Fluid conduit-responsively adjustable pump arrangement and pump/conduit arrangement and method, and fluid conduits therefor

• US 4,976,590 A
• Filed: 06/08/1988
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BAXA Corporation (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brian E. Baldwin
• Inventors: Baldwin, Brian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Leonard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/203,926
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 417/53, 417/44, 417/475, 417/477
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/13 Pressure pulsations after the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04

Abstract

A rotary peristaltic pump arrangement and method, with a set of specially constructed tube set conduits interchangeably interconnectable in selectively responsively sensed and operationally affecting relationship with the pump. The pump is driven by a pulse-actuated stepping motor, and the total quantity of pulses fed to the pump for any selected volume from one of the conduits is controlled by and as a function of which one of the set of plural sizes of tube set conduits is connected to the pump. The control is automatically affected through actuation or nonactuation of at least one switch sensor on the pump by special anchor-connecting flanges on the tube set conduits which interchangeably mate in anchored connection with corresponding anchor-connection slots on the pump and adjacent one which the switch sensor is disposed. Inaccuracies in volume pumped for a given quantity of pulses applied to the pump to effect a selected desired volume are minimized by adjusting the total quantity of pulses applied to the pump for a given desired volume, and/or for subsequent selected volumes, if desired, as a function of the ratio of the given desired volume relative to actual volume pumped by the application to the pump of the quantity of pulses estimated or calculated to be required for pumping the given desired volume through a given tube set conduit.

Claims

1. For use with a rotary peristatltic pump having a rotor and a stator, said stator having a conduit-engageable guide surface facing said rotor and defining a peristaltic pumping path for a fluid conduit, means for rotating said rotor in peristaltic pumping relation relative to said stator, and two conduit-anchoring elements for effectively anchoring a conduit in peristaltic pump-enabling relation between said stator and said rotor and along said peristaltic pumping path, each of said conduit-anchoring elements having a conduit-receiving opening and extending on transversely opposite lateral sides of said conduit-receiving opening, the arrangement comprising

a fluid conduit having a rotor/stator-engageable peristaltic pumping section engageable in peristaltic pumping relation between said stator and said rotor,

said fluid conduit having two transverse anchor flange means spaced apart thereon, with said peristaltic pumping section disposed longitudinally therebetween, for anchored retention of said conduit peristaltic pumping section in operative mounted relation along said peristaltic pumping path,

said transverse anchor flange means being selectively laterally slidably removably engageable in effectively anchoring relation with said conduit-anchoring elements and with said peristaltic pumping section extending along said peristaltic pumping path, to thereby effectively anchor said pumping section of said conduit relative to said stator, and in peristaltic pump action enabling relation between said stator and said rotor when said transverse anchor flange means are in effective engagement within said conduit anchoring elements,

each of said transverse anchor flange means having an outer transverse width substantially transversely complementary to the corresponding width of the said anchor slot in a respective said conduit-anchoring element,

both of said transverse anchor flange means having substantially the same effective corresponding transverse width along a slot-engaging portion thereof slidably engageable in anchoring relation with the anchor slot of a respective said conduit-anchoring element, said substantially same width portion being freely and substantially similarly locationally laterally slidably complementarily and interchangeably engageable within either of said anchor slots,

both of said spaced apart transverse anchor flange means having a substantially rectangular configuration in a plane transverse to the adjoining respective portion of said conduit.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1,

both of said spaced apart transverse anchor flange means having a substantially square configuration in a plane transverse to the adjoining respective portion of said conduit.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1,

said rectangular configuration having two parallel sides longer than the other parallel sides at right angles thereto.

4. For use with a rotary pump having a rotor and a stator, said stator having a conduit-engageable guide surface facing said rotor and defining a peristaltic pumping path for a fluid conduit, means for rotating said rotor in peristaltic pumping relation relative to said stator, and two conduit-anchoring elements for effectively anchoring a conduit in peristaltic pumping-enabling relation between said stator and said rotor and along said peristaltic pumping path, in which said pump has a control switch for controlling the actuation of said pump, the arrangement comprising

a fluid conduit having a rotor/stator-engageable peristaltic pumping section engageable in peristaltic pumping relation between said stator and said rotor,

said fluid conduit having two anchor means spaced apart thereon, with said peristaltic pumping section disposed longitudinally therebetween, for anchored retention of said conduit peristaltic pumping section in operative mounted relation along said peristaltic path,

