing surface 186, the outer diameter of the sealing plug 182 corresponds to the inner diameter of the central bore 181 or is slightly larger than this inner diameter to ensure a full guide and sealing effect when the closure plug 182 is inserted into the central bore 181 ,

The capsule contains a ready-to-use product. To dispense the product, the capsule is again inserted into the handpiece 200. At the push of a button, the piston rod 220 is advanced in the handpiece 200 in the distal direction. The piston rod rests on the proximal end of the closure plug 182 and exerts pressure in the distal direction on this end. As a result, the unit of application piston 180 and closure plug 182 begins to move in the distal direction, and Although such that the predetermined breaking point bridges 183 initially remain intact. The sequence of movements is illustrated in FIGS. 36-38.

In the figure 36, the capsule is shown in its initial position. Inside the capsule, a product chamber K is formed, in which the product to be discharged and air are located (see Figures 36 (a) and (c)). At the distal end, the chamber K is closed in the direction of the application tip 140 by a closure film 117. Now, as the unit of application piston 180 and occlusion plug 182 is advanced in the distal direction, the air escapes outwardly through the gas exchange channels 188 from inside the capsule (see Figure 36 (d)). The predetermined breaking point bridges 183 remain intact (see FIG. 36 (b)), as does the closing film 117.

In the figure 37, the capsule is shown in a first intermediate position. The piston rod has now advanced the application piston 180 together with the stopper 182 in the distal direction that all the air has escaped through the gas exchange channels 188 from the chamber K and essentially only the product to be discharged is in the chamber K (see FIGS. 37 (a) and (c)). As before, the sealing plug 182 is in contact with the application piston 182 via the intact predetermined breaking point bridges 183 (see FIG. 37 (b)) and releases the channels 188 (see FIG. 37 (d)).

When the piston rod is then advanced further in the distal direction, the predetermined breaking point bridges 183 break and the sealing plug 182 is pushed into the central bore 181 of the application piston 180 while the application piston 180 is stationary. This situation is illustrated as a second intermediate position in FIG. The sealing plug 182 is now guided by the guide surfaces 184 in the central bore 181 (see Figure 38 (b)). Through the longitudinal grooves 185 are still gas exchange channels 188 through which the air in the central bore 181 can escape, while the stopper 182 is further advanced (see Figure 38 (d)).

Upon further advancement of the piston rod, the plug 182 is fully inserted into the central bore 181. The resulting third intermediate position is illustrated in FIG. The sealing surface 186 now lies circumferentially on the inner wall of the central bore 181. As a result, the sealing plug 182 now seals the application piston 180 in the proximal direction, and neither air nor product can escape through the central bore 181.

When the piston rod is advanced further, the pressure inside the chamber K rises sharply, causing the sealing film 117 to rupture. The product is now discharged through the application tip 140. This embodiment of a capsule is particularly suitable for one-component products in the form of high-viscosity pastes. For the discharge process no torsional vibration drive is needed. However, in order to re-homogenize the paste prior to the discharge process, and possibly to reduce the viscosity of the paste prior to the discharge process, the system may be configured to vibrate the capsule for a certain time prior to the start of the actual discharge operation. This can e.g. happen before the piston rod is advanced for the first time, or after the capsule has been vented and the stopper plug has been fully inserted into the application piston. In order to improve the homogenizing effect, one or more mixing elements, such as e.g. Blades are provided, as has already been explained in connection with the first and second embodiment of a mixing and application capsule.

In order to protect the product in the capsule from gas exchange with the ambient air before use, the capsule can be packed in a hermetically sealed bag, eg made of a composite foil with a metal layer. Alternatively or additionally, a protective film (eg in the form of a composite film with a metal layer) may be sealed onto the proximal end of the coupling ring. This protective film is either manually removed prior to insertion into the handpiece 200, or is designed to remain on the capsule upon insertion into the handpiece and then to rupture upon initial advancement of the piston rod. For this purpose, the protective film can have a corresponding weakening range. FIG. 40 shows a second embodiment of a mixing and application system. This embodiment largely corresponds to the above-explained first embodiment of a mixing and application system, as shown in Figures 1-18. For identical or equivalent parts, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used.

