Picking a spring with the proper action, material, and feel can be critical to the success of a medical device.
Choosing or designing the right spring is especially critical when it comes to medical devices.
Springs can be used on various medical devices including; x-ray machines, bed lifts, and drug cabinet dispensers and surgical devices.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing the right design or spring.
Choose the right configuration;
- Compression Springs – for compression force
- Extension Springs – for pulling forces
- Torsion Springs – for torque forces
- Flat Springs – for applications where the above will not work in the application
- Wire can run as low as .003″, most spring coilers can manufacture starting at .007″
- Material types for medical springs are many times stainless steel. Carbon steel generally has better spring properties, but is typically used is an environment that is non-corrosive or a non-sterile environment.
Other consideration;
Sometimes when testing a device, especially a medical tool using a spring, feel is important. The spring manufacturer can assist with designing the feel desired in a medical device using a spring.
Additionally, spring manufacturers can assist with design and all the components of spring design including; spring ends, size envelope, weight of the spring, movement, trap and tolerances, cost-saving input, and much more.
There’s typically more than one solution to solving a spring problem. Leave it to the spring experts to help guide medical designers in finding their unique solution.