| The field of Endoscopy has been creating new | | | | freedom, doing this all within a two centimeter |
| medical techniques to perform minimally invasive | | | | space while delivering the necessary torque to cut |
| procedures. Endoscopy refers to devices, broadly | | | | through tissue. |
| called endoscopes, which allow doctors to examine | | | | Brushed DC motors were utilized to provide the |
| a patient's internals and perform surgery through | | | | necessary torque. The use of brushed DC motors |
| the use of specialized, miniature tools instead of | | | | enabled the device to generate enough power for |
| using large incisions. These instruments have | | | | all of the cannula functions without compromising |
| helped reduce the chance of infection, increased | | | | the strict size requirement. A compact planetary |
| patient recovery time, and given doctors high | | | | gearhead connected the power delivery to the |
| precision tools for delicate surgeries. | | | | cannula head, allowing the probe to rotate the |
| The ability to manufacture tools for complicated | | | | cutter, rotate the outer disposable chamber, and |
| surgeries required high precision, miniaturized | | | | move the cutter down the axis of the probe. The |
| components. In particular, delivering power to | | | | unique design of a planetary gearhead enabled all |
| these tools has been revolutionized with the use | | | | of these movement patterns to be performed in |
| of DC micromotors. | | | | a miniature package. |
| For a particular example of how DC micromotors | | | | Finally, a microcontroller is integrated into the |
| are advancing medical technology, take the | | | | entire system to allow a total programmable, |
| automated cannula, a handheld device that can | | | | automated sampling process. This flexibility allows |
| take tissue biopsies for cancer detection. | | | | the unit to perform any required task and to be |
| Technology Is Changing Medicine | | | | adaptable to changing medical practice without |
| Biopsies used to be a relatively invasive procedure | | | | undergoing obsolescence. Combined with the |
| performed by a surgeon. Incisions large enough to | | | | miniaturized brushed DC motors and planetary |
| accommodate a surgeon's hand would be made in | | | | gearhead, this cannula will be able to automate |
| order to harvest a sample. Now, a cannula can | | | | procedures for hospitals. |
| take a series of samples with one single incision | | | | The tools for automated tissue sampling and |
| no larger than two centimeters and is | | | | biopsies is just one application of how DC |
| programmed to be used in the hands of a | | | | micromotors are helping the medical field employ |
| technician rather than using the limited time of a | | | | smaller, more powerful tools to compliment their |
| skilled surgeon. This type of advance is vital to | | | | daily operations. These advances are vital to |
| improving medicine for both the patient's care | | | | reforming the healthcare system in order to |
| while lowering costs in one of the most expensive | | | | provide care at lower costs and with fewer risks |
| healthcare systems worldwide. | | | | without compromising quality. In the end, patients |
| The Nuts And Bolts | | | | are the ones who enjoy the end benefits, such as |
| The ingenuity in this technology is the driver unit. | | | | lowered costs, faster recovery times, and fewer |
| The automated unit is capable of taking samples | | | | complications, of medical technology. |
| and moving the probe along three degrees of | | | | |