Determining PRECISE POSITION

In designing medical devices, accuracy and reliability are vital. Dispensing systems must always fill the correct medication orders and surgical tools must provide the correct measurements. A new surgical tool was developed to be used in the procedure known as Dascor Disc Arthroplasty. Basically, this procedure is a minimally-invasive way to help treat patients suffering from Degenerative Disc Disease. A portion of the disc between a patient’s vertebrae is surgically removed. To fill that removed section, a polymer is injected into the region determined by a CT scan. Determining the correct amount of polymer to inject requires a very specific measurement. This new process uses a medical device with a motor driving ball screw that is monitored by a linear position sensor to accurately deliver the proper amount of polymer to the area. The sensor is magnetostrictive and has a size on the order of a few dozen millimeters. The linear sensor, combined with a pressure sensor, can accurately dispense the correct amount of polymer to the affected region.  Read the full article at Design News.

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