said anchor means being selectively removably engageable in effectively anchoring relation with said conduit-anchoring elements and with said peristaltic pumping section extending along said peristaltic pumping path, to thereby effectively anchor said pumping section of said conduit relative to said stator, and in peristaltic pump action enabling relation between said stator and said rotor when said anchor means are in effective engagement with said conduit anchoring elements,

and switch actuator means on said fluid conduit operable to actuate said control switch as a function of said fluid conduit being in effectively anchored seated engagement along said peristaltic pumping path.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4 for use with a rotary peristaltic pump in which said control switch has a switch-actuating sensing element adjacent one of said conduit-anchoring elements, said switch actuator means comprising a transversely extending protuberance on said conduit slidably insertable in seated relation within said one of said conduit-anchoring elements and forming a portion of one of said anchor means and which transversely extending protuberance is locatable in effective switch-actuating relation with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated anchoring engagement of said one of said anchor means with said one of said conduit-anchoring elements.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5,

said transverse protuberance being physically engageable in switch-actuating relation with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated engagement of said anchor means with said one conduit-anchoring element.

7. The arrangement according to claim 5,

said fluid conduit having a second transversely extending protuberance on said conduit and forming a portion of the other said anchor means, which said second protuberance is locatable in switch-actuating relation with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated anchoring engagement of said other anchor flange means within the same said one of said conduit-anchoring elements.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7,

wherein said second tranversely extending protuberance is physically engageable with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated engagement of its respective said other anchor means within said one conduit-anchoring element.

9. The arrangement according to claim 4 for use with a rotary peristaltic pump in which said control switch has a switch-actuating sensing element adjacent one of said conduit-anchoring elements, each of said flange means including a conduit anchor, said switch actuator means comprising a transverse transversely extending

protuberance on said conduit slidably insertable in seated relation within said one of said conduit-anchoring elements and forming a portion of one of said anchor flange means and which transversely extending protuberance is locatable in effective switch-actuating relation with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated anchoring engagement of said one of said anchor flange means within said one of said conduit-anchoring elements.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9,

said transverse protuberance being physically engageable in switch-actuating relation with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated engagement of said transverse flange means within said one conduit-anchoring element.

11. The arrangement according to claim 9,

said fluid conduit having a second transversely extending protuberance on said conduit and forming a portion of the other said anchor flange means, which said second protuberance is locatable in switch-actuating relation with said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated anchoring engagement of said other anchor flange means within the same said one of said conduit-anchoring elements.

12. The arrangement according to claim 4, in which said pump having a control switch for controlling the operation of said pump, which switch has a switch-actuating sensing element adjacent one of said conduit-anchoring elements, each of said anchor means including a conduit anchor flange,

said fluid conduit further comprising switch-actuator means on said fluid conduit and adjacent one of said conduit anchor flanges,

said switch actuator means actuating said switch by actuating said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated engagement of said one of said flanges with said one of said conduit-anchoring means.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12,

wherein said fluid conduit has alternative switch-actuator means thereon adjacent the other of said conduit anchor flanges, and which said alternative switch actuator means is operable to actuate said switch-actuating sensing element as a function of seated engagement of said other of said flanges with said one of said conduit-anchoring elements.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13,

wherein each of said two switch actuator means comprises a further transverse flange on said fluid conduit, each of said further flanges being disposed longitudinally substantially identically relative to said pumping section of said fluid conduit, said longitudinal disposition of said switch-actuator further transverse flange being in effective switch actuating registry with said switch-actuating-sensing means when the respective adjacent said anchor flange is in effectively seated relation within said anchor slot of said one conduit anchoring element whereby said switch will be actuated as a function of anchored seating of both of said anchor flanges and said conduit within said conduit-anchoring elements and with said conduit having either of its respective opposite ends disposed on one of the fluid intake or fluid outflow side of said pump, and with the other opposite end being disposed on the respective other of the intake or outflow sides of said pump.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14,

in which each of said further transverse flanges is rectangular in shape in a plane transverse to the adjoining portion of said conduit.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15,

said rectangular shape having one of its rectangular dimensions greater than its other dimension,

said other dimension transversely defining parallel flange surfaces forming said switch actuator means.

17. The arrangement according to claim 12,

in which each of said further flanges is spaced from its said adjacent anchor flange and which serves the dual functions of switch actuation and guiding and anchoring of said conduit within said anchor slot of a respective said conduit-anchoring element.

