Peristaltic cooling pump system

Abstract

A peristaltic cooling pump system is provided and includes an actuation housing rotatably supporting a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rollers each having an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor assembly. The peristaltic cooling pump system further includes a cartridge selectively operably connectable to the actuation housing. The cartridge is configured to operatively support a tube. The tube is made of a resilient and selectively compressible material. Accordingly, when the cartridge is connected to the actuation housing the tube is in operative association with at least one roller of the rotor assembly.

1 . A peristaltic cooling pump system, comprising: 
 an actuation housing rotatably supporting a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rollers each having an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor assembly; and    a cartridge selectively operably connectable to the actuation housing, the cartridge being configured to operatively support a tube, wherein the tube is resilient and selectively compressible, wherein when the cartridge is connected to the actuation housing the tube is in operative association with at least one roller of the rotor assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes: 
 a supporting body having a pair of spaced apart arms, wherein a first arm defines a lumen formed near a free end thereof and a second arm defines a passage formed near a free end thereof, wherein the tube is extendable across the pair of arms when the tube is operatively associated with the cartridge; and    the actuation housing having a frame, the frame defining an occlusion surface having a substantially arcuate profile, wherein the tube is operatively engagable with the occlusion surface when the cartridge is in operative engagement with the actuation housing.    
   
   
       3 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 2 , wherein the lumen formed near the free end of the first arm is configured and dimensioned to slidably engage the tube when the tube is positioned therein.  
   
   
       4 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 2 , wherein the passage formed near the free end of the second arm is configured and dimensioned to fixedly engage the tube when the tube is positioned therein.  
   
   
       5 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 4 , wherein the actuation housing is configured to snap-fit engage the cartridge therein.  
   
   
       6 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an engaging mechanism for approximating the actuation housing toward the rotor assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 6 , wherein approximation of the actuation housing towards the rotor assembly compresses the tube between at least one roller and the frame.  
   
   
       8 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of dividing walls spaced along a length of the rollers, wherein the dividing walls define pumping regions therebetween.  
   
   
       9 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of cartridges are provided for operative engagement, one each, into a respective pumping region.  
   
   
       10 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 9 , wherein each pumping region is sized to accommodate a different sized tube.  
   
   
       11 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 10 , wherein each cartridge has an occlusion surface having a different diameter.  
   
   
       12 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 2 , wherein the actuation housing is configured to support a plurality of cartridges thereon.  
   
   
       13 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 12 , wherein each cartridge accommodates a tube having a different cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       14 . A peristaltic cooling pump system, comprising: 
 an actuation housing rotatably supporting a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rollers each having an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor assembly;    a cartridge selectively connectable to the actuation housing and being configured to support a tube, wherein the tube is resilient and selectively compressible, wherein when the cartridge is connected to the actuation housing the tube is in operative association with at least one roller of the rotor assembly;    the cartridge including a supporting body having a pair of spaced apart arms, wherein a first arm defines a lumen formed near a free end thereof and a second arm defines a passage formed near a free end thereof, wherein the tube is extendable across the pair of arms when the tube is operatively associated with the cartridge;    the actuation housing having a frame, the frame defining an occlusion surface having a substantially arcuate profile, wherein the tube is operatively engagable with the occlusion surface when the cartridge is in operative engagement with the actuation housing; and    a fluid reservoir management system containing a quantity of fluid therein, wherein the fluid reservoir management system is fluidly connected to an inlet and an outlet of the tube.    
   
   
       15 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fluid reservoir management system includes: 
 a first reservoir fluidly connectable to an inlet of the tube;    a second reservoir fluidly connectable to an outlet of the tube; and    a diaphragm separating the first and second reservoirs.    
   
   
       16 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 15 , wherein, prior to operation of the peristaltic cooling pump system, the first reservoir contains all of the fluid and the second reservoir contains no fluid.  
   
   
       17 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 15 , wherein, during operation of the peristaltic cooling pump system, the fluid travels from the first reservoir, through the tube, to the second reservoir.  
   
   
       18 . The peristaltic cooling pump system according to  claim 17 , wherein the diaphragm is configured to move to contract the first reservoir and expand the second reservoir as fluid is flowing therebetween.