Celebrating 20 Years!

OBJECTIVE: The development of a machine to crush kidney or gall stones by a piezoelectric shock wave treatment requires accurate positioning of the therapy source. The use of a Hepco ring segment enables the exact location of the stone to be attacked without affecting surrounding tissue.

CUSTOMER CHALLENGE
The very compact piezoelectric therapy head is mounted
on a 110 degree ring segment and is moved manually. Since the weight of the head is around 20kg it is important that it can be moved easily with minimal friction.The original system used an aluminum guide with two segments but deposits from the aluminum and the inability of the guide to handle the 20kg weight meant that inaccuracies were being introduced especially at the upper 55 degree position.

SOLUTION
A precision guide was needed, and as stainIess steel is the preferred material in such an application, a Hepco ring segment ground all over provided the precision required along with good load carrying capacity and a high level of corrosion resistance. As is quite common in Medical applications the requirement is to run dry so as to avoid possible contamination. This is possible with vee bearing technology as the low friction characteristics ensure lubrication is not required.

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