Smart medical technology thanks to the industrial revolution

More than 200 years ago, the first railroad went into operation and became a symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Some people were probably afraid of the great unknown change, but it was the Industrial Revolution that made today's standard of living possible. From the simplest automation of small, previously hand-operated sub-processes, developments led to completely automated and even autonomous machines, vehicles, and devices. The increasing autonomy of machines in turn brings forward further developments in terms of digitalization. In this context, we already talk about the fourth industrial revolution. Its benefits will revolutionize not only traditional industrial sectors, but also numerous applications in the field of medical technology. Let's look at what the future will bring:

Industry 4.0 – Digitalization and Connectivity

Currently, we have entered the fourth industrial revolution. It is characterized by digitalization and connectivity of products and processes. The basis is connected systems and processes, which digitally connect people, machines, and products through information and communication technology. The integration of machines into communication technology is a central element of the ongoing digitalization and is known as IoT - Internet of Things. The connectivity of applications such as transportation systems or production robots is already well-known in industries such as logistics or mechanical engineering. However, these principles can be applied to all areas in which devices can accelerate processes or increase their efficiency through digital connectivity – for example in the field of medical technology.

IoMT - Internet of Medical Things

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) applies the principles of Industry 4.0 to medical technology. This development will fundamentally change the healthcare system in the coming years. Software is the key component for this development. It will control devices, automate processes, and make medicine smarter through artificial intelligence and machine learning. The connection of information and the automated processing of patient data will simplify and improve diagnostics and therapy. Efficiency will be increased while costs are reduced. Only with the help of future-proof solutions can we manage the challenges in current healthcare systems. IoMT is the answer to rising patient numbers, the shortage of nursing staff, and increasing efficiency and cost pressures, which pushes the traditional healthcare system to its limits.

Networking and communication are the new success factors

In medical technology, there are many devices that simplify healthcare processes through automation. The utilized drive solutions must thus meet the same requirements and provide future-oriented features to support IoMT applications.

In addition to the known requirements such as torque, speed, reliability, and small installation space, they must be intelligent and digitally connectable. The motor and drive solution must be programmable and provide information easily and securely. This information enables monitoring of the condition and function of the medical device. Thus, new concepts for optimized use in everyday hospital life can be realized through, for example, proactive maintenance, new service models (e.g., pay per use), and transparent management over the entire product life cycle.

New possibilities made possible with predictive maintenance

The monitoring of device data at regular intervals enables an analysis of the device condition and allows users to react in time to avoid a potentially expensive failure of the medical application.
This is illustrated by the example of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system: this is a system that enables analytical separation, determination, and quantification of substances. An unexpected failure of this device is expensive and can damage or even destroy a sample. For both the hospital staff and the patient, this means double work, longer waiting times, and uncertainty about current symptoms. An important component for the functionality of the device is its pump, which is operated by an intelligent motor. Dunkermotoren, a brand of AMETEK, offers the appropriate intelligent, reliable, and customized drive solutions for this application. Depending on the requirements, a brushless BG 42 or BG 45 motor is the perfect fit. With the suitable intelligence and communication option, condition monitoring on a regular basis can be realized. The collected data is evaluated and recommends proactive steps to take in order to improve service life of the machine. In case of a critical change in performance, automatic notifications are sent to the user, operator, or equipment manufacturer suggesting maintenance steps. If the data is also linked to the operation schedule of the device, a suitable timeslot for the maintenance is even determined and suggested.

This automated process prevents downtime, increases the reliability of the application, and enables enormous cost savings for the device manufacturer and the healthcare facility - thanks to intelligent drive solutions.

Drive solutions for future-proof applications

As the world market leader for smart motors with integrated electronics, Dunkermotoren has recognized the enormous potential of digitalization in the field of smart drives. Thanks to its brand nexofox, Dunkermotoren not only offers its customers smart motors, but a complete solution package of digitally connectable motors including the corresponding infrastructure of gateways and cloud connectivity. Years of experience from key Industry 4.0 applications, such as the intralogistics market, can now be used and applied in medical technology.

The motor and drive technology manufacturer from the Black Forest is thus breaking new ground and moving from simply being a product supplier to a full-service provider. With nexofox, Dunkermotoren is prepared to meet the requirements of IIoT and IoMT and thus sets its course for upcoming challenges.

Author: Holger Tröndle, Key Account Manager Healthcare & Laboratory, Dunkermotoren GmbH



Downloads

• Professional Article (PDF)