In addition to the first embodiment, the second embodiment has a back wall 370 that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handpiece 200. In the upper area of the rear wall, a data reader, here in the form of a bar code reader 371, attached. In the handpiece a capsule 100 is added. On the jacket wall 111 of the capsule housing 100, a machine-readable data carrier in the form of a bar code 190 is printed. The bar code reader 371 is arranged and adapted to read the bar code 190 when the handpiece 200 is received in the base station 300. For this purpose, the torsional vibration drive of the handpiece 200 rotates the capsule 100 about its longitudinal axis and thus passes along the barcode 190 printed on the barcode reader 371 along the circumferential direction. Instead of a one-dimensional bar code 190, any other optical code may be mounted on the shell wall 111 of the capsule housing 110, e.g. a two-dimensional QR code. Accordingly, the data reader may also be another type of optical reader, e.g. to act as a QR code reader. Suitable optical readers are commercially available and well known in the art

The data reader is controlled by the control unit 350 in the interior of the base station 300 and transmits the read-out data of the bar code to the control unit 350. The data read out can be, in particular, the following types of data:

Type of capsule (for example, whether the capsule is a single-component capsule, a capsule having two juxtaposed component chambers, or a capsule containing a powder and a liquid as in the first three embodiments, etc.);

Contents of the capsule (type and quantity of the first and second component or product);

Information on the mixing and discharging process (in particular on the Fluid transfer in powder / liquid systems; over the vent; about the applicable duration of the torsional vibrations; over the desired discharge speed; about the desired total discharge volume; possibly via a portioning, ie over the desired feed amount of the piston rod per release, etc.).

The control unit 350 in the base station 300 transmits a part of the read-out data or data derived therefrom to the control unit 270 in the interior of the handpiece 200.

In this way, the mixing and application system can automatically recognize how the product should be discharged without the user needing to know and observe the corresponding discharge conditions. To start a mixing and dispensing operation, the handpiece 200 with the capsule 100 is inserted into the base station 300. After the start command by pressing button 330 on the base station 300, the capsule 100 is rotated by the torsional vibration drive 340 in the base station 300, and the bar code 190 is read out by the bar code reader 371. The read-out data is transmitted to the control unit 350 in the base station 300. The control unit now starts the necessary preparatory actions such as fluid transfer, mixing, venting, etc. These actions vary depending on the type of capsule. The user then removes the handpiece 200 from the base station 300 and starts by pressing the control knob 213 the actual discharge process. Under certain circumstances, this process can also take place differently depending on the read-out data, provided that the read-out data or data derived therefrom has been transmitted to the control unit 270 in the handpiece 200.

FIG. 41 shows a third embodiment of a mixing and application system. This embodiment largely corresponds to the second embodiment explained above, as shown in FIG. For identical or equivalent parts, the same reference numerals as in the second embodiment are used.

Instead of an optical reader, the third embodiment has an RFID reader 372 on. On the jacket wall 111 of the capsule housing 100, an RFID tag (RFID transponder) 191 is applied or embedded in this jacket wall 111. The RFID reader 372 is arranged and adapted to read out the RFID tag 191 when the handpiece 200 is received in the base station 300. For this purpose, the torsional vibration drive 340 of the base station 300 rotates the capsule 100 about its longitudinal axis and thus guides the RFID tag 191 past the RFID reader 372. Suitable RFID tags and associated RFID readers are commercially available and well known in the art. The use of RFID tags in particular has the advantage that such a system is less susceptible to contamination.

FIG. 42 shows a flow chart which illustrates the sequence of a discharge operation using a data reader of the type of the readers 371, 372. In step 411, a capsule with a data carrier is inserted into the handpiece. In step 412, data is read from the data carrier using the reader. In step 413, parameters are derived from these data that define the type and content of the capsule and that indicate what type of mixing and / or dispensing operation is to be performed on the capsule. In step 413, a mixing and discharge program is determined on the basis of these parameters, whereby a mixing operation can also be dispensed with, depending on the type of capsule. In step 414, the mixing and dispensing program is then executed. This program may e.g. steps 402-408 of Figure 32 or other steps.

