Medical Application of BLDC
Medical Application of BLDC
Medical Application of BLDC
Referred to by many design engineers as the ideal replacement for the more commonly used brushed DC electric
motor, brushless DC (BLDC) motors are more frequently finding their way into an increasing number of medical
applications every year. Challenges that once hindered these types of DC electric motors from being designed into
medical equipment such as the cost of drive electronics are being addressed by the electric motors and controls
industry. Furthermore, customer push to develop more efficient, more compact, and more reliable medical equipment
has subsequently led to the emergence of brushless DC motors within medical applications.
Sensorless BLDC drives do not require HFD's to provide feedback from the motor. Instead, sensorless BLDC drives
detect a motor's naturally produced back-EMF to determine the best method of commutation. The most common
technique uses a ramp-up pattern to energize two motor phases while monitoring the third phase for back-EMF. This
technique requires the drive to initially orient the rotor to a known position. Next, two phases are energized based on
a ramp-up pattern such as AB-AC-BC-BA-CA-CB. As the motor increases speed, a proportionate amount of backEMF is produced by the motor on the non-energized phase. When the amount of back-EMF becomes sufficient
enough for the drive to sense, the drive will switch over from the ramp-up technique to a back-EMF, "zero-crossing",
technique.
The DC motor must rotate at a minimal speed to generate sufficient back-EMF for the drive to sense.
Sudden changes in the load can cause the back-EMF loop to become out of sync and result in a loss of
speed and torque.
Motors used in hospital equipment or other patient-care facilities are required to comply with low noise level
standards to endorse patient comfort and reduce anxiety. Nevertheless, electric motors used in sleep apnea
equipment operate at high speeds and are expected to comply with even lower noise level standards. Brushless DC
motors are ideal for noise sensitive environments because they do not have brushes, which emit audible noise during
rotation.
When compared to brush DC electric motors, brushless DC motors provide exactly that:
Greater amounts of torque over a larger speed range and capable of performing at higher duty cycles
Higher heat transfer efficiency which allows them to run cooler in crowded spaces
There is a direct correlation between the location of an electric motor's windings and the rate in which heat is
dissipated from a motor. For optimal heat dissipation, the ideal location for the windings is affixed to the motor's
housing. Being that the windings of the brushless DC motor are affixed to the motor's housing, the BLDC motor is
very efficient at transferring heat away from the motor.
Medical applications typically require motors to long life. A BLDC motor is more reliable than a brushed DC motor
because it does not have any brushes to wear out and replace. The life expectancy of the brushless type of dc
electric motors is over 10,000 hours, whereas brushed DC motors have life expectancies of 2,000 to 5,000 hours.
Today, stepper motors, a close relative of DC electric motors, particularly the brushless kind, are the most common
type of motor used in medical analyzers. Stepper motors are also considered to be "brushless DC" motors. However,
the major difference is the construction and pole count of its rotor assembly. Stepper motors have a higher pole count
than that of a brushless DC motor. The more poles a motor has, the lower its top speed. The need to develop
machines with higher throughput requires the motor to rotate at speeds above the capability of stepper motors.
Brushless DC motors are ideal for medical analyzers because they combine the characteristics of high speed
operation, high heat transfer efficiency, and they have long life expectancies.
Conclusion
The BLDC motor will continue to emerge within medical applications. As sensorless brushless DC drives continue to
develop and costs are reduced, the attractiveness of brushless DC motors will continue to increase. Customer
demand for medical equipment capable of handling even higher throughput and of higher reliability than the
machines of today will continue to challenge the capabilities of brushed DC electric motors. Lastly, the trend of
reducing the size of medical equipment will require the motor's overall size to continue to become smaller.
brushed DC motor, are myriad. The brushless variety of DC electric motor can be effective in industries ranging from
computer parts and accessories to audiovisual equipment. In any area where motors are used, the utility of a
brushless motor should be considered.
About NMB Technologies Corporation - NMB Technologies Corporation, a Minebea Group Company, is the world's
largest manufacturer of miniature precision ball bearings and a volume leader in the design and manufacturing of
precision electro-mechanical components, including cooling fans, precision small motors (including brushless and
brush DC motors) and mechanical bearing assemblies, among others. NMB products can be found in the personal
computing, networking, telecommunications, home entertainment, home electronics, automotive, medical and
industrial markets.