Mixing and dispensing fluid components of a multicomponent composition

1. A device, for dispensing a multicomponent composition comprised of a mixture of a plurality of different fluid components, the device comprising:

a first fluid component inlet adapted to communicate with a source of a first fluid component;

at least a second fluid component inlet adapted to communicate with a source of at least a second fluid component;

a tube member;

a mixing area located downstream from the first and at least second fluid component inlets; and

an outlet extending from the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of the first fluid component from the first fluid component inlet and a flow of the second fluid component from the second fluid component inlet,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the second fluid component to form a flow of a multicomponent composition within the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of the multicomponent composition exits through the outlet,

wherein the first and second fluid component inlets are formed as first and second lumens, respectively, within the tube member,

wherein the mixing area connects to one end of the tubing member, and

wherein the mixing area includes:

an open first side that accepts the end of the tube member, wherein the first and second lumens terminate at the open first side;

a first surface opposite the end of the first lumen that is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component that enters the mixing area through the end of the first lumen;

a second side opposite the open first side, wherein the outlet is formed on the second side off-axis from the first and second lumens; and

a channel having:

a first segment that directs the flow of the first fluid component to converge with the flow of the second fluid component entering the mixing area through the end of the second lumen to form the flow of the multicomponent composition; and

a second segment that directs the flow of the multicomponent composition to the outlet,

wherein the flow of the first fluid component enters into the mixing area in a first direction and is directed by the first surface to a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the first segment directs the flow of the first fluid component in the second direction to converge with the flow of the second fluid component to form the multicomponent composition, wherein the multicomponent composition is directed by the second segment in a third direction that is different from the second direction, and wherein the multicomponent composition is directed by the outlet in a fourth direction that is different from the third.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mixing area includes a cavity having a protrusion that extends into the cavity to define the first and second segments within the mixing area.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second surface opposite the end of the second lumen that is adapted to disrupt the flow of the second fluid component that enters the mixing area through the end of the second lumen.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first direction differs from the second direction by 90 degrees.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the second direction differs from the third direction by 180 degrees.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the third direction differs from the fourth direction by 90 degrees.

7. A nozzle for dispensing a multicomponent composition comprised of a mixture of a plurality of different fluid components, the nozzle comprising:

a mixing area; and

an outlet extending from the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of a first fluid component and a flow of at least a second fluid component,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the at least second fluid component to form a flow of the multicomponent composition within the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of the multicomponent composition exits through the outlet,

wherein the mixing area includes:

an open first side;

a first surface adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component that enters the mixing area;

a second side opposite the open first side, wherein the outlet is formed on the second side; and

a channel having:

a first segment that directs the flow of the first fluid component to converge with the flow of the second fluid component entering the mixing area to form the flow of the multicomponent composition; and

a second segment that directs the flow of the multicomponent composition to the outlet, and

wherein the mixing area includes a cavity having a protrusion that extends into the cavity to define the first and second segments within the mixing area, wherein the first and second segments extend in opposite directions within the mixing area.

8. The nozzle of claim 7 , wherein the first segment extends in a direction 90 degrees from the direction in which the flow of the first fluid component enters the mixing area, and wherein the second segment extends in a direction 180 degrees from the direction in which the first segment extends.

9. The nozzle of claim 8 , wherein the outlet extends in a direction 90 degrees from the direction in which the second segment extends.

10. A nozzle for dispensing a multicomponent composition comprised of a mixture of a plurality of different fluid components, the nozzle comprising:

a mixing area;

an outlet extending from the mixing area; and

a notch that fits into a groove running along at least a portion of the length of a tube member to orient the nozzle to the tube member;

wherein the mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of a first fluid component and a flow of at least a second fluid component,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the at least second fluid component to form a flow of the multicomponent composition within the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of the multicomponent composition exits through the outlet,

wherein the tube member includes a first and second fluid component inlets formed as first and second lumens, respectively, within the tube member, and wherein the first and second fluid components are delivered to the mixing area through the first and second lumens, and

wherein the tube member has third and fourth fluid component inlets formed as third and fourth lumens, respectively, within the tube member, and wherein a carrier fluid is delivered to the mixing area through the third and fourth lumens.

