Peristaltic pump with a moveable pump head

1. A peristaltic pump for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising:

a housing;

a pump head having a plurality of rollers held within the housing;

a backing plate attached to the housing;

resilient surgical tubing positioned between the pump head and the backing plate; and

wherein the pump head is moveable relative to the housing and the backing plate, such that when the pump head is in an open position the surgical tubing is easily inserted between the pump head and the backing plate and wherein the pump head then translates towards the backing plate to an operative position, such that as the pump head is rotated the rollers and backing plate cooperate to compress the tubing to peristaltically pump aspirant from a surgical site through the tubing.

2. A peristaltic pump for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising:

a housing;

a pump head having a plurality of rollers held within the housing;

a backing plate attached to the housing and for cooperation with the pump head;

a surgical cartridge including a length of resilient tubing connected to a collection bag and for connection to a surgical aspiration device via additional tubing;

a cartridge holder drawer for holding the surgical cartridge and moveable from an open position to an operative position; and

wherein the pump head moves relative to the housing, such that after the drawer moves from the open position to the operative position, the pump head is moved toward the backing plate, such that the rollers and the backing plate cooperate to peristaltically pump aspirant through the length of tubing as the pump head is rotated.