18. For use with a rotary pump having a rotor and a stator, said stator having a conduit-engageable guide surface facing said rotor and defining a peristaltic pumping path for a fluid conduit, means for rotating said rotor in peristaltic pumping relation relative to said stator, and two conduit-anchoring elements for effectively anchoring a conduit in peristaltic pumping-enabling relation between said stator and said stator and along said peristaltic pumping path, said pump having a control switch for adjusting the pumping actuation of said pump, and switch-actuating sensing means adjacent one of said conduit-anchoring elements, the arrangement comprising

a fluid conduit having a rotor/stator-engageable peristaltic pumping section engageable in peristaltic pumping relation between said stator and said rotor,

said fluid conduit having two anchor means spaced apart thereon, with said peristaltic pumping section disposed longitudinally therebetwee, for anchored retention of said conduit peristaltic pumping section in ioeratuve mounted relation along said peristaltic path,

said anchor means being selectively removably engageable in effectively anchoring relation with said conduit-anchoring elements and with said peristaltic pumping section extending along said peristaltic pumping path, to thereby effectively anchor said pumping section of said conduit relative to said stator, and in peristaltic pump action enabling relation between said stator and said rotor when said anchor means are in effective engagement with said conduit anchoring elements,

said peristaltic pumping section of of said conduit having pumped fluid flow characteristics such that said pump may substantially properly effect pumping action in conjunction therewith without necessity for operation of said switch and such that actuation of said switch and adjustment of said total pumping action is inappropriate for pumping action by said pump through said conduit,

said conduit being devoid of means for effectively actuating said switch-actuating sensing means as a function of seated acchoring engagement of each of said anchor flange means with a respective one of said conduit anchoring elements.

19. The arrangement according to claim 18, for use with a rotary peristaltic pump wherein said switch-actuating sensing element comprises a physically movably actuatable-sensing element extending within said transverse slot of said one of said conduit-anchoring elements,

said arrangement further comprising both of said spaced apart transverse anchor flange means being jointly and interchangeably seatable in operable conduit-anchoring relation within said transverse slots of said conduit-anchoring elements and with said peristaltic pumping section disposed along said peristaltic pumping path, only and solely without any actuation of said switch-actuating sensing element.

20. For use with a rotary peristaltic pump having a conduit-engageable guide surface facing said rotor and defining a peristaltic pumping path for a fluid conduit, means for rotating said rotor in peristaltic pumping relation to said stator, two conduit-anchoring elements for effectively anchoring a conduit in peristaltic pumping-enabling relation between said stator and said rotor and along said peristaltic pumping path, each of said conduit-anchoring elements having a conduit-receiving opening and an anchor slot transverse to said conduit-receiving and extending on transversely opposite lateral sides of said conduit-receiving opening, said pump having a control switch for adjusting the total pumping action of said pump, and switch-actuating sensing means adjacent one of said conduit-anchoring elements, each of said transverse anchor slots having a transverse extent bounded by spaced opposing side walls and having a longitudinal extent bounded by longitudinally spaced opposing end walls having said conduit-receiving opening therein, and said physically movable actuatable sensing element extending within said one transverse slot of said one of said conduit-anchoring elements at a location substantially closer to one of said walls than to the opposing other of said end walls, the arrangement comprising

a fluid conduit having a rotor/stator-engageable peristaltic pumping section engageable in peristaltic pumping relation between said stator and said rotor,

said fluit conduit having two transverse anchor flange means spaced apart thereon, with said-peristaltic pumping section disposed longitudinally therebetween, for anchored retention of said conduit peristaltic pumping section in operative mounted relation along said peristaltic pumping path,

said transverse anchor flange means being selectively laterally slidably removably engageable in effectively anchoring relation with said conduit-anchoring elements and with said peristaltic pumping section extending along said peristaltic pumping path, to thereby effectively anchor said pumping section of said conduit relative to said stator, and said rotor when said transverse anchor flange means are in effective engagement within said conduit anchoring elements,

one of said anchor flange means having a first transversely extending anchor flange with a transversely extending dimension generally freely slidably guidably complementary to the transverse dimension formed by said lateral walls of said slot in said one conduit-anchoring element,

said one ancho flange means further comprising a further transversely extending anchor flange longitudinally adjacent said first transversely extending anchor flange and having a transverse dimension substantially lell than the corresponding transverse dimension of said slot in said one conduit-anchoring element and being effectively disposed in nonactuating relation relative to said physically movably actuatable sensing element when said one transversely extending anchor flange means is effectively operationally seated within said anchor slot of said one conduit-anchoring element,

the longitudinal dimension between the longitudinally oppositely outer facing surfaces of said one transversely extending anchor flange and said further transversely extending anchor flange being substantially freely slidably generally complementary to the longitudinal dimension between the corresponding portions of the opposing end walls of said slot in said one conduit-anchoring element, whereby said one flange means is substantially freely slidably insertable and seatable in said slot of said one conduit-anchoring element and whereby in its seated position said one transverse flange and said further transverse flange effectively longitudinally anchor said conduit in position in said one conduit-anchoring element.

