Multi-channel peristaltic pump

Abstract

A multi-channel pump device includes a common shaft supporting one or more wheels with the wheels each having a drive portion and a plurality of rollers disposed about a circumference of the wheel. Each roller of the plurality of rollers is configured to freely rotate about a rotation axis parallel with the common shaft. The multi-channel pump device includes a plurality of tubes extending substantially perpendicular to the common shaft and connecting between a source and a vessel and a pump clip securable to the support structure and configured to position the plurality of tubes between the pump clip and the plurality of wheels. The multi-channel pump device includes a plurality of motors, a motor of the plurality of motors configured to engage with a drive portion of a respective wheel of the plurality of wheels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of wheels arranged along a length of a common shaft mounted to a support structure, a wheel of the plurality of wheels including:
 a drive portion, and 
 a plurality of rollers disposed about a circumference of the wheel, wherein each roller of the plurality of rollers is configured to freely rotate about a rotation axis parallel with the common shaft; 
   a plurality of tubes extending substantially perpendicular to the common shaft and connecting between a source and a vessel;   a pump clip securable to the support structure and configured to position the plurality of tubes between the pump clip and the plurality of wheels; and   a plurality of motors, a motor of the plurality of motors configured to engage with a drive portion of a respective wheel of the plurality of wheels.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to independently control each motor of the plurality of motors. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a capacitive sensor disposed adjacent to a tube at a first side of the plurality of wheels, the capacitive sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the motor in response to sensor data from the capacitive sensor to prime the system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive portion comprises a gear assembly operably connected with an output shaft of a respective motor and configured to drive the wheel in response to rotation of the respective motor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive portion includes a first belt interface, and a respective motor includes a second belt interface, and
 wherein the motor is configured to engage with the drive portion comprises a belt extending between the first belt interface and the second belt interface.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes include an elastomeric material deformed between the pump clip and the plurality of rollers of a respective wheel to cause a peristaltic pump action. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump clip includes a plurality of radial portions, each of the plurality of radial portions configured to interface with respective wheels of the plurality of wheels when the pump clip is secured to the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . A pump comprising:
 a shaft;   one or more peristaltic wheels, a peristaltic wheel of the one or more peristaltic wheels including:
 a drive portion, and 
 a plurality of rollers disposed about a circumference of the peristaltic wheel, wherein each roller of the plurality of rollers has a diameter that extends beyond a perimeter of the peristaltic wheel and is configured to freely rotate about a rotation axis parallel with the shaft; 
   one or more motors, each motor configured to drive the drive portion of a respective peristaltic wheel;   one or more tubes extending across the shaft and the one or more peristaltic wheels and connecting between a source and a vessel; and   one or more pump clips configured to position the one or more tubes between a respective pump clip and a respective peristaltic wheel.   
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more pump clips are configured to secure relative to the peristaltic wheel such that a distance between an inner surface of the one or more pump clips and the plurality of rollers is less than a diameter of the one or more tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller configured to independently control the one or more motors. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 10 , further comprising a capacitive sensor disposed adjacent to a tube at a first side of the one or more peristaltic wheels, the capacitive sensor in communication with the controller, and
 wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the one or more motors in response to sensor data from the capacitive sensor to prime the pump.   
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the drive portion is disposed adjacent to the plurality of rollers along a width of the peristaltic wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the peristaltic wheel further includes:
 a first disk; and   a second disk, wherein the plurality of rollers are disposed between the first disk and the second disk.   
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of rollers are rotationally connected to pins connecting the first disk to the second disk. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more pump clips include a radial portion configured to interface with the peristaltic wheel when the one or more pump clips are secured to a support structure. 
     
     
         16 . A device, comprising:
 a shaft;   one or more peristaltic wheels, a peristaltic wheel of the one or more peristaltic wheels including:
 a drive portion, and 
 a plurality of rollers disposed about a circumference of the peristaltic wheel, wherein each roller of the plurality of rollers has a diameter that extends beyond a perimeter of the peristaltic wheel and is configured to freely rotate about a rotation axis parallel with the shaft; 
   one or more motors, each motor configured to drive the drive portion of a respective peristaltic wheel;   one or more tubes extending across the shaft and the one or more peristaltic wheels and connecting between a source and a vessel; and   one or more pump clips configured to position the one or more tubes between a respective pump clip and a respective peristaltic wheel.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the vessel comprises a bioreactor vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the source comprises one or more sources of nutrients delivered to the bioreactor vessel via the one or more tubes by actuating the one or more motors. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the device comprises a peristaltic pump module configured as part of a bioreactor system. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a controller configured to independently control the one or more motors.