Technology & Services

New Technologies in the Medical Sector

a report by

Mavilor Motors, S.A.

If there is a sector in which stringent professional standards, perfection in execution, risk-minimisation and hygiene dominate, it is in the medical sector. The medical sector depends on the skill and knowledge of excellent medical professionals, and those professionals depend on the quality of their equipment. In the last few years, the evolution of this equipment has been extraordinary and the incorporation of new technologies has produced levels of precision difficult to imagine even 10 years ago. In order to provide these new medical tools, engineers and other professional technicians are working within their companies to bring their initiative, skills and ingenuity to the creation of products to meet the constantly evolving needs of the medical sector. These products must be designed specifically to meet the particular needs of this sector, which include strict hygiene standards, high speed, precision and reliability.
The Servomotor in Medical Technology

their clients. Their 30 years of accumulated experience incorporating all stages of design, production and implantation make them much more than just excellent motor manufacturers, allowing them to act as technological partners with the capacity to provide the optimum solution for any automation need. Their highly specialised and competent team is ready to respond to the constant innovation challenges and changing needs that characterise the medical sector. Throughout their history, Mavilor Motors has introduced innovative products to the motion control industry. Their investment in research and development (R&D) and technical experience allow them to lead the market in offering new state-of-theart products every year. Modern and seamlessly integrated production systems allow Mavilor to offer extremely short lead times. The expert engineering team and quality team work together to constantly improve both the product and the production system in order to offer a competitively priced, innovative and durable product to the medical industry. Mavilor products include a wide range of direct current (DC) continuous current and alternating current (AC) and DC alternate current electric servomotors. These products are unique in their adaptability, offering both flat and elongated geometry for the maximum flexibility to meet the diverse needs of the market. These electric servomotors are characterised by an excellent capacity for acceleration, due to a design that permits high torque with low inertia. In addition, these servomotors offer highly desirable weight and volume ratios with low weight and compact size they are capable of delivering high torque and reaching high speeds. Mavilor sells its products around the world through a series of professional distributors who attend to the needs of their clients. In this way Mavilor and its distributors have maintained a worldwide clientele, offering technical support and post-sales service when necessary for the applications and equipment that incorporate Mavilor servomotors in each market. Currently, Mavilor Motors operates

One of the essential components of medical technology is the electric servomotor. Motion control is the driving force behind many medical applications, including centrifuges, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dialysis machines, scanners, exploratory devices and all types of robots. Motion control technology delivers the highprecision and high-speed movement and position control required by these medical applications.
Mavilor Servomotors

Mavilor Motors, S.A., an Infranor Inter AG Swiss Group company, has been operating in the automation technology field since 1973. Infranor corporate headquarters are located in Zurich and the group comprises 20 companies, some involved in application and sales and others in the manufacture of components for automation. Mavilor forms the branch specialising in the manufacture and sale of servomotors. At the core of the company objectives is a commitment to creating positive partnerships with

BUSINESS BRIEFING: MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY 2004

Technology & Services

Figure 1

worldwide through distributors in more than 35 countries in order to guarantee that each client has immediate access to local support. The Mavilor strategy is based on exceptional professionalism and a constant striving to satisfy their clients and provide the optimum solution for the most demanding of applications. This philosophy has allowed them to maintain client partnerships for over 30 years.
Mavilor Washdown Series for the Medical Sector

The Washdown series has been developed to meet the exacting needs of the medical sector outlined by the following elements.
High Speed and Precision

Figure 2

Powerful acceleration and high speed are achieved using Mavilor-patented technology, a slotless design that eliminates induced currents and the magnet temperature elevation that results. This unique noncogging motor has been developed to deliver sensitive and precise position control without vibrations or modulations, due to its singular magnet distribution. The need for precise speed control and sensitive positioning control in medical sector applications is paramount. These applications demand perfection in positioning and an absolute control of speed, combined with extreme reliability, since any error could result in serious consequences. That is why instruments such as scanners, centrifuges and other radiological and surgical equipment find their ideal partner in Mavilor motion control systems. High speed is necessary in many hospital applications, for example centrifuges that require high speeds of between 20,000 and 30,000rpm without vibrations, with the added demand of sudden and complete stops. High speed is also a crucial element in odontology equipment and many other hospital instrument applications.
Reliability

Figure 3

Each Mavilor product is the result of an allencompassing quality control system: Mavilor Total Quality. This meticulous quality control produces extremely reliable motors capable of delivering the consistent and unfailing performance that is necessary in a busy medical care application.
Hygiene

These motors were developed to withstand the rigorous cleaning necessary for sterilisation. In
BUSINESS BRIEFING: MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY 2004

New Technologies in the Medical Sector

addition, the motor is a completely closed unit, including flanges and exterior cables, which provides a superior level of IP67 protection. The specially designed rounded shape (no corners) prevents the accumulation of any deposits. These design features allow for an exceptional standard of cleanliness and hygiene.
Silent Operation Partners in Optimisation

features make system installation simple and allow the client to fine-tune the system for the best performance. In addition, various types of customised work cycles can be easily programmed. With this comprehensive product series, ranging from amplifiers to cables and connectors, Mavilor offers complete motion control systems for the medical sector.

Through its Mavilor-patented design, this motor series has an extremely low level of audible noise, making it ideal for medical care environments where noise contamination is not acceptable.
Complete Motion Control Systems

An extensive range of encoders and resolvers transmit position and speed information and the precise electronic control necessary for seamless operation. The electronics stand out for their compact size and ease of use. The auto-tuning and auto-phasing

Mavilor offers superior support from its technical team of engineers and project managers who work with each client to provide the optimum solution for each application. The Mavilor technical support team, driven by innovative and experienced professionals in the medical electronics field, is capable of anticipating the needs of each application and guiding the client towards the optimum motion control solution. They also create customised motors designed specifically to meet the needs of the client.

BUSINESS BRIEFING: MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY 2004