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Chris Johnson predicts that future medical robots shall be used extra to supply sufferers with emotional help than as instruments. | Supply: SMB Bearings
Robots are on the rise in medical environments and are being more and more relied upon to hold out extra advanced procedures. Though martensitic stainless steels have been favored for bearings in robotic functions, their efficiency is falling brief towards rising requirements to stop contamination in medical environments.
GlobalData predicted that the medical robotics market will rise from $4.7 billion in 2020 to $14.5 billion in 2030. The analyst agency stated these robots will “be forged extra as companions offering emotional help, somewhat than seen as instruments.” The quote refers to synthetic intelligence changing into extra superior, permitting robots to supply extra therapeutic help to sufferers in methods we are able to’t think about at this time and to counter workers shortages.
From surgical help robots that assist carry out minimally invasive procedures to therapeutic robots to help rehabilitation for accidents and paralysis, the know-how has come a great distance since easy robotic arms had been first launched within the Eighties. Though surgical robots have gotten cheaper, fashionable medical functions are additionally demanding larger precision and pace capabilities from these robots.
Historically, in medical devices, bearings — which optimize the rotation of axes in robotic arms by limiting or avoiding friction and jolts — have been made out of high-purity metals corresponding to martensitic stainless-steel. Examples embody medical robots that assist undertake keyhole surgical procedure the place the utmost precision is required. Surgical robotic bearings should ship the best doable rotational accuracy whereas additionally being sufficiently small to suit into these typically compact and moveable hospital units.
Nonetheless, metal bearings have limitations together with contamination. Whereas metal bearings are powerful and able to withstanding extremely corrosive environments, they’re inclined to particulate contamination as a result of very excessive contact pressures towards the metal inside the bearing whereas it strikes. If left unchecked, this contamination could cause denting and put on.
After all, contamination typically is unacceptable in well being and security environments. As robots turn into extra prevalent in medical functions, rules are getting stricter to stop contamination.
Study from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and plenty of extra.
Ceramic can substitute metal, says SMB Bearings
All of those components affect the selection of fabric for bearings in medical environments — however what materials can substitute metal? The medical gear sector is more and more selecting bearings made completely of zirconia (ZrO2), or different unique ceramic compounds. In keeping with the Institute of Supplies, Minerals, and Mining, “ceramic bearings made out of ZrO₂ are powerful, with related growth properties to stainless-steel and 440 stainless-steel, though they’re 30% lighter.”
Certainly, full ceramic precision bearings are tougher than metal, with superior corrosion and warmth resistance, larger dimensional stability, and decrease density. Nonetheless, ceramic bearings are costly. It is a massive subject for well being institutes that function inside tight budgets, so the choice to spend money on them have to be well-considered. Luckily, ceramic bearings maintain a number of benefits for medical environments.
One is that the bearings don’t react to chemical compounds. Meaning they don’t corrode or weaken when subjected to harsh chemical compounds used for sterilization in hospitals. Ceramics don’t require lubrication that might in any other case draw contaminants like mud, water, or humidity. This additionally eliminates the necessity for upkeep processes like relubrication. Ceramic bearings are additionally waterproof, so will be washed down commonly.
The necessity to keep away from contamination accompanies different design necessities corresponding to excessive speeds, low noise, and non-magnetic properties. As an example, as a result of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners use a robust magnetic discipline to generate two- or three-dimensional photographs of any residing topic, metal bearings can’t be used resulting from their magnetic properties.
SMB Bearings says ceramic bearings maintain a number of benefits for medical environments. | Supply: SMB Bearings
Spend money on the precise supplies for high-value functions
So, is investing in ceramic bearings for medical environments value it? There are nonetheless sure functions the place the pace and precision of metal are essential, like in surgical robots. Nonetheless, there are different situations the place utilizing the improper parts in such medical or laboratory gear can contaminate examine situations or trigger the examine to stop altogether.
As an alternative, the additional funding in ceramic bearings may also help be certain that medical robots run with effectiveness and longevity — particularly as they’re “forged extra as companions offering emotional help, somewhat than seen as instruments.”
Concerning the writer
Chris Johnson is the managing director at SMB Bearings, a specialist ceramic bearings provider. Johnson has over 14 years of expertise at SMB Bearings.