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Medical Device Technology
Medical device technology: powerful, quiet direct drives with ring motors from ZIEHL-ABEGG
The technical requirements surrounding medical device technology in doctor’s surgeries, laboratories and hospitals are high. Medical devices, from pumps and centrifuges to CT scanners, must work extremely precisely and reliably at any required speed and power range, but should also be as quiet as possible. This is because the acoustics of medical device technology contribute significantly to the background noise in the workplace, especially in large facilities such as hospitals. So, the quieter the drives, the better that is for people – for doctors, medical staff, patients and visitors – who are often or constantly in the vicinity of these units for long periods of time.
Quiet electric motors, which provide a reliably high and precisely controllable mechanical power with a low noise level, are therefore in demand. In many applications, high torque, even at low speeds, is the most important factor. Typical examples of drives in medical device technology that have to apply high torque, even at low speeds, are positioning drives and actuators.
Geared motors or belt-driven solutions are a common but not always optimal choice when it comes to meeting these requirements. This is because these create another source of noise in addition to the drive motor. In addition, with this type of drive there are significantly more parts and therefore more sources of errors, inaccuracies (e.g. play) and failures.
A pioneering drive type that is suitable for many applications in the field of medical device technology is the direct drive. The motor transmits its speed and torque directly to the motor shaft and the device – in the case of a CT scanner, for example, to the scanner unit that is to be moved – without a gearbox and it is therefore extremely precisely controllable using the speed control. With a direct drive, higher speeds can also be achieved compared to belt solutions. The speed limits for belt drives are based on the tensioning elements (slip). This is not the case with modern direct drives. The best levels of efficiency are achieved by permanent magnet synchronous motors.
We have specially developed the SM985 ring motor for modern and pioneering medical device technology. Among other applications, it is used to move the scanner units in CT scanners. Another of the SM985’s possible application areas is baggage scanners, e.g. in airports. The ZIEHL-ABEGG ring motor is a permanent magnet-excited synchronous motor with a large, free inner diameter. Together with a precise bearing guide, the SM985 ring motor enables excellent concentricity. High torques and rotational speeds, as well as flexible yet highly precise speed control, make it suitable for the most demanding applications, where the highest degree of precision is required. In addition, our ring motors impress thanks to their excellent acoustic values for quiet and both nerve-friendly and people-friendly operation.
Unlike conventional asynchronous motors with speed control, the permanent magnet synchronous drives generally achieve significantly higher efficiencies, even under partial load and at low speeds. Combined with powerful, user-friendly drive and control technology, precise motor control down to a minimum speed of 0 rpm is possible without restrictions.
The SM985 from ZIEHL-ABEGG, for example, is available in different versions for nominal speeds from 20 to 300 rpm and nominal peak torques from 100 to 1500 Nm; however, individual drives can also be manufactured for customised applications and solutions. This means that individual product solutions can also be easily provided on request.
Contact us if you require special drives, shapes or sizes, and also want to experience our outstanding service, which is just as much a part of Royal League as the drive and control technology from ZIEHL-ABEGG. We will be happy to support you in the selection of products or the planning and compilation of optimally fitting systems and complete installations.
DIN EN 60601
The EN 60601 or DIN EN 60601 series of standards applicable to medical equipment technology in Germany defines the requirements that are placed on the safety and ergonomics of electrically operated medical equipment and systems in Germany and Europe. The basis for this series of standards is the IEC version, IEC 60601.
UL-CSA
In North America – the USA and Canada – much stricter product liability laws apply than in Europe. Manufacturers and distributors exporting medical device technology there require additional certification marks to satisfy regulators, retailers and users, and to demonstrate the tested safety of the products. The UL/CSA Mark identifies products for which a representative number of them have been shown to comply with certain standards of the following institutions:
- Underwriters Laboratories(R) (UL)
- CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association)
- ANSI - American National Standards Institute
- NSF International (NSF)
Because the UL and CSA differ significantly from the IEC standard commonly used in Europe, there are relatively frequent difficulties in applying or complying with all applicable standards when exporting for the North American market. The components of the ISO system used are UL-listed and thus also comply with the relevant legal regulations for international trade relations and projects.
* These ZIEHL-ABEGG products, which are suggested as possible solutions for these applications, are purely informative and serve as a rough guide. Consequently, individual contact with our technical sales experts is necessary and advisable with regard to a specific application so that the individual use can be checked and approved with regard to the explicit conditions.