Of course, a variety of modifications is possible again. Thus, in particular, instead of a back wall 370, any other type of holder for the reader 371 or 372 may be provided, as long as the reader is arranged in an area in which it can read the data carrier on the capsule. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Capsule 163 first piston rod

Capsule housing 164 second piston rod

Sheath wall 165 base area

Collar 166 gap

Retaining ring 167 static mixer

Ring bead 170 Coupling ring

End wall 171 internal toothing

Connection area 180 application flasks

Closing film 181 central hole

Mixing blades 182 sealing plugs

Cover 183 Breakaway bridge

Application piston 184 guide surface

Mixing blade 185 longitudinal groove

Pin 186 sealing surface central bore 187 distal end region

Coupling ring 188 gas exchange channel

Internal toothing 190 Barcode

Mandrel 191 RFID tag proximal bounding foil 200 handpiece outer rim 210 handpiece housing distal limiting foil 211 coding rib outer rim 212 capsule holder

Application tip 213 button

Insert sleeve 214 button

Application cannula 220 piston rod

Activator piston 221 Feed flange

Locking pin 222 Connecting flange

Plug 230 gearbox

Dividing wall 231 Threaded rod, first sub-piston 232 Base plate, second sub-piston 233 Drive gear Intermediate gear 321 Codierungsnut

Threaded nut 330 button

Transmission rod 340 torsional vibration drive

Fork element 341 drive shaft

Crossbar 342 Compression spring

Transmission ring 350 control unit

External toothing 360 Transformer

Plug-in receptacle 370 rear wall

Drive motor 371 barcode reader

Drive shaft 371 RFID reader

Battery L longitudinal axis

Control unit Kl mixing chamber

Base station K2 fluid chamber

Housing K1 ', K2' component chambers

Handle receiving

Claims

1. mixing and application system for use with a mixing and application capsule (100), which comprises a capsule housing (110) and an in the capsule housing (110) displaceably arranged application piston (121), wherein the mixing and application system comprises:

a handpiece (200) having a receptacle (212) for the mixing and application capsule (100) and a feed mechanism for advancing the application piston (121) in the capsule housing (110) along a longitudinal axis (L); and

a torsional vibration drive (340) for generating torsional vibrations,

wherein the handpiece (200) comprises a transmission mechanism (240) for transmitting the torsional vibrations from the torsional vibration drive (340) to the capsule housing (110) of the mixing and application capsule (100) received in the handpiece (200).

2. mixing and application system according to claim 1, comprising a base station

(300) having a receptacle (320) for the handpiece (200), wherein the torsional vibration drive (340) is disposed in or at the base station (300).

3. mixing and application system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feed mechanism comprises:

a piston rod (220) which is adapted to the

Application piston (121) to act;

a drive motor (250) for generating a rotational movement; and a gear (230) for converting the rotational movement of the drive motor (250) into an axial advancing movement of the piston rod (220) along the longitudinal axis (L).

4. mixing and application system according to claim 3, wherein the feed mechanism also includes an energy store (260) for supply of the drive motor (250) with energy.

5. mixing and application system according to claim 3 or 4,

the piston rod (220) being arranged centrally along the longitudinal axis (L),

wherein the gearbox (230) has at least two decentrally disposed threaded rods (231) and associated threaded nuts (235),

wherein each of the threaded rods (231) cooperates with each one of the threaded nuts (235) to convert the rotational movement into a feed movement of the piston rod (220), and

wherein between the threaded rods (231) at least a part of the transmission mechanism (240) is arranged.

6. mixing and application system according to claim 5,

wherein each of the threaded rods (231) is rotatably connected to the piston rod (220) at a distal end, and

wherein the threaded nuts (235) from the drive motor (250) are drivable for rotational movement.

7. Mixing and application system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission mechanism (240) comprises:

a central transmission rod (241) having proximal and distal ends;

a connector (246) at the proximal end of the transmission rod (241) for connecting the transmission rod (241) to the torsional vibration actuator (340); and

a fork element (242) at the distal end of the transmission rod (241), with two legs parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) and a coupling region (244) for releasably connecting the fork element (242) to the capsule housing (110) in the handpiece (200 ) recorded mixing and application capsule (100),

wherein the piston rod (220) extends at least partially between the legs of the fork member (232).

8. mixing and application system according to claim 7, wherein the coupling region (244) has a circumferentially extending toothing (245).

9. mixing and application system according to claim 7 or 8,

wherein the transmission mechanism (240) axially abuts the piston rod (220) in a home position of the piston rod (220) such that the transmission mechanism (240) is prevented from moving in a distal direction by the piston rod (220), and

wherein the transmission mechanism (240) is spring biased in the distal direction such that the coupling region (244) is pressed in the distal direction as the piston rod (220) moves from the home position to the distal direction.

