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Chris Johnson predicts that future medical robots will likely 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 quick towards rising requirements to forestall 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 solid 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 will’t think about at the moment 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 expertise has come a great distance since easy robotic arms have been first launched within the Nineteen Eighties. Though surgical robots have gotten cheaper, trendy 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 comprised of high-purity metals akin to martensitic stainless-steel. Examples embrace medical robots that assist undertake keyhole surgical procedure the place the utmost precision is required. Surgical robotic bearings should ship the best attainable rotational accuracy whereas additionally being sufficiently small to suit into these usually compact and moveable hospital gadgets.

Nevertheless, metal bearings have limitations together with contamination. Whereas metal bearings are powerful and able to withstanding extremely corrosive environments, they’re prone 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 may cause denting and put on. 

In fact, contamination on the whole is unacceptable in well being and security environments. As robots turn into extra prevalent in medical functions, rules are getting stricter to forestall contamination.

Study from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and plenty of extra.

Ceramic can change metal, says SMB Bearings

All of those components affect the selection of fabric for bearings in medical environments — however what materials can change metal? The medical gear sector is more and more selecting bearings made completely of zirconia (ZrO2), or different unique ceramic compounds. Based on the Institute of Supplies, Minerals, and Mining, “ceramic bearings comprised of ZrO₂ are powerful, with comparable enlargement properties to stainless-steel and 440 stainless-steel, though they’re 30% lighter.” 

Certainly, full ceramic precision bearings are more durable than metal, with superior corrosion and warmth resistance, larger dimensional stability, and decrease density. Nevertheless, ceramic bearings are costly. This can be a massive problem for well being institutes that function inside tight budgets, so the choice to spend money on them should be well-considered. Fortuitously, ceramic bearings maintain an a variety 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 may be washed down repeatedly.

The necessity to keep away from contamination accompanies different design necessities akin to excessive speeds, low noise, and non-magnetic properties. As an illustration, as a result of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners use a robust magnetic subject to generate two- or three-dimensional pictures of any dwelling topic, metal bearings can’t be used on account of their magnetic properties.

SMB Bearings says ceramic bearings maintain an a variety 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. Nevertheless, there are different situations the place utilizing the incorrect parts in such medical or laboratory gear can contaminate examine situations or trigger the examine to stop altogether.

As a substitute, the additional funding in ceramic bearings might help be certain that medical robots run with effectiveness and longevity — particularly as they’re “solid extra as companions offering emotional help, somewhat than seen as instruments.”

Concerning the creator

Chris Johnson is the managing director at SMB Bearings, a specialist ceramic bearings provider. Johnson has over 14 years of expertise at SMB Bearings.