- High torque 4 Pole BLDC motor
- Continuous torques of up to 0.7Nm
- Voltage range 12-48V DC
- NEMA 23 mountings
- IP54 protection
- Class F insulation
- Low noise and vibration resistance
As technology advances and pressures on staffing increases, the medical profession is adopting more automation in medical equipment. This sometimes life saving equipment needs to be reliable, compact, and efficient and has led to many manufacturers specifying brushless (BLDC) over brushed motors in equipment designs. Brushed DC motors do not have the long life required for medical equipment, as the brushes are often the component which wears out first. Many BLDC motors have a life expectancy of more than 10,000 hours which is as much as double the lifespan of a brushed DC motor.
Motors are found in numerous medical applications from mobility aids such as motorized wheelchairs, to stairlifts and hoists to pumps providing oxygen and vital fluids. Whilst the applications are wide, the main requirements are reliability and efficiency. Applications can include:
Medical Analyzers which are used to test thousands of samples of bodily fluids such as blood and urine every year and are expected to run for eight hours or more every day.
The most common motor used in medical analyzers are stepper motors, a form of BLDC, although they generally have a higher pole count than a standard BLDC.
However, these are slowly being replaced with standard BLDC motors which can rotate at a capacity higher than the highest stepper motor output, as well as having high-heat transfer efficiencies and a long, life expectancy.
Medical Pumps have a variety of different life-saving functions including being part of the process of purifying blood within a dialysis machine.
Whilst efficiency, life-expectancy and reliability are essential with medical pumps, as they are used within proximity of patients for long periods they also need to run quietly. This is where choosing the most suitable BLDC motor is essential.
Air Pumps (ventilators) often work for days at a time, and therefore need to be reliable, as well as emitting low-noise, and providing accurate pressure and flow. Brushless DC motors are long-lasting, are compact, have a high torque density and precise motor speed control ensuring a regulated air flow.
Fluid Pumps have diverse usage from transfusions and infusions to dialysis and syringe pumps. These pumps need to be compact in size, and quiet as they are in close proximity to the patient, but also need to be able to accurately control the liquid volume, pressure and flow. Using a BLDC motor with accurate motor speed control and high torque density is just what is required to ensure a long and efficient life for these pumps.
Stair Lifts are required to remain reliable even with daily lifting and frequent running. They should be compact as they are often required to be fit into tight spaces, and the motor needs to be quiet as well as running smoothly.
Patient Hoists is another important application of the BLDC and motors need to be reliable, and capable of repeatedly lifting heavy weights.
The Parvalux BLx60 brushless motor is capable of lifting up to 450kg (992 lbs). They also need to be compact, as hoists are typically installed in tight spaces as well as smooth running and low-noise due to the close proximity to patients.
The BLx60 brushless motor
The BLx60 is the first in our range of brushless permanent magnet DC motors with models offering a wide range of operating voltages and speeds. The BLx60 is a highly efficient motor, designed for medical market applications such as pumps, stairlifts and patient hoists. This motor has a number of key features including: