“The engineering challenges that designers of these systems face start with the size restrictions and compact size of the devices,” says Lostetter. “Power usage is also important as more devices are moving to batteries, or batteries in part-time usage, and there is a requirement for systems that are efficient from an electrical usage standpoint. The size of the battery itself also becomes an important consideration and needs to be specified within the symmetry of the final device design and usage of the device.”
Accuracy and performance within a small package is a major challenge and design goal. Operation has to be highly accurate and precise, especially in dosing applications where there is a concern for patient safety and the potential for overdoses. Systems used in surgical applications often reflect the need for highly accurate motion performance, excellent feedback, and optimized speed and position.
The overall product strategy and concept for development is to work within the existing suite of technology solutions to design customized solutions for specific devices. As much as possible, existing products that offer high performance, small footprints, and energy efficiency are used to keep costs down. The subassembly itself may be highly specialized, but the heart of the product components used in the design is already a fit for these types of applications. Ongoing development on the motion building blocks themselves is part of the process of creating more potent solutions.
One trend is the use of micro motion solutions in dosing applications, such as push pumps and dosing pumps, with the push to smaller designs that deliver more precise movements and provide better energy management. It is also important to provide feedback on where they have moved and how far they have moved. We are seeing more lead screw and linear applications.
Lostetter says there has been high interest and questions about piezo technology. Compared to other motor technology solutions, piezo technology offers the potential for small, powerful systems, which provide high performance in a very small package. Movements are highly accurate, and the technology has improved its ability to provide energy-efficient operation.
“For medical device manufacturers, the ability to develop four to five different subassemblies from trusted technology suppliers enables them to use contract manufacturing that often specialize in biomedical products to do the final assembly and packaging,” says Lostetter. “It provides a complete design strategy where they have found that working with suppliers on subassemblies makes it possible to simplify the final assembly.”
Well, that does make telemedicine sound scary. AFAIK, hospitals have long been one of the biggest users of massive, high end UPS systems, at least since the early 80s when I worked in the UPS industry. OTOH, when the Northridge quake struck L.A., Santa Monica Hospital lost electricity and a lot of people got hurt.
There are a variety of motion suppliers that are providing miniaturization solutions at different levels which are being implemented in medical applications. This is one of the exciting areas for motion development. Some piezo technology solutions are integrating micro-mechatronic modules (combining controls, drives, sensors) that are ideal for use in medical devices, robotic surgical tools and precision analytical instrumentation. It also can be used to create non-magnetic motion systems for safe operation in MRI environments.
Telemedicine must be seen from a different angle I guess rather different scenarios. In a country like India or some part of Africa where there are many villages without even a primary health centre, leave alone speciality hospitals. But if one can set up a telemedicine centre, it will make the necessary medical services available to the needy. Well that does not take away the risks involved in telemedicine procedures but it is better than that of the scenario where there is no medical service at all.
It's easy to read through this article and skim right past one amazing bit of information: "Motor sizes of 1.9 mm in diameter..." That's a motor diameter of about 1/12th of an inch! I'd be curious to see how a motor of that size is manufacturerd.
I understand the surgical aspect of these small motors but I'm missing the point as to why they are advancing developments of such surgical tools with batteries.Maybe not for the surgical tools, but for post surgical implants-?Guessing batteries would be needed for a prosthetic, perhaps where tiny motors move finger joints? But I'm not clearly envisioning the application.It's different from say, a pace-maker with a 5 year battery sending a micro-pulse to a heart muscle – no moving parts in that App. -- So, why batteries-?
The advantages of medical minaturization are obvious. What I still don't get is how telemedicine. which in terms of its technological heritage is certainly related, is widely applicable. It can work in certain situations but what happens when something goes wrong? An unexpected emergency (bleeding out), power outage, or some physical movement which takes the patient out of the operational window (like falling off the operating table; I guess that's why they strap you down).
Medical surgical robots will change the face of surgery in the future. Miniature medical actuator systems used in minimally invasive surgery need to be as compact as possible. These miniature medical actuator systems will definitely be of help in applications where there is a need for precise positioning.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New versions of BASF's Ecovio line are both compostable and designed for either injection molding or thermoforming. These combinations are becoming more common for the single-use bioplastics used in food service and food packaging applications, but are still not widely available.
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For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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