21. The arrangement according to claim 20,

said first flange having transversely spaced parallel oppositely facing outer end surfaces on opposite sides of said conduit and which are freely slidable in laterally guided substantially complementary relation with and between said slide walls,

said first flange having one longitudinal guiding and anchoring face freely slidable in longitudinally guided relation with one of said end walls,

said further flange being disposed in spaced relation from and on the opposite longitudinal side from said one longitudinal face and having a further longitudinal guiding and anchoring face facing longitudinally oppositely away from said one longitudinal face, which said one face and said further face are spaced apart by a dimension which is substantially complementary to the corresponding longitudinal spacing dimension of said end walls when said conduit and said first flange and said further flange are seated within said transverse slot in said one conduit-anchoring element.

22. A tube set for connection to a peristaltic pump having a pump operation adjustment-controlling switch, said tube comprising:

a fluid conduit which includes a peristaltic pumping tube engageable in peristaltic pumping enabling relation with said peristaltic pump, and interconnected with an inlet tube and an outlet tube,

two transversely extending ancho- flange means on said conduit and enabling operation-enabling anchored connection of said tube set to said pump,

said peristaltic pumping tube having a peristaltic pumping section disposed between said anchor flange means,

and each of said anchor flange means having switch-actuating means enabling actuation of said switch in response to operable anchored connection of said anchor flanges and said fluid conduit to said pump.

23. A tube set according to claim 22,

said two anchor flange means being disposed in operational fluid flow connecting relation respectively between said inlet tube and said peristaltic pumping tube and between said outlet tube and said peristaltic pumping tube.

24. A tube set according to claim 22 for connection to a peristaltic pump having spaced tube set anchoring connection means and a pump operation adjustment-controlling switch adjacent one of said anchoring connection means,

each of said anchor flange means being transversely slidably engageable in anchoring relation with said spaced tube set anchoring connection means,

each of said switch-actuating means being disposable in switch-actuating relation with said switch as a function of anchored connection of its respective said anchor flange means with said one of said anchoring connection means.

25. A tube set according to claim 24 for connection to a said peristaltic pump in which each of said anchoring connection means includes spaced longitudinal parallel walls forming a transverse slot open at one lateral side, and said switch is disposed with a switch-actuation sensor element adjacent said slot of one of said anchoring connection means, said tube set further comprising:

each of said anchor flange means being alternatively engageable within either of said anchoring connection means.

26. A tube set for connection to a peristaltic pump having two tube set anchoring means and connection means, each of which includes spaced longitudinally parallel side walls and transversely parallel end walls forming an anchoring connection slot, a pump operation adjustment-controlling switch which has a switch actuation sensor operationally adjacent one of said anchoring connection means, said tube set comprising:

a fluid conduit which includes an inset tube, an outlet tube and a peristaltic pumping tube, and tube-connecting means connecting said peristaltic pumping tube in fluid flow connecting relation between said inlet tube and said outlet tube,

two transversely extending anchor flange means formed on said conduit in spaced apart relation for anchoring said tube set to said pump,

each of said anchor flange means being interchangeably and alternatively laterally slidably operationally engageable in, and removable from, tube set-anchoring anchoring relation with either of said anchoring connection slots and in paired respective relation concurrently respectively with both of said anchoring connection slots to thereby removably connect said tube set in anchored operation-enabling relation on said pump.

27. A tube set according to claim 26,

said anchor flange means comprising said tube-connecting means.

28. A tube set according to claim 27,

each said anchor flange means including switch-actuating means for actuating said switch as a function of lateral slidable seated engagement of either of said anchor flange means within said slot of said one anchoring connection means.

29. A tube set according to claim 28,

said switch-actuating means of each of said anchor flange means being formed by a transverse wall of the respective said anchor flange means.

30. A tube set according to claim 27,

each of said anchor flange means being devoid of switch-actuation means effective to actuate said switch as a function of effective anchored seating of either of said anchor flanges within said one anchoring connection means having said switch-actuation sensor adjacent thereto and as a function of fully pump operation-enabling seated engagement of both of said anchor flange means with respective ones of said anchoring connection means.