10. mixing and application system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising

a reader (371; 372) for reading out data from a machine (1) disk (190, 191) connected to the mixing and application capsule (100).

11. Mixing and application system according to claim 10, wherein the reader is one of the following devices:

an optical reader (371) for reading out an optical code, in particular a barcode or QR code, or.

an RFID reader (372).

Mixing and application system according to claim 10 or 11, comprising at least one control unit (350; 270) which is connected directly or indirectly to the reading device (371, 372) in order to receive the read-out data from the reading device (371, 372),

wherein the at least one control unit (350; 270) is adapted to determine from the read-out data at least one of the following parameters:

Type of mixing and application capsule (100): Content of the mixing and application capsule (100);

Amount of the contents of the mixing and application capsule (100);

Information about the mixing and discharge process,

and wherein the at least one control unit (350; 270) is designed to define and execute a mixing and dispensing program as a function of at least one of these parameters.

13. mixing and application system according to any one of claims 10-12, comprising at least one control unit (350; 270),

wherein the at least one control unit (350; 270) is adapted to drive the torsional vibration drive (340) to rotate the capsule (100) about its longitudinal axis (L) while the reader (371; 372) reads the data from the data carrier (190, 191).

14. Mixing and application capsule for the preparation and application of a mixed product of two components, comprising:

a capsule housing (110) having a circumferential jacket wall (111), a distal end wall (115) and a discharge opening formed in the distal end wall (1 15), wherein the jacket wall (III) and the end wall (115) form a cylindrical mixing chamber (Kl) limit for receiving a first component, and wherein the cylindrical mixing chamber (Kl) defines a longitudinal axis (L);

an application piston (121) slidably disposed in the cylindrical mixing chamber (K1) along the longitudinal axis (L) for discharging the mixed product through the discharge port from the mixing chamber (K1);

a fluid chamber (K2) for receiving a fluid second component; and

a fluid passage (124) connecting the fluid chamber (K2) to the mixing chamber (K1) for transferring the second component from the fluid chamber (K2) into the mixing chamber (K1),

characterized,

that in the mixing chamber (Kl) at least one mixing element (122; 1 18) is arranged, which with the application piston (121) or with the Capsule housing (110) is connected and in the mixing chamber (Kl) protrudes.

15. mixing and application capsule according to claim 14, wherein the mixing element (122;

118) is designed such that it exerts a shearing action on the first and second components when they are received in the mixing chamber (Kl) and the capsule housing (110) is set in torsional vibrations.

16. mixing and application capsule according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the fluid channel (124) by a closure element (123, 152) is closed.

17. mixing and application capsule according to any one of claims 14-16, wherein the at least one mixing element is configured as follows:

as a mixing blade with a flat elongate shape, in particular in the form of an elongated rectangular plate, wherein the mixing blade may optionally be twisted along its longitudinal axis;

as a helix; or

as a filament.

18. mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 14-17, wherein the at least one mixing element (122; 118) inclined to the longitudinal axis (L) inclined from a coat wall near the area into the interior of the mixing chamber (Kl) protrudes.

19. mixing and application capsule according to any one of claims 14-18, wherein the at least one mixing element (122; 118) is formed integrally with the application piston (112) or the capsule housing (110).

20. The mixing and application capsule according to claim 14, wherein the at least one mixing element (122) is connected to the application piston (121) on a region of the application piston (121) adjoining the jacket wall (111) of the capsule housing (110) ,

21. mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 14-20, wherein the at least one mixing element (118) in a transition region between the Mantle wall (111) and the end wall (115) with the capsule housing (110) is connected.

22. mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 14-21, wherein in the mixing chamber (Kl) with respect to a circumferential direction distributed at least two mixing elements (122; 1 18) are arranged.

23. mixing and application capsule according to claim 22, wherein the at least two mixing elements (122; 118) along the circumferential direction uniformly distributed in the mixing chamber (Kl) are arranged.

24. mixing and application capsule according to any one of claims 14-23, which further comprises a coupling element (125) which is adapted to transmit a torsional vibration about the longitudinal axis (L) on the capsule housing (110).

