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FEATURE MOTION CONTROL


Incubators provide a safe and secure environment for


premature babies as they recover and


develop. Dave Walsha, sales manager, EMS,


looks into the design considerations, and


how compact integrated motion controllers can meet the


application demands


HIGH PRECISION TECHNOLOGY FOR PREMATURE BABY CARE


A


ccording to the Office of National Statistics, approximately 7.5% of babies in the UK are born prematurely. As their lungs are


still underdeveloped, preterm babies will often suffer from breathing issues, which commonly presents itself as newborn respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). A condition found in around half of all babies born between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, babies with NRDS will struggle to keep their lungs inflated independently, making breathing difficult. Incubators provide an enriched flow of oxygen


to ease the strain on the baby’s respiratory system, helping them to breathe independently and supporting lung development. This airflow needs to be provided at the


right temperature, as premature babies will also often struggle to regulate their own temperature sufficiently. In addition, if the humidity is too low it can dry the baby’s fragile skin, as well as further complicate breathing issues. To control air humidity, incubators use a small impeller to push water onto a diffuser in order to distribute water droplets into the air. In combination with this, a system with a standard fan, heater and drive unit allows for the continuous supply of warm, humidity controlled, air.


FACTORS TO CONSIDER When it comes to the construction of the drive unit within the incubator, there are several


factors that must be considered. It’s important to note that, while the supply of air will need to be continuous, the quantity and qualities themselves are not always constant. The reason for this is that any opening of the incubator will bring in cooler air from the surrounding environment. To maintain an ambient temperature around the baby, the fan system must be able to quickly supply more warm air to compensate for the cooler air flow. Speed control is therefore a necessity when it comes to the drive system. In addition, the electric DC motors in


the drive system will operate very closely to the baby, but premature babies can be incredibly noise sensitive. A motor that runs too loud can potentially damage the baby’s hearing at this stage, so quiet operation is imperative. Building a portable incubator also presents additional challenges to the design engineer in terms of size and weight. There can be no loss of critical functionality, but it must be achieved within an even more compact space.


MOTION CONTROL Finding suitable components to match these needs can be a challenge. The latest FAULHABER BX4 IMC integrated motion controller could be the solution. Described as the world’s smallest integrated motion controller, the BX4 IMC offers


44 DESIGN SOLUTIONS JULY/AUGUST 2024


The compact BX4 IM motion controller


high performance in a compact space, which is essential for building small and reliable incubators. In addition, the BX4 IMC offers a wide speed range of one to 13,000 rotations per minute to accommodate any fan speed. Thanks to FAULHABER’s extensive expertise within the medical sector, the BX4 IMC has also been designed with this market in mind. In the case of premature babies, where even the smallest changes in air or temperature can make a difference, opting for high precision drives is crucial to securing the best possible care and outcome.


EMS


T: 0118 981 7391 www.ems-limited.co.uk


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