Artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, digital twins - the buzzwords currently dominating the medtech industry are primarily digital. The mechanical components in medical technology devices are much less talked about. Yet they form the basis for high-performance and safe systems. Companies in the medical technology sector therefore often rely on precision gearboxes.

Precision gearboxes offer numerous advantages in medical technology

Applications in medical technology place the highest demands on the components used. Precision and safety are particularly crucial here and are significantly influenced by the gearbox solution used. Precision gears such as cycloidal gears and strain wave gears are therefore essential and are used wherever movements need to be carried out precisely, reproducibly and safely. The following is an overview of typical fields of application.

Patient handling

When lifting, transferring and positioning patients, one thing counts above all: safety. Our cycloidal gears are designed for high loads and precise movements and have large safety reserves. They are characterized by constant operating behaviour, low noise levels and ergonomic, millimetre-precise positioning, making patient couches, operating tables and hospital beds safer and more efficient. This enables optimal treatment and at the same time reduces the workload of hospital staff.

Imaging procedures

Imaging procedures such as X-ray or ultrasound usually require positioning accuracy in the hundredths of a millimeter range or even less. Precision drives are therefore a must. In C-arms, for example, cycloidal gears move the rotating arm that carries the X-ray source and detector. Strain wave gears are used to adjust the detector. The low backlash and high rigidity of the precision gears make a decisive contribution to high-quality and detailed body images. Fast and accurate diagnoses are therefore guaranteed.

Surgical robotics

Surgical robots and surgical microscopy place the highest demands on precision. Joystick movements must be transferred to instruments and axes without delay: accurate to the millimetre, absolutely reliable and with as little vibration as possible. Even the smallest deviations could jeopardize accuracy. Our cycloidal gears (for higher torques) and strain wave gears (for the lower torque range) are a well-coordinated team here: they support smooth, exactly reproducible movements and ensure precise implementation. The result: greater patient safety, gentler interventions and less strain on the surgical team.

Rehabilitation and therapy devices

Robot-assisted rehabilitation devices work directly on people and require precise and controlled execution of movements. Precision gears make a key contribution to this: they enable high repeatability, a low breakaway torque and sensitive force control. This supports the consistency, intensity and endurance of the movement measures and reduces the strain on therapists and patients.

Wearables

Exoskeletons and prostheses should work precisely, be lightweight and function safely. Strain wave gears are particularly suitable for this: They transmit forces absolutely backlash-free, react dynamically, are maintenance-free and quiet in operation. Thanks to the high torque density, drives can be designed to be small and light, while the high overload protection ensures safety in everyday life. The result is natural movements and a comfortable feel.

Laboratory automation

Dynamics and precision are equally important in laboratory automation. Laboratory robots, pipetting stations and dosing and pump systems must reliably repeat thousands of cycles while working cleanly, in a controlled manner and without vibrations. Precision gearboxes optimize these processes. They ensure exact positioning and repeatable movements with high dynamics, withstand disinfection processes well and enable space-saving designs thanks to their compact construction.

Dental milling machines

Dental milling machines have to produce complex geometries such as inlays, crowns or bridges with high precision. Strain wave gears are used primarily in the swivel and rotary axes. With minimal backlash, high torsional rigidity and high repeatabilty, they ensure clean path guidance and rigid power transmission, even at high dynamics. This improves the surface quality and ensures the accuracy of fit of the manufactured parts.

Hospital logistics

Mobile robots and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) take the strain off hospitals and laboratories, for example when transporting samples, medication, equipment or patient beds. Precision gearboxes deliver high torques in a small installation space, reliably absorb radial and axial forces and are designed for continuous operation. In combination with Mecanum wheels, they enable compact wheel drives that ensure omnidirectional mobility and precise maneuvers in confined spaces.

Medical technology: Precision gearboxes make the difference

As different as the applications in medical technology are, they all have one thing in common: precision gearboxes make the difference. They enable precise motion sequences and millimetre-accurate positioning, increase patient safety and optimize working conditions for staff - an indispensable component of future MedTech innovations.

Would you like to find out more about the benefits of our precision gearboxes in medical technology applications or do you have questions about a specific project? Get in touch with our experts.