In medical technology, safety is the top priority. Gears are likewise subject to stringent regulations and requirements. What does that mean exactly, how do gears enhance the safety of medical instruments, and what are the advantages of cycloidal gears in this field of application? Nabtesco has the answers.
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Hardly any other field has such stringent safety requirements as medical technology. Because if only one component does not function perfectly, the consequences can be far-reaching in some circumstances. To prevent harm to both patients and personnel, all mechanical components and assemblies must be designed with a sufficient safety margin, in addition to complying with numerous regulatory standards, regulations and directives ' and proving this compliance in extensive tests and operating scenarios before being put into use. This also applies in particular to gears.
Safe gears are the top priority in medical technology
As a central drive technology component, gears provide the necessary motion in medical instruments, for example for high-precision positioning of X-ray and ultrasound scanners, examination tables, surgical robots, OP tables or hospital beds. In applications such as lab automation and robot-assisted rehabilitation, gears are also an important factor for increasing the quality of patient care. That is because of their special function: Gears convert torques, rotational frequencies and directions, as well as forces, which makes them crucial for the precision, safety and reliability of medical technology products. Minimisation of errors, improved diagnostic behaviour, optimized treatment and therapy methods, as well as more patient comfort are important objectives in this regard.
Precision cycloidal gears offer decisive benefits
Cycloidal gears fulfil the stringent safety standards required in medical technology with no compromises. They achieve high-precision positioning down to hundredths of a millimetre, guarantee a large safety margin and feature a hygiene-friendly design, as well as constant operating behaviour and low-noise operation. The extra safety of the gears is achieved primarily by the offset arrangement of the cams. This arrangement ensures full engagement of the cams via the pins. Even torque distribution us achieved within the gearbox, while the power flow is simultaneously transmitted outward into the housing material. Consequently, cycloidal gears are very rigid and able to withstand high overloads. Other features include double-bearing eccentric shafts and a bearing-mounted drive shaft. Integrated angular ball bearings, which absorb both axial and radial loads and bending moments, provide for high moment rigidity and resistance to impacts and overloads. As a result, cycloidal gears allow peak loads of up to 500 % of the rated torque in emergency stop situations, therefore providing the best possible protection for patients and operating personnel in the event of a malfunction. An emergency stop torque of up to 800 % of the rated torque can also be implemented. This is made possible by setting up specific test scenarios and through close cooperation with universities, technical colleges and research institutes. Nabtesco is therefore capable of implementing exceptional requirements for the field of medical technology.
Cycloidal gears for medical technology
Especially the gears of the Neco® and Neco®HT series ' which feature high power density, user-friendliness, and a clean, closed design ' are ideal for use in medical technology and the health sector. They guarantee precisely executed motions, pin-point positioning, maximum safety and efficient cleaning. Hollow shaft gears of the RD-C series are ideal for building encapsulated systems. The precision gears feature a large hollow shaft that can accommodate cables, hoses and supply lines in a hygienic and safe-spacing design.
Medical technology: Cycloidal gears provide extra safety
- High safety margin: Emergency stop torque of up to 500 % of the rated torque (optionally up to 800 %)
- Extreme precision: Hysteresis loss of 0.5 to max. 1 arc.min throughout the entire service life
- Resistance to cracking and breakage
- Maximum reliability: Low-wear design for a long life, virtually maintenance-free
- Constant operating behaviour
- Hygiene-friendly design
- Hollow shaft gears for building encapsulated systems
- Fulfilment of all safety regulations, standards and test specifications
- 100 % tested
- Verification by independent institutes and labs
- Implementation of specific test scenarios for individual requirements
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If you have a medical exam or procedure that involves X-rays, mammography units or robotic surgery equipment, the last thing you want to hear is grinding gear noise. Noisy or vibrating motion systems are off-putting for patients and can compromise their comfort during an already stressful medical test. Not only that, motion chatter in the drives that move imaging equipment can also produce fuzzy images that aren't suitable for diagnostic purposes.
Medical machines and imaging equipment require motion system components that are smooth and quiet. Whether you're a medical equipment designer looking for the right part or a patient about to undergo a diagnostic test, with Intech Power-Core' gears and cam followers at work, you don't have to worry.
Our Gears Reduce Noise and Absorb Shock and Vibration in Critical Applications
Our Power-Core' gears, which combine our proprietary polymer gear material with a metal core, have a unique balance of properties that make them well-suited to medical equipment applications. In addition to absorbing shock and vibration, compared to metals these gears reduce noise by up to 6 decibels, making them an ideal ' not to mention less stressful ' choice for point of care (POC) equipment. They are also suitable for X-ray equipment, mammography machines and other imaging systems due to their ability to eliminate motion chatter, which can compromise image quality in diagnostic tests. And, because our Power-Core' gears are available with a stainless steel, non-magnetic core, they're a safe option for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
Our Power-Core' gears, which combine our proprietary polymer gear material with a metal core, are well-suited for medical equipment.
In one application, our engineers designed and delivered a gear that improved the image quality in a dental X-ray machine. In addition to providing precise control over the gear's mesh engagement and backlash, our gear eliminated vibration, maintaining high image quality over time. Because they successfully eliminated fuzzy imaging due to motion chatter, our gears enabled the dentists to better diagnose and serve their patients. In another application, to provide patients with quiet, vibration-free comfort when moving in and out of MRI equipment, our iCam® followers were selected as wheels for moving patients' platforms.
More Reasons Why You Should Choose Intech Gears
Their ability to absorb shock and vibration and reduce noise aren't the only reasons our gears are an excellent fit for medical machinery. Unlike metal gears, our Power-Core' gears don't require lubrication, avoiding potential contamination caused by stray lubricants or metal particulates. Furthermore, the material has a low coefficient of friction, translating into higher torque transmission efficiency and allowing designers to select smaller drive motors. The gears also resist corrosion and commonly used sterilization chemicals, and they meet outgassing specifications for laboratory equipment applications that involve vacuum operation.
Unlike metal gears, our Power-Core' gears don't require lubrication. The material also has a low coefficient of friction, translating into higher torque transmission efficiency.
In many instances ' for example, in robotic surgery equipment ' inertia is a factor when designing the gear train. Our Power-Core' gears are seven times lighter than steel, significantly reducing inertia. And, if you're worried about the polymer gears working, we'll put your mind at ease. At Intech, we've developed a gear life calculation for our Power-Core' gears. Over the last three decades, this calculation has proven itself to be a reliable predictive tool. Medical equipment manufacturers typically require five years of gear life. Using our gear life calculation, we can design gears that deliver on this demand.
Even beyond the medical industry, our gears' ability to absorb shock and eliminate motion chatter makes these components an ideal choice for any application that must retain superior imaging quality ' from satellites to television equipment. And, we can produce our gears in a variety of types including bevel gears, helical gears, worm gears and more.
At Intech, we can produce our gears in a variety of types including bevel gears, helical gears, worm gears and more.
To learn more about how to design non-metallic gears for demanding applications that require quiet, vibration-free movement, are maintenance free and are supported by a solid gear life calculation, visit our product page. You can also contact our engineering department for a free consultation today.
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