Pump for a bioprocessing system

1 . A pump for providing substantially continuous liquid flow in a bioprocessing system, the pump comprising:

a pressurisable outlet chamber in fluidic communication with an outlet of the pump; and

a pressurisable feed chamber connected in series with the outlet chamber, wherein the feed chamber is configured to fill the outlet chamber during discharge of liquid from the outlet chamber, and

wherein each of the feed chamber and the outlet chamber is pressurisable by deformation of a respective flexible diaphragm of the chamber, wherein each respective flexible diaphragm is deformable by application of a control fluid to the flexible diaphragm.

2 . The pump of claim 1 , further comprising a valve configured to prevent the flow of liquid from the feed chamber to the outlet chamber during filling of the feed chamber.

3 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the feed chamber is in fluidic communication with an inlet of the pump, and wherein the pump further comprises a valve configured to prevent the flow of liquid through the inlet during filling of the outlet chamber.

4 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the feed chamber is configured to be filled when a first pressure is applied to the feed chamber, and wherein the feed chamber is configured to fill the outlet chamber when a second pressure is applied to the feed chamber, wherein the second pressure is higher than the first pressure.

5 . The pump of claim 1 , further comprising a valve between the outlet chamber and the outlet.

6 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the outlet chamber and the feed chamber are substantially equal in volume.

7 . The pump of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of conduits for enabling the application of the control fluid to the flexible diaphragm of each chamber, wherein each of the plurality of conduits extends substantially perpendicularly to the flexible diaphragm of a respective chamber.

8 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein each respective flexible diaphragm is provided by the same diaphragm.

9 . The pump of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm further provides at least one actuatable portion of one or more valves.

10 . The pump of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm is sandwiched between a first part and a second part.

11 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the first part and/or the second part comprise: polypropylene (PP), polymethylpentene; and/or cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) materials.

12 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is formed of: a polymer material; a fluoropolymer; an elastomer; perfluoroalkoxy copolymer resin thermoplastic material; silicone rubber; EPDM rubber; and/or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).

13 . A bioprocessing system comprising:

the pump of claim 1 ; and

a control system for applying pressure to the chambers of the pump, wherein the control system is configured to:

apply pressure to the outlet chamber of the pump to discharge liquid from the outlet chamber; and

during application of the pressure to the outlet chamber:

apply a first pressure to the feed chamber of the pump to fill the feed chamber; and

apply a second pressure to the feed chamber to discharge liquid from the feed chamber to the outlet chamber, wherein the second pressure is higher than the first pressure.

14 . A method of operating the pump of claim 1 , the method comprising:

applying pressure to the outlet chamber of the pump to discharge liquid from the outlet chamber;

during the application of pressure to the outlet chamber, applying a first pressure to the feed chamber of the pump to fill the feed chamber; and

during the application of pressure to the outlet chamber, applying a second pressure to the feed chamber to discharge liquid from the feed chamber, wherein the second pressure is higher than the first pressure.

15 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), said TPE comprising:

at least one elastomeric material; and at least one thermoplastic material having a glass transition temperature (Tg) from about 65 to about 95° C.

16 . The pump of claim 15 , wherein the at least one elastomeric material comprises a SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene-Butadiene-Styrene) matrix.

17 . The pump of claim 16 , wherein the at least one elastomeric material further comprises soft and stiff segments therein.

18 . The pump of claim 17 , wherein the soft segments comprise polyethylene and/or polybutadiene and/or the stiff segments comprise polystyrene.

19 . The pump of claim 18 , wherein at least one thermoplastic material has a glass transition temperature (Tg) from about 70° C. to about 85° C., such as from about 75° C. to about 80° C.