Fluid isolating peristaltic pump

Abstract

Disclosed is a fluid isolating pump. The fluid isolating pump includes a rotating cage, one or more roller assemblies mounted on the rotating cage, a cam plate, and a non-rotating central shaft. The cage includes a front plate and a back plate connected by multiple connecting rods. Each roller assembly is rotatably attached to a corresponding connecting rod of the cage. Each roller assembly includes one or more arms rotatably attached to the connecting rod, a connecting bar coupled to the one or more arms, one or more levers rotatably attached to the connecting rod, one or more suspensions, and a roller. Each suspension is coupled to at least one arm and to at least one lever. The roller is coupled to the one or more levers. The cam plate includes multiple openings having a first end and a second end. The connecting rod of each roller assembly is configured to slide from the first end of the opening to the second end of a corresponding opening.

1 . A method of isolating discrete fluid portions in a peristaltic consumable, comprising:
 inserting a consumable into a roller assembly comprising one or more rollers, wherein the consumable comprises a cylindrical core having a length of tubing helically wrapped around the cylindrical core;   loading fluid in an inlet of the tubing;   compressing the tubing with the one or more rollers to isolate one or more fluid portions within the tubing, preventing fluid communication between adjacent fluid portions;   triggering relative peristaltic movement of the tubing to move each of the one or more fluid portions across the tubing; and   outputting at least a part of the fluid from an outlet of the tubing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relative peristaltic movement is achieved by either:
 (a) rotating the cylindrical core within a stationary ring of the one or more rollers, or   (b) moving the one or more rollers around the cylindrical core.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein wrapped portions of the tubing around the cylindrical core are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein when the wrapped portions of the tubing are compressed with the one or more rollers, the wrapped portions in a compressed state do not contact one another. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a time for incubation of the fluid and mechanically encapsulating the fluid in the tubing with the one or more rollers for the determined time for incubation, wherein an amount of time from when a portion of the fluid is loaded into the inlet to when the portion of the fluid is output from the outlet corresponds to the determined time for incubation.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing is a flexible tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling a temperature of a fluid inside the tubing using a thermal element. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is loaded in the inlet using a one or more pumps. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the consumable further includes an endcap coupled to an end of the cylindrical core, and wherein the endcap is formed with a first routing feature and a second routing feature, wherein the inlet of the tubing is routed through the first routing feature and the outlet of the tubing is routed through the second routing feature. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid isolating pump, comprising:
 a consumable comprising a cylindrical core having a length of tubing helically wrapped around the cylindrical core;   a pump configured to load fluid in an inlet of the tubing;   a roller pump assembly comprising one or more rollers, the roller pump assembly configured to:
 responsive to the consumable inserted into an opening of the roller pump assembly, compress the tubing with the one or more rollers to isolate one or more fluid portions within the tubing, preventing fluid communication between adjacent fluid portions; and 
 trigger relative peristaltic movement of the tubing to move each of the one or more fluid portions across the tubing. 
   
     
     
         11 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 1 , wherein the roller pump assembly is further configured to trigger the relative peristaltic movement by either:
 (a) rotating the cylindrical core within a stationary ring of the one or more rollers, or   (b) moving the one or more rollers around the cylindrical core.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 11 , wherein wrapped portions of the tubing around the cylindrical core are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , wherein when the wrapped portions of the tubing are compressed with the one or more rollers, the wrapped portions in a compressed state do not contact one another. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , wherein an amount of time from when a portion of the fluid is loaded into the inlet to when the portion of the fluid is output from the outlet corresponds to a desired time for incubation. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , wherein the roller pump assembly is further configured to mechanically encapsulate the fluid in the tubing by the one or more rollers for a desired time of incubation. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , wherein the tubing is a flexible tubing. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , further comprising a thermal element configured to control a temperature of a fluid inside the tubing. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , further comprising an output chamber for receiving at least a part of the fluid from an outlet of the tubing. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid isolating pump of  claim 12 , wherein the consumable further includes an endcap coupled to an end of the cylindrical core, and wherein the endcap is formed with a first routing feature and a second routing feature, wherein the inlet of the tubing is routed through the first routing feature and the outlet of the tubing is routed through the second routing feature. 
     
     
         20 . A method of isolating discrete fluid portions in a peristaltic consumable, comprising:
 providing a support body having a length of flexible tubing arranged around the support body;   loading fluid into an inlet of the tubing;   compressing the tubing with one or more rollers to isolate discrete fluid portions, thereby preventing fluid communication between adjacent portions;   inducing relative peristaltic movement of the tubing to advance each isolated portion along the tubing; and   delivering at least a part of the fluid from an outlet of the tubing, wherein the support body is a cylindrical geometry or a non-cylindrical geometry.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising adjusting a speed of the one or more rollers in response to feedback from a sensor that detects a position of at least one fluid portion within the tubing to maintain a desired residence time. 
     
     
         22 . The  method of 21 , wherein the tubing and the support body are formed from gamma-radiation compatible materials and are configured for single use. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising introducing one or more formulation ingredients into the tubing through an injection port positioned between successive rollers. 
     
     
         24 . A single-use reactor consumable comprising:
 a support body;   a length of flexible tubing arranged about the support body so as to define a flow path having an inlet and an outlet; and   first and second routing features configured to route the inlet and outlet away from the support body, wherein the tubing and support body are formed of gamma-radiation stable materials and are configured for disposal after a single processing run.