A multistage compressor is disclosed that may include a wobbling member operationally coupled with an external power source. The external power source may drive a nutating motion of the wobbling member. The multistage compressor may further include a plurality of flexible chambers connected to the wobbling member, each flexible chamber including a respective intake passage and a respective discharge passage. The wobbling member may sequentially press down and pull up the plurality of flexible chambers. The multistage compressor may further include a one-way valve in each respective intake passage and gas may be drawn into each flexible chamber through the respective one-way valve of each flexible chamber as the wobbling member pulls up each flexible chamber. The gas may then be compressed to a higher pressure as the wobbling member presses down each flexible chamber and compressed gas may be discharged through the respective discharge passage of each flexible chamber.

A piezoelectric cooling system and method for driving the cooling system are described. The piezoelectric cooling system includes a first piezoelectric cooling element and a second piezoelectric cooling element. The first piezoelectric cooling element is configured to direct a fluid toward a surface of a heat-generating structure. The second piezoelectric cooling element is configured to direct the fluid to an outlet area after heat has been transferred to the fluid by the heat-generating structure.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to nutating a piston drive linkage oriented around a longitudinal wobble axis in response to the rotation of a drive shaft about a drive axis, said wobble axis being offset and canted with respect to said drive axis. In an illustrative example, the piston drive linkage may be formed as a wobble plate extending radially from the wobble axis. Near a periphery, the wobble plate may attach to a plurality of stationary piston cranks. The nutating motion of the piston drive linkage may impart a substantially linear motion profile substantially parallel to the drive axis of rotation. A bearing oriented around the wobble axis may advantageously be freely inserted into and removed from an aperture in the wobble plate. An inner race of the bearing may freely rotate about the wobble axis in response to rotation about the drive axis.

A pump assembly includes a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, a motor supported by the housing, the motor including a drive shaft rotatable about a drive shaft axis, a first plurality of diaphragms supported by the housing, the first plurality of diaphragms positioned along a first plane, and a second plurality of diaphragms supported by the housing, the second plurality diaphragms positioned along a second plane, the second plane spaced apart from the first plane. Rotation of the drive shaft is operable to move each diaphragm of the first plurality of diaphragms and each diaphragm of the second plurality of diaphragms from an intake position to a compression position to pump a fluid from the air inlet through the air outlet.

A cooling system and method for using the cooling system are described. The cooling system includes a plurality of individual piezoelectric cooling elements spatially arranged in an array extending in at least two dimensions, a communications interface and driving circuitry. The communications interface is associated with the individual piezoelectric cooling elements such that selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements within the array can be activated based at least in part on heat energy generated in the vicinity of the selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements. The driving circuitry is associated with the individual piezoelectric cooling elements and is configured to drive the selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements.

A blood pressure monitor configured to removably mount to a cuff in a substantially symmetrical position with respect to a width of the cuff can include a housing defining an interior, a first port, and a second port. The first port can: secure to a first prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in a first orientation; receive and secure to a second prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in a second orientation; and enable fluid communication between the interior and at least one of a first fluid passage within the first prong and a second fluid passage within the second prong. The second port can: secure to the second prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in the first orientation; and receive and secure to the first prong of the cuff when the cuff is mounted in the second orientation.

Discloses is a micro-pump that includes a pump body having a compartmentalized pump chamber, with plural inlet and outlet ports and a plurality of membranes disposed in the pump chamber to provide compartments. The membranes are anchored between opposing walls of the pump body and carry electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the membranes and walls of the pump body. Also discloses are applications of the micro-pump including as a heat remover and a self-contained continuous positive airway pressure breathing device.

A foam dispenser includes a housing, a drive motor, and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a pump housing, and a molded multi-chamber diaphragm. The molded multi-chamber diaphragm includes a liquid pump diaphragm having a liquid pump stem and two or more air pump chambers each having an air pump stem. The length of the liquid pump stem is longer than the air pump stem. The foam pump further includes one or more outlet valves, a mixing chamber, an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge; and an actuator for sequentially actuating the liquid pump chamber and the two or more air pump chambers, wherein there is lost motion between the actuator and the liquid pump diaphragm.

A charging station for providing power to a physiological monitoring device can include a charging bay and a tray. The charging bay can include a charging port configured to receive power from a power source. The tray can be positioned within and movably mounted relative to the charging bay. The tray can be further configured to secure the physiological monitoring device and move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the tray can be spaced away from the charging port, and, in the second position, the tray can be positioned proximate the charging port, thereby allowing the physiological monitoring device to electrically connect to the charging port.

A pump unit includes a piezoelectric pump and a housing accommodating the piezoelectric pump. The piezoelectric pump includes a piezoelectric device having a through-hole, a first elastic plate covering an end of the through-hole, and a second elastic plate covering another end of the through-hole. The first elastic plate has a communication hole communicating with the through-hole of the piezoelectric device.