31. For use with a pulse-actuated stepping motor-driven peristaltic pump having connecting means for connecting a selectable one of two differently-cross-sectional-sized fluid conduits to said pump for pumping fluid therethrough, pumped volume registry means which indicates pumped fluid volume as a function of the number of pulses applied to said stepper motor and a first multiplier value considered appropriate for one of said two conduits and adjustment means for effectively adjusting said multiplier to a second value considered appropriate for the other of said two conduits, and connecting means associated with said pump for operably connecting a fluid conduit to said pump,

the combination of first and second radially compressible fluid conduits having substantially equal compressible wall thicknesses and respectively different inner fluid passageway cross-sectional areas in a zone engageable in compressible peristaltic pumping relation with said pump, which fluid passageway cross-sectional area and fluid flow characteristics for said first conduit are consonant with said first given multiplier value,

said first and second fluid conduits being interchangeably operably connectable in pumping-enabling relation with and by said pump,

said second conduit having a fluid passageway cross-sectional-area and flow rate characteristics with which said first multiplier value is not consonant but with which said second multiplier value is consonant,

said second conduit having adjustment actuating means thereon operable as a function of connection of said one conduit in operable pumping-enabling relation to said pump, to actuate said adjustment means and thereby adjust said multiplier to said second value as a function of connection of said one conduit in operable relation to said pump,

and said first conduit being operably connectible in pumping-enabling relation with said pump without actuation of said adjustment means.

32. The combination according to claim 31, wherein said adjustment means includes a switch,

said adjustment actuating means on said one conduit comprising a switch actuator for actuating said switch as a function of operable connection of said second conduit to said pump.

33. The combination according to claim 31, wherein said adjustment means includes an actuatable element,

said adjustment actuating means on said one conduit comprising connector means engageable in actuating relation with said actuatable element of said adjustment means as a function of seated connection of said connector means on said first conduit with said pump-associated connecting means.

34. The combination according to said claim 33,

said connector means comprising a connector flange on said one conduit, which connector flange is engageable in actuating relation with said actuatable element of said adjustment means as a function of anchoring connection of said flange with said pump-associated connecting means.

35. For use with a peristaltic pump having a rotor, a stator, a motor connected in driving relation to said motor, control switch means for controlling an aspect of flow quantity operation of said motor, and connecting/anchoring means on said pump for connecting a compressible conduit to said pump in operable relation between said rotor and said stator,

the combination of a set of a plurality of radially compressible conduits, two of which conduits have equal wall thicknesses and different flow passageway cross-sectional areas relative to one another in a peristaltic pumping zone engageable in peristaltic pumping relation with said pump by mounting of such zone between said rotor and said stator,

each of said conduits having two connectors at longitudinally spaced positions thereon, the respective said peristaltic pumping zone of each respective said conduit being disposed longitudinally between said connectors,

each of said conduits being operably connectible with said pump through operable engagement of its respective two connectors with respective connecting/anchoring means on said pump,

only one of said two conduits having switch-actuating means thereon operable to actuate said control switch means as a function of operable engagement of one of its respective said connectors with the respective connecting means on said pump.

36. The combination according to claim 35,

said switch-actuating means on said one conduit comprising one of said connectors on said one conduit.

37. The combination according to claim 36,

said connectors comprising transversely extending protuberances on said conduit, which said protrusions are laterally slidably laterally insertably engageable with corresponding slotted elements on said pump, and which slotted elements are in spaced positions at opposite ends of the peristaltic pumping zone formed between said stator and said rotor of said pump, which slotted elements form said connecting/ anchoring means on said pump.

38. The combination according to claim 35,

said connectors comprising transversely extending flanges on said conduit, which said flanges are laterally slidably laterally insertably engageable with corresponding slotted elements on said pump, and which slotted elements are in spaced positions at opposite ends of the peristaltic pumping zone formed between said stator and said rotor of said pump, which slotted elements form said connecting/ anchoring means on said pump.

39. The combination according to claim 35,

the other of said two conduits of said set being operably engageable with said pump by anchoring connecting engagement of said connectors with said connecting/securing means on said pump without actuation of said control switch means.

40. The combination according to claim 39,

said switch-actuating means on said one conduit being on of said connectors on said one conduit.

41. The combination according to claim 40,

said connectors being laterally extending lfanges on said conduit and being laterally slidably insertably engageable with corresponding slotted elements on said pump, which slotted elements are disposed adjacent opposite ends of the peristaltic pumping zone formed between said stator and said rotor of said pump, which slotted elements form said connecting/anchoring means on said pump.

