Multi-tubular peristaltic pump apparatus and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

A peristaltic pump apparatus comprising two or more tubes of fluid pumped via a plurality of rollers. The peristaltic pump further comprises a housing having a clamshell design having a base of rollers that turn on an axis. The housing comprises apertures for holding two or more tubes of fluid therein, wherein the tubes are disposed within the housing to contact the rollers as the base of rollers turns on its axis, thereby pumping fluids through the two or more tubes.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A peristaltic pump comprising:
 a housing comprising an interior radial surface and a rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed radially around the rotor assembly;   a first tube disposed through housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly; and   a second tube disposed through the housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1  wherein the housing is bifurcated into first and second halves. 
     
     
         3 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 2  wherein the housing comprises a clamshell configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 2  wherein the first tube is disposed through the first half of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 4  wherein the second tube is disposed through the second half of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1  wherein, in operation, the rollers occlude the first tube and the second tube as the rotor assembly rotates. 
     
     
         7 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 5  wherein the rollers occlude the first and second tubes as the rotor assembly rotates, moving material within the first tube in a first direction and moving material within the second tube in a second direction. 
     
     
         8 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 7  wherein the first and second directions are opposite directions. 
     
     
         9 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a motor connected to the rotor assembly configured to rotate the rotor assembly within the housing. 
 
     
     
         10 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third tube disposed through the housing between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of pumping fluids through a peristaltic pump comprising the steps of:
 providing a peristaltic pump comprising a housing comprising an interior radial surface and a rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed radially around the rotor assembly, a first tube disposed through housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly, and a second tube disposed through the housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly;   rotating the rotor assembly;   occluding the first tube with the rollers and moving a first material through the first tube; and   occluding the second tube with the rollers and moving a second material through the second tube.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the rotor assembly is rotated via a motor connected to the rotor assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the housing is bifurcated into first and second halves, and further comprising the step of:
 separating the first half from the second half to gain access to the interior of the housing. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the housing comprises a clamshell configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first tube is disposed through the first half of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the second tube is disposed through the second half of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first material within the first tube moves in a first direction and the second material within the second tube moves in a second direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first and second directions are opposite directions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the peristaltic pump further comprises a third tube disposed through the housing between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of:
 occluding the third tube with the rollers and moving a third material through the third tube.