Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a solenoid assisted valve including a split collar and a precision sealing valve seat surface with tight dimensional tolerances and substantial performance repeatability. In an illustrative example, the split collar may concentrically mate around a cylindrical bobbin. In some examples, the split collar may include ferromagnetic material alone or in combination with various thermoplastic materials. The placement of the split collar may be adjusted by manufacturing to fine tune placement of a magnetic pole and to customize valve performance, for example. The valve seat may include, for example, an orifice sealed with an elastic stopper. The valve seat may be configured, for example, with specific ratiometric dimensional relationships and flatness specifications. Various solenoid valves may allow manufacturers to tune the location of a solenoid generated magnetic pole, for example, to tailor the valve plunger performance for a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relate to a pneumatic compression therapy device configured to suggest content to the patient based on a determined disease state, the content pertaining to suggested changes in lifestyle based on a standard of care. In an illustrative embodiment, the suggested changes may include modifications to treatment location, treatment time, diet, eating habits, or sleeping schedule. Various examples may further sample the patient's health and automatically adjust a treatment parameter within a predetermined parameter range based on a history of measured parameters, such as limb volume, for example. In coordination with the therapeutic treatment, the therapy device may deliver suggested content to guide the patient to make more healthful lifestyle choices to reduce recovery time and improve patient health outcomes.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a pneumatic distribution system having pneumatic pump that exhausts into a common plenum that is in fluid communication with a plurality of flow controllers. In an illustrative embodiment, a system controller may coordinate the operation of the one or more pneumatic pumps and the plurality of flow controllers to provide air pressure control to a system of pneumatic chambers. In some embodiments, one of the plurality of flow controllers may be configured to provide fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere so as to permit a fluid path from a pneumatic chamber connected to another flow controller to the ambient atmosphere via both flow controllers and the common plenum. In an exemplary embodiment, the system controller may advantageously control the air pressures in a plurality of pneumatic chambers independently of one another using coordinated control of the pump and flow controllers.

Abstract: A valve can include a solenoid coil, a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil, and a valve disc. The valve disc can be positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed. A projection can be positioned and configured to cushion impact when the valve is opened. The valve can be used in an air bed system in fluid connection between an air pump and an inflatable air chamber of a mattress.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a housing defining a housing interior, an air pump positioned in the housing interior, and a plurality of resilient connectors connecting the air pump to the housing with the resilient connectors in tension so as to reduce transmission of vibration from the air pump to the housing during operation of the air pump.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to nutating a piston drive linkage oriented around a longitudinal axis in response to the rotation of a drive shaft about a drive axis of rotation, said longitudinal axis being offset and canted with respect to said drive axis of rotation. In an illustrative example, the piston drive linkage may be formed as an umbrella shape with multiple arm members extending radially from the longitudinal axis. The distal ends of each of the radial arm members may attach to a stationary piston crank. The nutating motion of the piston drive linkage may impart a substantially linear motion profile substantially parallel to the drive axis of rotation. A shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the piston linkage may advantageously freely insert into and rotate within a receptacle of a spinner body being rotated around the drive axis of rotation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to nutating a piston drive linkage oriented around a longitudinal axis in response to the rotation of a drive shaft about a drive axis, said longitudinal 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 longitudinal 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 longitudinal 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 longitudinal axis in response to rotation about the drive axis.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a wearable compression therapy system for ambulatory therapy, the system including a wearable garment having one or more inflatable chambers, and a pneumatic engine locally coupled to the garment to provide control and inflation of the one or more inflatable chambers. In an illustrative embodiment, the pneumatic engine may control a pump and one or more valves to inflate the inflatable chambers. The valves and pump may be coordinated according to a pre-programmed profile. In some embodiments, the pneumatic engine may have a wireless interface configured to receive control signals from a remote mobile device untethered from the garment. The pneumatic engine may send to the remote mobile device signals indicative of sensed conditions of the compression therapy system. In some embodiments, the pneumatic engine may include a power source that advantageously permits the user to be untethered from a source of power.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relate to a pneumatic compression therapy device configured to suggest content to the patient based on a determined disease state, the content pertaining to suggested changes in lifestyle based on a standard of care. In an illustrative embodiment, the suggested changes may include modifications to treatment location, treatment time, diet, eating habits, or sleeping schedule. Various examples may further sample the patient's health and automatically adjust a treatment parameter within a predetermined parameter range based on a history of measured parameters, such as limb volume, for example. In coordination with the therapeutic treatment, the therapy device may deliver suggested content to guide the patient to make more healthful lifestyle choices to reduce recovery time and improve patient health outcomes.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a pneumatic distribution system having pneumatic pump that exhausts into a common plenum that is in fluid communication with a plurality of flow controllers. In an illustrative embodiment, a system controller may coordinate the operation of the one or more pneumatic pumps and the plurality of flow controllers to provide air pressure control to a system of pneumatic chambers. In some embodiments, one of the plurality of flow controllers may be configured to provide fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere so as to permit a fluid path from a pneumatic chamber connected to another flow controller to the ambient atmosphere via both flow controllers and the common plenum. In an exemplary embodiment, the system controller may advantageously control the air pressures in a plurality of pneumatic chambers independently of one another using coordinated control of the pump and flow controllers.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to nutating a piston drive linkage oriented around a longitudinal axis in response to the rotation of a drive shaft about a drive axis, said longitudinal 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 longitudinal 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 longitudinal 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 longitudinal axis in response to rotation about the drive axis.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to nutating a piston drive linkage oriented around a longitudinal axis in response to the rotation of a drive shaft about a drive axis of rotation, said longitudinal axis being offset and canted with respect to said drive axis of rotation. In an illustrative example, the piston drive linkage may be formed as an umbrella shape with multiple arm members extending radially from the longitudinal axis. The distal ends of each of the radial arm members may attach to a stationary piston crank. The nutating motion of the piston drive linkage may impart a substantially linear motion profile substantially parallel to the drive axis of rotation. A shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the piston linkage may advantageously freely insert into and rotate within a receptacle of a spinner body being rotated around the drive axis of rotation.

Abstract: A variable speed fan device includes a housing, a motor, a fan blade, a controller, and a first plurality of discrete light sources. The motor is maintained by the housing and the fan blade is connected to the motor. The controller is electronically coupled to the motor and manages an operational status of the variable speed fan device. The light sources are adapted to emit light from the display panel along a discontinuous perimeter at the exterior face. In an activated state, the light emitted by each light source is visually perceptible an exterior face of the display panel. The controller is programmed to individually activate and deactivate the light sources in a predetermined pattern creating a perception of movement of light about the discontinuous perimeter at the exterior face of the display panel corresponding with an operational status of the variable speed fan device.

Abstract: A portable air treatment device and system including a filter retaining mechanism for selectively retaining a replaceable filter assembly. The filter retaining mechanism includes a rigid, non-moveable body that reduces a size of an access opening to a filter chamber otherwise formed by the air treatment device housing, along with a bearing surface. The rigid body serves as a catch or latch, preventing unexpected dislodgement of a filter assembly from the chamber. The bearing surface is also rigid and non-moveable, and provides a means for easily inserting and removing a primarily non-permanently deflectable filter assembly about the rigid body.