Efficiency and Power Density Redefined in Harsh Surgical Environments

Since the advent of civilization, the art of motion has been a critical part of human life in the quest to save, improve, and enhance lives. With advances in technology, motors are playing a very important part in our day to day lives, at times very subtly without our knowledge. Technology has helped improve motor power density and has enabled usage in various applications that once used pneumatic controls. OEM’s around the world developing motion applications in medical and industrial markets require the best power density, efficiency, and reduced envelope with lowered overall cost of ownership.

Reducing Surgical Hand Tool Size Without Sacrificing Performance

For the surgical hand tool designer looking to deliver all of the performance objectives in the most sleek and lightweight package possible, the choice of electric motor is a key consideration.

Powered Surgical Tool Reliability: Protecting Against Moisture & Corrosion

Powered reusable surgical tools have gained popularity thanks to their ability to reduce procedure times and improve patient outcomes. An array of sensor, feedback, and control components make these advances possible. These parts are prone to corrosion from saline, steam sterilizations, or other contaminants. In order to ensure reliable performance over several years of surgeries and re-use, device OEMs need to protect their tools against moisture ingress. This blog post will explain how moisture, corrosion, and other harsh conditions can compromise reusable surgical tools and offer mitigation strategies to ensure long service life.

Lower Surgical Hand Tool Costs Without Sacrificing Reliability

Surgeons worldwide have come to favor advanced surgical hand tools for their effectiveness and successful patient outcomes. In order to keep costs in check, these sophisticated tools are re-used many times. In between procedures, the tools require steam sterilization, or autoclaving. While Tier-I surgical centers can afford frequent re-use of premium surgical tools, this model is often too expensive for smaller-scale Tier-II and Tier-III operations. However, the right motor can allow designers to create affordable surgical tools with high quality and durability. 

How to Select a Mini Motor Technology for your Surgical Device Design

Powered surgical hand tools are a mainstay of the operating room. For decades surgeons and device makers have relied on sterilizable Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors to meet the torque, speed, and reliability requirements of surgical hand tools. With the advance of surgical robotics and robotically assisted surgical devices, more than device makers count on BLDC motors to meet their most demanding requirements.

Motor Sterility Management: Protecting vs. Autoclaving

Surgeries must be performed using sterile equipment to prevent infection. While some simple surgical tools can be manufactured inexpensive enough to be economically thrown away after each use, more sophisticated tools such as drills, saws, and shavers must be reusable and therefore sterilized. The motor is a critical part of these tools, and if not protected properly, its electronic components can be susceptible to the moisture and temperature of the steam sterilization process (autoclave).

Motion Considerations for Motorized Multi-function Surgical Power Tools

Orthopedic trauma and implant procedures involve many areas of the body and several types of operations. But despite the diversity of applications, Orthopedic surgeons need to perform three primary functions to accomplish the majority of joint replacements and repairs of broken bones.

1. Sawing:  Remove large portions of bone to be replaced by implant (sagittal, oscillating, or reciprocating versions)\
2. Drilling:  Create small cylindrical holes into which pins and screws are inserted to either secure an implant or secure a cutting jig that then guides the saw cuts
3. Reaming:  Hollow out cavities within the bone to accept implants

These functions are all achieved using Surgical Hand Tools with a high-performance motor powering the drill, saw, or reamer bit. But not all tool OEMs take the same approach to their product line.

Some companies produce a different tool to perform each of these functions. The advantage of this is optimizing performance specifically to that function. However, the downside is that 3 different tools must be purchased and prepared for each surgery, which carries higher costs as well as more items requiring sterilization.

But many surgical hand tool companies instead produce a single tool that can perform all three functions by incorporating modular attachments that include the gearing and couplers required for the sawing, drilling, and reaming. This reduces the number of tools a surgical center must purchase and sterilize between surgeries but requires motors that can handle a wider range of working points. There are also hybrid models in between these two models where more specialized functions (like sternum saws or hip reamers) are handled by a unique tool while all others are handled by a modular tool.

The decision of which approach to take has significant implications on motor selection. Portescap has experience designing motors for all types of tools and can assist in choosing the right model given other design goals. Portescap can also collaborate in the design or manufacturing of the gearing in the modular attachments to develop an optimized complete system.

Contact an engineer today!

Our new Surgical Motor video highlights Portescap's innovative strengths and expertise in Surgical Motors Solutions. Press play and learn more about Portescap's mini motors technology, why you should work with us, and our approach to design and collaboration. The Surgical Motors Team also highlights our customization process and maps out our typical lead times. Call us today to experience how we can work with you hand-in-hand to find the optimal motor solution for your application!

 

Portescap’s miniature motors are often used by medical tool and device manufacturers and OEMs, in highly demanding end applications. An in-house testing process is sometimes required to further validate and confirm the design process. We’d like to give you a glimpse into Portescap’s motor testing capabilities for brushless slotted DC motors.