A vacuum pump capable of pumping solid, liquid and gas, or any combination thereof, including a drive (40) and a manually disengageable pumping system connected thereto. The pumping system is composed of a two- or three-chambered canister (1, 18, 21) within which solids, liquids, and gases can be separated from one another. A highly flexible diaphragm (24) attached to the canister and sealed against it circumferentially, facilitates this separation, when reciprocating and pumping. The components of the pumping system are designed to be disposable, and the two- or three-chambered canister provides for a highly efficient pumping system that is significantly smaller in size than those previously known. The pump is particularly useful for medical applications.