A miniature cooling system includes a base metal sheet, a flow channel layer, a piezoelectrically actuated metal sheet, a piezoelectric boundary compression layer and two piezoelectric ceramic vibrators. The flow channel layer is located on the base metal sheet and includes a first chamber, a second chamber, an inlet channel, a linking channel and an outlet channel. The inlet channel links the outside environment to the first chamber. The linking channel links the first chamber and the second chamber. The outlet channel links the second chamber to the outside environment. The piezoelectrically actuated metal sheet is located on the flow channel layer. The piezoelectric boundary compression layer is located on the piezoelectrically actuated metal sheet. The piezoelectric boundary compression layer includes two containing areas, and the two containing areas are respectively located above the first chamber and the second chamber.

A vacuum pump includes a hollow container that has a vacuum port and internal chamber walls. The vacuum port opens to an exterior of the container and the chamber walls define chambers that are in fluid communication with the vacuum port. There are flexible bladders disposed in the chambers. The flexible bladders include vents that open through the container to the exterior. A plunger in the container includes arms that extend into the chambers such that each of the flexible bladders is situated between one of the arms and one of the chamber walls. The plunger is moveable between a home position and an upstroke position to compress and deflate the flexible bladders via the vents and thereby change the volume of the flexible bladders. The change in the volume draws a vacuum through the vacuum port.

A vacuum pump includes a hollow container that has a vacuum port and internal chamber walls. The vacuum port opens to an exterior of the container and the chamber walls define chambers that are in fluid communication with the vacuum port. There are flexible bladders disposed in the chambers. The flexible bladders include vents that open through the container to the exterior. A plunger in the container includes arms that extend into the chambers such that each of the flexible bladders is situated between one of the arms and one of the chamber walls. The plunger is moveable between a home position and an upstroke position to compress and deflate the flexible bladders via the vents and thereby change the volume of the flexible bladders. The change in the volume draws a vacuum through the vacuum port.

A membrane heat exchanger comprising a first planar sheet a second planar sheet coupled to the first planar sheet at least by a seam and at least one fluid chamber defined by the first and second planer sheet and the seam and comprising a first and second end, the fluidic chamber extending a length of the membrane heat exchanger.

A membrane heat exchanger comprising a first planar sheet a second planar sheet coupled to the first planar sheet at least by a seam and at least one fluid chamber defined by the first and second planer sheet and the seam and comprising a first and second end, the fluidic chamber extending a length of the membrane heat exchanger.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to certain types of reciprocating positive-displacement pumps (which may be referred to hereinafter as “pods,” “pump pods,” or “pod pumps”) used to pump fluids, such as a biological fluid (e.g., blood or peritoneal fluid), a therapeutic fluid (e.g., a medication solution), or a surfactant fluid. The pumps may be configured specifically to impart low shear forces and low turbulence on the fluid as the fluid is pumped from an inlet to an outlet. Such pumps may be particularly useful in pumping fluids that may be damaged by such shear forces (e.g., blood, and particularly heated blood, which is prone to hemolysis) or turbulence (e.g., surfectants or other fluids that may foam or otherwise be damaged or become unstable in the presence of turbulence).

An electrochemically actuated pump and an electrochemical actuator for use with a pump. The pump includes one of various stroke volume multiplier configuration with the pressure of a pumping fluid assisting actuation of a driving fluid bellows. The electrochemical actuator has at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the first pump housing and at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the second pump housing. Accordingly, the electrochemical actuator selectively pressurized hydrogen gas within a driving fluid chamber.

An electrochemically actuated pump and an electrochemical actuator for use with a pump. The pump includes one of various stroke volume multiplier configuration with the pressure of a pumping fluid assisting actuation of a driving fluid bellows. The electrochemical actuator has at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the first pump housing and at least one electrode fluidically coupled to the driving fluid chamber of the second pump housing. Accordingly, the electrochemical actuator selectively pressurized hydrogen gas within a driving fluid chamber.

An air thermal conditioning system, for at least one of heating air and cooling air, which includes a cross-flow heat exchanger array. The cross-flow heat exchanger array includes a plurality of planar membrane heat exchangers disposed in parallel with a space separating adjacent planar membrane heat exchangers. Each of the planar membrane heat exchangers include a first sheet; a second sheet coupled to the first sheet; and at least one fluid chamber defined by the first and second sheets, with the at least one fluid chamber extending between first and second ends of the planar membrane heat exchangers and opening to a first and second port at the first and second ends respectively.

An air thermal conditioning system, for at least one of heating air and cooling air, which includes a cross-flow heat exchanger array. The cross-flow heat exchanger array includes a plurality of planar membrane heat exchangers disposed in parallel with a space separating adjacent planar membrane heat exchangers. Each of the planar membrane heat exchangers include a first sheet; a second sheet coupled to the first sheet; and at least one fluid chamber defined by the first and second sheets, with the at least one fluid chamber extending between first and second ends of the planar membrane heat exchangers and opening to a first and second port at the first and second ends respectively.