Surgical Hand Tools - Elinco International, Inc. Japanese Products Corp.

Electric surgical hand tools have a number of advantages that make them beneficial for use in the majority of surgical specialties, including neurology, eye, plastics, ENT, and orthopedics. The benefits of electrical tools include:

Portability
Control
Lower noise levels
Improved performance

Thanks to modern innovations in motors for medical devices, manufacturers are able to create products that meet the stringent requirements of the medical industry. These devices must be able to withstand incredibly harsh, demanding environments, including frequent sterilization. The unique applications of electrical surgical tools mean that manufacturers must carefully choose the correct type of motor for the tools to perform optimally.

What is an Autoclave Cycle?

Sterilization is one of the most significant factors to consider when choosing a motor. Hospitals most often utilize autoclaving, a sterilization process that exposes the surgical hand tools to high temperatures, humidity, and variations in pressure.

Although this is not universal, many autoclave systems include additional vacuum cycles. In these instances, steam penetrates the microscopic cavities of the surgical tool in order to kill spores, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Through continued exposure to this type of sterilization process, the motor within the medical device can experience corrosion and electrical issues.

Motor Solutions for Surgical Hand Tools

Selecting the appropriate motor plays a vital role in providing optimal surgical outcomes. There are several motor solutions to choose from depending on the intended application.

The Disposable Tool

For disposable surgical tools that are discarded after a single use, it is common to opt for plastic components and low-cost DC motors. Although the components themselves may be more affordable, disposable tools are less economical, particularly if surgeons need to use a new one multiple times per day.

The Non-Autoclavable

Reusable surgical tools sometimes use a DC motor attached to a non-autoclavable battery pack. This means surgical staff must remove the motor and battery pack prior to sterilization. While this makes it possible to sterilize the surgical tool without impacting the motor, it also means that the motor itself will not be sterilized. As such, hospital staff are required to take extra steps when adding the non-sterile motor back onto the sterilized surgical tool.

Redundant Seals

Manufacturers may choose to permanently attach a DC motor to the surgical tool in an attempt to seal it from the environment and protect it from sterilization. However, with this option, the sealing ultimately becomes redundant and makes the surgical tool bulky, reducing its efficiency.

Autoclave Motor Solution

For surgical tools that undergo frequent exposure to the autoclave process, autoclave DC motors are the ideal solution. These motors are designed to withstand the harsh sterilization process, and they do not require a redundant seal system. This reduces surgical tool size and ensures a simple sterilization process, allowing surgical tools to perform optimally.

Why Partner with Elinco International JPC?

Surgical motors are complex and require a high degree of reliability. At Elinco International JPC, we have nearly a century of experience manufacturing dependable electric instruments, specializing in BLDC motors, SBLDC motors, fans, blowers, and stepper motors.

Our motor solutions are a popular choice within the medical industry thanks to their safety, reliability, and quiet operations. They are suitable for a wide range of medical applications, including surgical hand tools. Top manufacturers around the world continue to trust us to provide fans and motors that meet the stringent demands of the medical industry.

To ensure optimal quality and adherence to industry standards, we are ISO 9001:2015-certified and offer a broad range of RoHS-compliant motors and fans. To learn more about our surgical motor solutions, contact us today.