Compact scroll pump

A compact scroll pump comprising:

• a scroll set having an inlet and an outlet, said scroll set comprising a stationary scroll element including a stationary scroll blade extending from a stationary plate and an orbiting scroll element including an orbiting scroll blade extending from an orbiting plate, wherein said stationary and orbiting scroll blades are intermeshed together to define one or more interblade pockets and wherein said orbiting scroll blade is located on a first side of said orbiting plate;
• a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a second side of said orbiting plate for producing orbiting motion of said orbiting scroll blade relative to said stationary scroll blade so as to cause said one or more interblade pockets to move toward said outlet, said drive mechanism including a motor and a crankshaft having an axis of rotation, and an orbiting bearing coupled between said crankshaft and said orbiting plate, wherein the scroll set is configured such that an imaginary plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation passes through the orbiting bearing and at least a portion of the orbiting scroll blade;
• and
• said scroll set further comprising a first pumping stage in series with a second pumping stage and wherein the imaginary plane passes through at least a portion of the first stage.