25. mixing and application capsule according to claim 24, wherein the coupling element (125) has a non-rotationally symmetrical see driving range, which is adapted to form a positive engagement with a coupling region (244) of a transmission element (240) for the torsional vibration with respect to a circumferential direction.

26. Mixing and application capsule according to claim 25, wherein the entrainment region is formed in a proximal end region of the mixing and application capsule and, in particular, forms a receptacle open to the proximal direction for the coupling region (244).

27. mixing and application capsule according to any one of claims 24-26, wherein the

Coupling element (125) has a U in the initial direction extending toothing (126).

28. mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 24-27, wherein the coupling element (125) and the application piston (121) in one piece together as a lid (120) is formed, which as a whole is connected to the capsule housing (110).

29. mixing and application capsule according to claim 28, wherein the coupling element

(125) and the application piston (121) are connected to each other over a weakened area such that the application piston (121) can be separated from the coupling element (125) by axial pressure.

30. Mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 14-29, wherein the fluid chamber (K2) is arranged on or in the application piston (121), and wherein the fluid channel (124) at least through an end wall region of the application piston (121) passes therethrough.

31. The mixing and application capsule according to claim 30, wherein the fluid channel (124) is closed by a closure element (123; 152), and wherein the closure element (123; 152) by distal pressure on the closure element (123; 152) in an open position can be brought, in which the closure element (123, 152) at least partially releases the fluid channel (124).

32. Mixing and application capsule according to claim 31, wherein the closure element (123) is formed integrally with the application piston and is connected to the application piston (121) via a weakened area in such a way that the closure element (123) is pressed against the closure element (123) by distal pressure. at the weakening range of the application piston (121) is separable.

33. mixing and application capsule according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the closure element (152) axially displaceable and sealing in the fluid channel (124) is arranged.

34. Mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 31-33, wherein a transmission element is arranged in the fluid chamber (K2) such that the closure element (123; 152) can be brought into the open position by distal pressure on the transmission element.

35. The mixing and application capsule according to claim 34, wherein the transmission element is an axial pin (151) integrally formed with the closure element (152) and extending in a proximal direction away from the closure element (152) into the fluid chamber (K2).

36. Mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 30-35, comprising a proximal delimiting foil (130) which is connected in a peripheral edge region (131) with the application piston (121) and which limits the fluid chamber (K2) in a proximal direction ,

37. The mixing and application capsule according to claim 36, wherein the fluid chamber (K2) is formed between the proximal limiting foil (130) and the application piston (121).

38. Mixing and application capsule according to claim 36 or 37, further comprising a distal boundary foil (132) which is connected in a peripheral edge region (133) with the application piston (121) and with the proximal boundary foil (130), wherein the fluid chamber ( K2) is formed between the proximal bounding foil (130) and the distal bounding foil (132).

39. Mixing and application capsule according to claim 38, further comprising a Aufstechelement (127), which is adjacent to the distal boundary film (132) formed on the application piston (121). to penetrate the distal limiting foil (132) by distal pressure against the piercing member (127).

40. Mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 30-35, wherein the

Fluid chamber (K2) as a cylindrical cavity in the application piston (121) is formed, and wherein the mixing and application capsule has an activator piston (150) which in the fluid chamber (K2) forming the cylindrical cavity along the longitudinal axis (L) is displaceable.

41. The mixing and application capsule according to claim 40, wherein the fluid channel (124). is closed by a closure element (152), and a transfer element extending distally into the fluid chamber (K2) is arranged on the activator piston (150) in such a way that the transfer element is moved onto the closure element (152) by a distal movement of the activator piston (150). acting to bring it into an open position in which the closure element (152) at least partially releases the fluid channel (124).

42. Mixing and application capsule according to one of claims 14-41, which has a machine-readable data carrier, wherein the data carrier carries data for at least one of the following parameters:

Type of mixing and application capsule (100);

Content of the mixing and application capsule (100);

Amount of the contents of the mixing and application capsule (100);

Information about the mixing and discharging process.

43. The mixing and application capsule according to claim 42, wherein the data carrier comprises:

an optical code (190), in particular a bar code or QR code, which is mounted on the jacket wall (I I I) of the capsule housing (110); or

an RFID tag (191).

