Automation & Controls

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The MSR 40 modular steel tape rotary encoder from RSF Elektronik (Tarsdorf, Austria) is now available in North America through the HEIDENHAIN Corporation (Schaumburg, IL). The encoder is suitable for measurement applications with diameters of 6 in (150 mm) to 6 ft (~2 m). The steel tape of the MSR 40 utilizes the proven Single-Field Scanning principle with 200 μm grating pitch, offering ease of mounting with high achievable angular resolution. Accuracy of the system is ±30 μm/m with an operating temperature of 0 to 50 °C. The MDR version uses a steel ring tensioning cleat for encoders mounted to a steel surface, allowing for thermal expansion, while the MER version uses a rubber gasket with a low-profile tensioning cleat for other mounting surfaces. Line counts of up to 20,000 are available.
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Bimba Manufacturing (Monee, IL) has introduced the Pneumatic Isolation Valve (PIV) Series to its line of air preparation products. The series is available in nine sizes, ranging from 0.25" to 1.5". They feature a lock out — tag out style and meet OSHA and ANSI/PMMI standards that require a lockout valve installed on all air-operated equipment to isolate the equipment from its air supply and to exhaust all downstream air pressure, making the equipment safe for maintenance. Oversized exhaust ports for quick pressure dump translate into more machine “up-time.”
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Portescap (West Chester, PA) has introduced the AthlonixTM high-power density brush DC motor that features a compact, lightweight package (15 to 53 grams, depending on frame size), and output power of up to 9 watts. The energy-efficient coreless design includes optimized self-supporting coil and magnetic circuit, which delivers maximized power density and sustained endurance in 12, 16, and 22 mm frame sizes. The optimized coil design leads to low motor regulation factor with energy efficiency approaching 90%, depending on motor load conditions. With a maximum continuous torque of 16.5 mNm, the motor is suitable for use in medical pumps.

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Sanidoor (Daytona Beach, FL) offers a touch-free door-opening system designed to reduce the spread of germs in restrooms in hospitals and healthcare facilities. It can be retro-fitted to swinging doors and includes safety measures for impediment or entrapment protection. The system is ADA compliant and approved to meet all U.S. standards for automatic door openers.


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MicroMo Electronics (Clearwater, FL) offers brushless flat DC micromotors suitable for laboratory and medical applications. The motors deliver nominal voltages of 6 or 12 V. The 15 m-diameter motors provide continuous output torque of 0.6 mNm, while the 26-mm-diameter motors provide 3.8 mNm. Gearmotor versions of these drives increase the output
torque to 30 or 100 mNm, and are available with reduction ratios of 6 to 324:1 (Series 15) or 8 to 1257: 1 (Series 26).

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Creation of small, portable infusion pumps opened a new chapter in medical care. A patient can receive carefully metered and timed doses of medicine without requiring a visit to a medical practitioner, allowing life to be less restrictive. Ambulatory pumps have been developed to deliver insulin, nutritive supplements, and anti-cancer drugs.
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This method creates a hands-free way of controlling devices such as medical equipment, wheelchairs, computers, and cell phones.

Current methods of device control include joysticks, which involve using one or both hands, external microphones that are cumbersome and pick up ambient noise, and external arrays that are also cumbersome and can restrict a user’s movement. Additionally, the external microphone and array options do not provide a high level of accuracy in certain situations.
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