Abstract: A method of pumping a fluid including providing a pump including a disposable component and a reusable component; connecting the disposable component and the reusable component; receiving a fluid medium from a fluid medium source into a first disposable conduit; drawing the fluid medium into a disposable piston pump assembly of a first disposable conduit; flowing the fluid medium through a disposable flow meter; measuring a flow rate of the fluid medium; discharging the fluid medium into a reusable bubble detector; and discharging the fluid medium from the reusable bubble detector if less than a preselected amount of gas is detected.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training comprising: one or more electrochemical cells each comprising: a cathode and an anode separated by a proton exchange membrane, each of the anode and cathode in communication with an input and an output, wherein the input of the cathode is in fluid communication with ambient air, and wherein the input of the anode is in fluid communication with a source of liquid water; a power supply connected to the one or more electrochemical cells; and a mask in fluid communication with the output from the cathode of the one or more electrochemical cells, wherein oxygen is removed from the ambient air during contact with the cathode when hydrogen ions separated from liquid water by a catalyst on the anode convert oxygen in the ambient air into water.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training including a breathable gas source; a mask in fluid communication with the breathable gas source; a mask-state detector that uses one or more criteria to determine if the mask is being worn by a subject, wherein the mask-state detector is capable of communicating an indication of a mask-off state or a mask-on state; a flowmeter in fluid communication with the mask and coupled to the mask-state detector; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the mask and with the breathable gas source, and coupled to the mask-state detector, wherein the pressure regulator sets a first pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-off state or a second pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-on state.

Abstract: The present invention includes an electrochemical actuator pump and method of making the same, comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an ion exchange membrane, a first and a second catalyzed porous electrode in contact with opposing sides of the ion exchange membrane; a first gas chamber in fluid communication with the first electrode, and a second gas chamber in fluid communication with the second electrode; and a controller for controllably reversing the polarity of a voltage source electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes, wherein the controller causes a first polarity at the first electrode to function as an anode and the second electrode to function as a cathode, wherein the first polarity simultaneously decreases the hydrogen gas pressure in the first hydrogen gas chamber and increases the hydrogen gas pressure in the second hydrogen gas chamber, with additional embodiment using MOF or Ni—H batteries.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training comprising: one or more electrochemical cells each comprising: a cathode and an anode separated by a proton exchange membrane, each of the anode and cathode in communication with an input and an output, wherein the input of the cathode is in fluid communication with ambient air, and wherein the input of the anode is in fluid communication with a source of liquid water; a power supply connected to the one or more electrochemical cells; and a mask in fluid communication with the output from the cathode of the one or more electrochemical cells, wherein oxygen is removed from the ambient air during contact with the cathode when hydrogen ions separated from liquid water by a catalyst on the anode convert oxygen in the ambient air into water.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training including a breathable gas source; a mask in fluid communication with the breathable gas source; a mask-state detector that uses one or more criteria to determine if the mask is being worn by a subject, wherein the mask-state detector is capable of communicating an indication of a mask-off state or a mask-on state; a flowmeter in fluid communication with the mask and coupled to the mask-state detector; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the mask and with the breathable gas source, and coupled to the mask-state detector, wherein the pressure regulator sets a first pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-off state or a second pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-on state.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for volumetric and gravimetric storage of reactants and waste comprising: one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders; and one or more waste storage bladders, wherein the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders form a stack of bladders, and the stack of bladders are interleaved between the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders, such that both a volumetric and a gravimetric balance is maintained as reactant or fuel are used and the waste bladder is filled.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders that are volumetrically and gravitationally balanced during operation; a fuel reactor that generates hydrogen; a fuel cell capable of generating an electrical current when exposed to hydrogen; and a controller that controls the flow of fuel into the hydrogen generator, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell and the flow of waste from the hydrogen generator, and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders; a heater; a reactor that generates hydrogen and waste; a hydrogen and waste separator; a back-pressure regulator; a hydrogen and liquid separator; a fuel cell; and a controller that controls the temperature of the heater, the flow of fuel into the reactor, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell, the flow of water that dilutes the fuel, the flow of waste from the reactor and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders; a heater; a reactor that generates hydrogen and waste; a hydrogen and waste separator; a back-pressure regulator; a hydrogen and liquid separator; a fuel cell; and a controller that controls the temperature of the heater, the flow of fuel into the reactor, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell, the flow of water that dilutes the fuel, the flow of waste from the reactor and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders that are volumetrically and gravitationally balanced during operation; a fuel reactor that generates hydrogen; a fuel cell capable of generating an electrical current when exposed to hydrogen; and a controller that controls the flow of fuel into the hydrogen generator, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell and the flow of waste from the hydrogen generator, and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for volumetric and gravimetric storage of reactants and waste comprising: one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders; and one or more waste storage bladders, wherein the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders form a stack of bladders, and the stack of bladders are interleaved between the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders, such that both a volumetric and a gravimetric balance is maintained as reactant or fuel are used and the waste bladder is filled.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training including a breathable gas source; a mask in fluid communication with the breathable gas source; a mask-state detector that uses one or more criteria to determine if the mask is being worn by a subject, wherein the mask-state detector is capable of communicating an indication of a mask-off state or a mask-on state; a flowmeter in fluid communication with the mask and coupled to the mask-state detector; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the mask and with the breathable gas source, and coupled to the mask-state detector, wherein the pressure regulator sets a first pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-off state or a second pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-on state.