44. A process for producing and discharging a mixed product with a

Mixing and application system according to one of claims 1-13, comprising:

(A) inserting a mixing and application capsule (100) in the handpiece (200), wherein the mixing and application capsule (100) comprises a capsule housing (110) and an in the capsule housing (110) slidably disposed application piston (121) and one of Capsule housing (110) and the application piston (121) limited mixing chamber (Kl) with a first component and on or in the application piston (121) formed fluid chamber (K2) defined with a fluid second component, wherein between the fluid chamber (K2) and the mixing chamber (Kl) a fluid channel (124) is present;

(B) distal advancement of the piston rod (220) in the handpiece (200) to the transferring second component from the fluid chamber (K2) through the fluid channel (124) into the mixing chamber (Kl);

(c) activating the torsional vibration drive (340) to rotationally oscillate the mixing and application capsule (100) in the handpiece (200) thereby mixing the second component in the mixing chamber (100) with the first component to thereby admix the mixed product form;

(D) distal advancement of the piston rod (220) in the handpiece (200) in order to advance the application piston (121) in the capsule housing (110) and thus discharge the mixed product.

45. The method according to claim 44, which has between step (b) and (c):

(bl) proximally retract the piston rod (220) to avoid distal pressure on the application piston (121) during mixing.

46. The method of claim 44 or 45, wherein the method between step (c) and (d) comprises:

(cl) distally advancing the piston rod (220) in the handpiece (200) to release the application piston (121) from the capsule housing (110) for the first time and, optionally, to deaerate the mixing chamber (1).

47. The method of any one of claims 44-46, wherein the method of step (d) comprises:

(e) proximally retracting the piston rod (220) to release the mixing and application capsule (100) for removal from the handpiece (200).

48. The method according to any of claims 44-47, wherein the mixing and application capsule (100) comprises a data carrier (190; 191), and wherein the method after insertion of the mixing and application capsule (100) into the handpiece (200) comprises:

Reading data from the data carrier (190; 191);

Determine at least one of the following parameters based on the data read: Type of mixing and application capsule (100);

Content of the mixing and application capsule (100);

Amount of the contents of the mixing and application capsule (100);

Information about the mixing and discharging process, and

49. Application capsule for applying a product of at least one component, comprising:

a capsule housing (HO) defining at least one cylindrical component chamber (Kl; KP; Κ2 '; K) for receiving the at least one component; and

an application piston (121) displaceable in a distal direction in the component chamber (Kl; Κ; '2 '; K) along a longitudinal axis (L) in order to guide the at least one component out of the component chamber (Kl; Κ2Κ; K) by at least discharge a distal discharge opening; characterized,

in that the application capsule has a coupling element (125) which is designed to transmit a rotation about the longitudinal axis (L) to the capsule housing (110),

wherein the coupling element (125) has a non-rotationally symmetrical entrainment region which is designed to form a positive connection with a coupling region (244) of a transmission element (240) for rotation with respect to a circumferential direction, and

wherein the non-rotationally symmetrical entrainment region is formed in a proximal end region of the application capsule.

50. Application capsule according to claim 49, wherein the entrainment region forms an opening in the proximal direction for the coupling region (244).

51. Application capsule according to claim 49 or 50, wherein the coupling element (125) has a circumferentially extending toothing (126).

52. Application capsule according to one of claims 49-51, wherein the coupling element (125) and the application piston (121) are integrally formed together as a cover (120), which as a whole with the capsule housing (110) is connected.

53. application capsule according spoke 52, wherein the coupling element (125) and the application piston (121) are connected to each other over a weakened area such that the application piston (121) by axial pressure from the coupling element (125) is separable.

54. Application capsule according to one of claims 49-53, wherein the capsule housing delimits two parallel cylindrical component chambers (Κ, K2 ') for accommodating in each case one component, and wherein the mixing and application capsule has an application tip (140) connected to the at least one distal discharge opening. in which a static mixer (167) is arranged to mix the components discharged from the component chambers (Κ, K2 ').

55. Application system for use with an application capsule (100), which comprises a capsule housing (110) and at least one component to be dispensed in the capsule housing (110), the application system comprising:

a handpiece (200) having a receptacle (212) for the applicator capsule (100) and a feed mechanism for discharging the at least one component from the capsule housing (110); and

a reader (371; 372) for reading out data from a data carrier (190, 191) connected to the application capsule (100).

56. Application system according to claim 45, wherein the reader is one of the following devices:

an optical reader (371) for reading out an optical code, in particular a barcode or QR code, or. an RFID reader (372).

