Patent ID: 8771228

Claim:
A pump comprising: a pumping mechanism configured to compress and release a portion of a flexible tube having an uncompressed inner diameter (ID) to cause a fluid to flow along the flexible tube; a gauging apparatus configured to determine the uncompressed ID of the flexible tube; and a vacuum apparatus configured to reduce the ambient pressure in a volume surrounding the portion of the flexible tube, to thereby assist in expanding the flexible tube to the uncompressed ID when the flexible tube is released by the pumping mechanism, the vacuum apparatus comprising: a vacuum enclosure surrounding the pumping mechanism, the vacuum enclosure having a fixed panel and a movable panel, wherein the movable panel has a perimeter that separably seals to the fixed panel when the movable panel is coupled to the fixed panel; first and second split seals located on the perimeter of the movable panel, the split seals comprising first and second segments that are configured such that when the movable panel is separated from the fixed panel, the first and second seals open to allow the flexible tube to be installed across the first segment of the first seal, the pumping mechanism, and the first segment of the second seal, the seals configured such that the first and second segments of each seal forms a circumferential seal around the flexible tube when the movable panel is in contact with the fixed panel; and a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum enclosure, the vacuum source configured to reduce ambient pressure within the vacuum enclosure when the movable panel is coupled to the fixed panel.