Peristaltic pump head and tube holder

Abstract

A tube holder for use with a peristaltic pump includes a housing having a recess for receipt of a pump rotor and a tube race around the recess. The tube race has a first race part and a second race part, a first tube inlet into the first race part and a first tube outlet from the first race part, a second tube inlet into the second race part and a second tube outlet from the second race part. The tube is insertable in the tube race by movement in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to the tube race so that it extends in through the first tube inlet, around the first race part, out through the first tube outlet, in through the second tube inlet, around the second race part, and out through the second tube outlet.

1 . A flexible container having a reservoir for holding fluid and comprising a tube holder directly connected to the flexible container, the tube holder having a tube race around a tapered aperture or recess configured for receipt of a tapered rotor of a peristaltic pump head, and a tube connector configured for connection to a resiliently flexible tube and in fluid communication with the reservoir, which tube holder can be brought into operable connection with the pump head to occlude fluid through a tube connected to the tube connector and extending around the tube race to dispense fluid from the container.  
   
   
       2 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a resiliently flexible tube connected to the tube connector and extending around the tube race.  
   
   
       3 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible container comprises a plurality of reservoirs sealed from one another, and the tube holder comprises a corresponding number of tube races so that the contents of the reservoirs can be independently dispensed via respective tubes.  
   
   
       4 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tube race has a first race part around one part of the recess and a second race part around another part of the recess, a first tube inlet into the first race part and a first tube outlet from the first race part, a second tube inlet into the second race part and a second tube outlet from the second race part; the tube being insertable in the tube race by movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the tube race so that it extends in through the first tube inlet, around the first race part, out through the first tube outlet, in through the second tube inlet, around the second race part, and out through the second tube outlet.  
   
   
       5 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 4 , comprising a lip or projection between the first outlet and second inlet, behind which the respective tube can be located to maintain the tube in position within the tube race.  
   
   
       6 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the container comprises a neck portion and two separate reservoir portions in a Y-configuration.  
   
   
       7 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tube holder comprises at least one mounting boss which is located in an aperture in a neck of the container.  
   
   
       8 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein an aperture extends through the mounting boss and into a spigot which comprises the tube connector to which a respective tube is connected, such that tube is in fluid communication with a respective reservoir.  
   
   
       9 . A flexible container having a reservoir for holding fluid and comprising a tube holder directly connected to the flexible container, the tube holder having a tube race around a tapered aperture or recess configured for receipt of a tapered rotor of a peristaltic pump head, and a resiliently flexible tube in fluid communication with the reservoir and extending around the tube race, so that the tube holder can be brought into operable connection with the pump head to occlude fluid through the tube extending around the tube race.  
   
   
       10 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible container comprises a plurality of reservoirs sealed from one another, and the tube holder includes a corresponding number of tube races so that the contents of the reservoirs can be independently dispensed via respective tubes.  
   
   
       11 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the tube race has a first race part around one part of the recess and a second race part around another part of the recess, a first tube inlet into the first race part and a first tube outlet from the first race part, a second tube inlet into the second race part and a second tube outlet from the second race part; the tube being insertable in the tube race by movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the tube race so that it extends in through the first tube inlet, around the first race part, out through the first tube outlet, in through the second tube inlet, around the second race part, and out through the second tube outlet.  
   
   
       12 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 11 , comprising a lip or projection between the first outlet and second inlet, behind which the respective tube can be located to maintain the tube in position within the tube race.  
   
   
       13 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the container comprises a neck portion and two separate reservoir portions in a Y-configuration.  
   
   
       14 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the tube holder comprises at least one mounting boss which is located in an aperture in a neck of the container.  
   
   
       15 . A flexible container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein an aperture extends through the mounting boss and into a spigot which comprises a tube connector to which a respective tube is connected, such that tube is in fluid communication with a respective reservoir.