57. Application system according to claim 55 or 56, comprising a base station (300) with a receptacle (320) for the handpiece (200), wherein the reading device is arranged on the base station (300).

58. Application system according to one of claims 55-57

wherein the application system comprises at least one control unit (350; 270) which is directly or indirectly connected to the reading device (371, 372) in order to receive the read-out data from the reading device (371, 372),

Type of application capsule (100);

Content of the application capsule (100);

Amount of the content of the application capsule (100);

Information about the discharge process,

and wherein the at least one control unit (350; 270) is designed to define and execute a discharge program as a function of at least one of these parameters.

59. Application system according to one of claims 55-58

wherein the application system comprises a rotary drive (340) for generating rotations,

wherein the handpiece (200) has a transmission mechanism (240) for transmitting the rotations from the rotary actuator (340) to the capsule housing (110) of the application capsule (100) received in the handpiece (200).

60. Application capsule for applying a product of at least one component, comprising:

a capsule housing (110) defining at least one cylindrical component chamber (K; Κ2 '; K) for receiving the at least one component, said cylindrical chamber (K1; K2'; K) defining a longitudinal axis (L); and an application piston (180) slidably disposed in the cylindrical chamber (Kl; Κ; Κ2 '; K) along the longitudinal axis (L) for discharging the component from the chamber (Kl; Κ; Κ2';K);

characterized in that the application capsule comprises a machine-readable data carrier, wherein the data carrier carries data for at least one of the following parameters:

Type of application capsule (100);

Content of the application capsule (100);

Amount of the content of the application capsule (100);

Information about the discharge process.

The application capsule of claim 59, wherein the volume comprises:

an optical code (190), in particular a barcode or QR code, which is on shell wall (1 1 1) of the capsule housing (110) is mounted; or

an RFID tag (191).

Application capsule according to claim 59 or 60,

wherein the capsule housing (110) has a circumferential jacket wall (111), a distal end wall (115) and in the distal end wall (115) formed discharge opening, and

wherein the data carrier is arranged in the region of the jacket wall (111).

Application capsule according to one of Claims 59-62,

wherein the application capsule has a coupling element (125) which is designed to transmit a rotation about the longitudinal axis (L) to the capsule housing (110),

wherein the coupling element (125) has a non-rotationally symmetrical driving region, which is designed to form a positive connection with a coupling region (244) of a transmission element (240) with respect to a circumferential direction for the rotation.

Application capsule according to claim 63, wherein the non-rotationally symmetrical entrainment region in a proximal end region of the application capsule is trained.

65. Application capsule according to claim 64, wherein the entrainment region forms an opening in the proximal direction for the coupling region (244).

66. Application capsule according to one of claims 63-65, wherein the coupling element (125) has a circumferentially extending toothing (126).

67. Application capsule for applying a product of at least one component, comprising:

a capsule housing (110) defining a cylindrical component chamber (K) for receiving the at least one component, the component chamber (K) defining a longitudinal axis (L); and

an application piston (180) slidably disposed in the component chamber (K) along the longitudinal axis (L) for discharging the component from the component chamber (K);

characterized,

that the application piston (180) has a venting channel (181) for venting the component chamber (K), and

the application capsule has a closure stopper (182) which can be pushed into the deaeration channel (181),

wherein the closure plug (182) is arranged on the application piston (180) such that gas exchange between the component chamber (K) and an environment of the capsule through the venting channel (181) is possible, and

wherein the closure plug (182) in the vent channel (181) can be inserted, so that the sealing plug (182) closes the venting channel (181).

68. Application capsule according to claim 67, wherein the sealing plug (182) by means of

Rupture point bridges (183) with the application piston (180) is connected, and wherein the predetermined breaking bridges (183) upon axial insertion of the sealing plug (182) in the vent channel (181) break. Application capsule according to claim 67 or 68,

wherein the closure stopper (182) has a cylindrical lateral surface, wherein the lateral surface forms an annular peripheral sealing surface (186) at a proximal end of the sealing stopper (182),

the shell surface forming, distal from the sealing surface (186), a plurality of guide surfaces (184) which merge into the annular sealing surface (186) in a proximal direction, and

wherein between the guide surfaces (184) a plurality of longitudinal grooves (185) are formed in the lateral surface, which serve for venting when the closure plug (182) is partially inserted into the through hole (181).