42. The combination according to claim 35,

said two conduits having substantially equal wall thicknesses in said compressible peristaltic pumping zone.

43. A pump arrangement comprising

a peristaltic pump

first and second fluid conduits each having a peristaltic pumping section with a longitudinal fluid flow passageway therein alternately operably connectable in peristaltic pumping enabling relation to said peristaltic pump,

said fluid flow passageway of said first fluid conduit peristaltic pumping section having a different effective cross-sectional area from that of said second conduit peristaltic pumping section,

and pump operation adjustment switch means on said pump responsive to operable connection of said second of said conduits to said pump to effect a change in pumping activity of said pump from a first extent of activity to a second extent of activity which is consonant with said second conduit peristaltic pumping section cross section size for the pumping of a desired quantity of fluid through said second conduit by pumping activity of said pump,

said pump operation-adjusted switch means being operably nonresponsive to operable connection of said first conduit to said pump, whereby said pump is enabled to effect peristaltic pumping activity according to said first extent of activity, which said first extent of activity is consonant with pumping of a desired fluid quantity through said first conduit by pumping activity of said pump.

44. A pump according to claim 43,

each of said conduits having anchoring means thereon for anchoring connection of said conduit to said pump in peristaltic pumping-enabling relation thereto, the said anchoring means on said first conduit being different from the said anchoring means on said second conduit,

said switch being actuatably responsive to said anchoring connection of said anchoring means on said second conduit to said pump,

and said switch being actuably nonresponsive to said anchoring connection of said anchoring means on said first conduit to said pump.

45. A pump according to claim 44,

said anchoring means on said first and second conduits being different as to a given feature at a particular dimensional location thereof,

and said pump operation adjustment switch means being actuatably responsive to the said given feature of said second conduit when said second conduit is anchored in operational connected relation to said pump, and being actuatably nonresponsive to the operationally effective seating of said first conduit anchoring means and of the corresponding presence of the entirety of said first conduit anchoring means adjacent actuating means for said switch when said first conduit is anchored in operational connected relation to said pump.

46. The method of pumping fluid through either of first and second conduits having different fluid passageway sizes, comprising:

alternateively pumping fluid through a selected one or the other of said conduits to effect a given selected pumped output quantity,

said pumping of fluid through said first conduit being effected to a first extent of pumping activity consonant with said fluid passageway size of said first conduit,

and said pumping of fluid through said second conduit being effected to a different extent of pumping activity relative to said first extent which is different by an adjustment factor which compensates for the difference of effective flow through said fluid passageway of said second conduit as a result of the fluid passageway size difference of said second conduit relative to said first conduit,

and effecting said adjustment as a function of effectively connecting said second conduit to said pump in fluid output pumping-enabling relation thereto.

47. The method according to claim 46 and further comprising:

enabling said adjustment as a function of connecting flanged anchoring means on said second conduit to corresponding anchoring connection means on said pump.

48. For use with a motor-driven peristaltic pump having connecting means for connecting a selectable one of two differently-cross-sectional-sized fluid conduits to said pump for pumping fluid therethrough, pumped volume registry means which indicates pumped fluid volume as a function of the amount of fluid pumping movement of said pump and a first multiplier value considered appropriate for one of said two conduits and adjustment means for effectively adjusting said multiplier to a second value considered appropriate for the other of said two conduits, and connecting means associated with said pump for operably connecting a fluid conduit to said pump,

the combination of first and second radially compressible fluid conduits having substantially equal compressible wall thicknesses and respectively different inner fluid passageway cross-sectional areas in a zone engageable in compressible peristaltic pumping relation with said pump, which fluid passageway cross-sectional area and fluid flow characteristics for said first conduit are consonant with said first given multiplier value,

said first and second fluid conduits being interchangeably operably connectable in pumping-enabling relation with and by said pump,

said second conduit having a fluid passageway cross-sectional-area and flow rate characteristics with which said first multiplier value is not consonant but with which said second multiplier value is consonant,

said second conduit having adjustment actuating means thereon operable as a function of connection of said one conduit in operable pumping-enabling relation to said pump, to actuate said adjustment means and thereby adjust said multiplier to said second value as a function of connection of said one conduit in operable relation to said pump,

and said first conduit being operably connectible in pumping-enabling relation with said pump without actuation of said adjustment means.

49. The combination according to claim 48,

said first and second fluid conduits having substantially equally effectively compressible wall thickness in said compressible peristaltic pumping zone thereof.