11. The nozzle of claim 10 , the wherein the outlet is formed off-axis from the first and second lumens.

12. A method for dispensing a multicomponent composition using a nozzle, the method comprising:

a) receiving a flow of a first fluid component into a mixing area in the nozzle;

b) receiving a flow of at least a second fluid component into the mixing area;

c) disrupting the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the at least second fluid component to form a flow of a multicomponent composition within the mixing area;

d) disrupting the flow of the multicomponent composition within the mixing area; and

e) after d), dispensing the multicomponent composition from the mixing area through an outlet,

wherein the flow of the first fluid component in b) enters into the mixing area in a first direction,

wherein c) comprises directing the flow of the first fluid component in a second direction different from the first direction,

wherein d) comprises directing the flow of the multicomponent composition in a third direction that is different from the second direction, and

wherein e) comprises directing the multicomponent composition in a fourth direction that is different from the third direction.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first direction differs from the second direction by 90 degrees, the second direction differs from the third direction by 180 degrees, and the third direction differs from the fourth direction by 90 degrees.

14. A method for forming a device for dispensing a multicomponent composition comprised of a mixture of a plurality of different fluid components, the method comprising:

forming a mixing area; and

forming an outlet extending from the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of a first fluid component and a flow of at least a second fluid component,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the at least second fluid component to form a flow of the multicomponent composition within the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of the multicomponent composition exits through the outlet, and

wherein the mixing area is formed with:

an open first side;

a first surface adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component that enters the mixing area;

a second side opposite the open first side, wherein the outlet is formed on the second side;

a channel having:

a first segment that directs the flow of the first fluid component to converge with the flow of the second fluid component entering the mixing area to form the flow of the multicomponent composition; and

a second segment that directs the flow of the multicomponent composition to the outlet, and

wherein the mixing area is formed with a cavity having a protrusion that extends into the cavity to define the first and second segments within the mixing area, and wherein the first and second segments are formed to extend in opposite directions within the mixing area.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first segment is formed to extend in a direction 90 degrees from the direction in which the flow of the first fluid component enters the mixing area, and wherein the second segment is formed to extend in a direction 180 degrees from the direction in which the first segment extends.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the outlet is formed to extend in a direction 90 degrees from the direction in which the second segment extends.

17. A method for forming a device for dispensing a multicomponent composition comprised of a mixture of a plurality of different fluid components, the method comprising:

forming a mixing area, and

forming an outlet extending from the mixing area; and

forming a tube member having first and second fluid component inlets formed as first and second lumens, respectively, within the tube member,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of a first fluid component and a flow of at least a second fluid component,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the at least second fluid component to form a flow of multicomponent composition within the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of multicomponent composition exits through the outlet,

wherein the mixing area is formed within a nozzle,

wherein the tube member has third and fourth fluid component inlets formed as third and fourth lumens, respectively, within the tube member, and

wherein a carrier fluid is delivered to the mixing area through the third and fourth lumens.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the nozzle is formed with a notch that fits into a groove formed along at least a portion of the length of the tube member to orient the nozzle to the tube member such that the third lumen is in-line with the outlet.

19. A device for dispensing a multicomponent composition comprised of a mixture of a plurality of different fluid components, the device comprising:

a first fluid component inlet adapted to communicate with a source of a first fluid component;

at least a second fluid component inlet adapted to communicate with a source of at least a second fluid component;

a tube member;

a mixing area located downstream from the first and at least second fluid component inlets; and

an outlet extending from the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of the first fluid component from the first fluid component inlet and a flow of the second fluid component from the second fluid component inlet,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component to mix with the flow of the second fluid component to form a flow of a multicomponent composition within the mixing area,

wherein the mixing area is adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of the multicomponent composition exits through the outlet,

wherein the first and second fluid component inlets are formed as first and second lumens, respectively, within the tube member,

wherein the mixing area connects to one end of the tubing member, and

wherein the mixing area includes:

an open first side that accepts the end of the tube member, wherein the first and second lumens terminate at the open first side;

a first surface opposite the end of the first lumen that is adapted to disrupt the flow of the first fluid component that enters the mixing area through the end of the first lumen;

a second side opposite the open first side, wherein the outlet is formed on the second side off axis from the first and second lumens; and

a channel having:

a first segment that directs the flow of the first fluid component to converge with the flow of the second fluid component entering the mixing area through the end of the second lumen to form the flow of the multicomponent composition; and

a second segment that directs the flow of the multicomponent composition to the outlet,

wherein the first and second segments extend in opposite directions within the mixing area.