A reciprocating fluid pump includes a pump body, a subject fluid chamber, a first plunger located within the subject fluid chamber of the pump body and having a first head portion and a first bellows, the first plunger configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the first head portion and the first bellows have a first cross-sectional dimension, and a second plunger located within the subject fluid chamber of the pump body and having a second head portion and a second bellows, the second plunger configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the second head portion and the second bellows have a second cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension.

A reciprocating fluid pump includes a pump body, a subject fluid chamber, a first plunger located within the subject fluid chamber of the pump body and having a first head portion and a first bellows, the first plunger configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the first head portion and the first bellows have a first cross-sectional dimension, and a second plunger located within the subject fluid chamber of the pump body and having a second head portion and a second bellows, the second plunger configured to expand and compress in a reciprocating action to pump the subject fluid through the subject fluid chamber within the pump body, wherein the second head portion and the second bellows have a second cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension.

An aspect of the invention refers to a system for cleaning an external vehicle-mounted sensor surface. The system comprises an air nozzle arranged to discharge air onto a sensor surface; an air pump comprising a fluid inlet, an air outlet, an air-fluid interface and a variable volume compression chamber communicated with the air outlet; an air flow control device communicated with the air nozzle and the air outlet for controlling the flow of air therethrough; and a liquid pump communicated with the fluid inlet to supply a flow of pressurized liquid such that the volume of the compression chamber varies to generate a volume of pressurized air with an absolute pressure below 10 bar.

An aspect of the invention refers to a system for cleaning an external vehicle-mounted sensor surface. The system comprises an air nozzle arranged to discharge air onto a sensor surface; an air pump comprising a fluid inlet, an air outlet, an air-fluid interface and a variable volume compression chamber communicated with the air outlet; an air flow control device communicated with the air nozzle and the air outlet for controlling the flow of air therethrough; and a liquid pump communicated with the fluid inlet to supply a flow of pressurized liquid such that the volume of the compression chamber varies to generate a volume of pressurized air with an absolute pressure below 10 bar.

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).

A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.

A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.

An apparatus and method for inflating fishing bait is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of a compressible air reservoir, and needle, wherein a distal end of the needle is operably coupled to the compressible air reservoir. A proximal end of the needle terminates in a dull hollow rectangular prism. There is a continuous air passage between the dull hollow rectangular prism of the needle and the compressible air reservoir. The compressible air reservoir has a vent such that it can refill with air while the continuous air passage through the needle is obstructed. The vent can be covered up by a hand of a user when the apparatus is in use.

An apparatus and method for inflating fishing bait is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of a compressible air reservoir, and needle, wherein a distal end of the needle is operably coupled to the compressible air reservoir. A proximal end of the needle terminates in a dull hollow rectangular prism. There is a continuous air passage between the dull hollow rectangular prism of the needle and the compressible air reservoir. The compressible air reservoir has a vent such that it can refill with air while the continuous air passage through the needle is obstructed. The vent can be covered up by a hand of a user when the apparatus is in use.

A tubephragm pump includes a tubephragm that has a pump head portion that forms a pump chamber, a driving head that holds the tubephragm and expands and contracts the pump chamber by directly pressing and pulling the pump head portion in a direction intersecting with a transfer direction of a transfer fluid, a driving unit that drives the driving head back and forth in a driving direction to expand and contract the pump chamber, and a control unit that controls the driving unit. The tubephragm is in a flat shape with a cross-sectional shape intersecting with the transfer direction of the transfer fluid of the pump chamber having a length in a direction intersecting with the driving direction longer than a length in the driving direction. A pair of liquid contacting surfaces opposing in the driving direction of the pump chamber move while maintaining a parallel state.