Moving coil actuator (MCA) incorporates a non-cogging, direct-drive voice coil linear motor, precision linear guiding mechanism and high resolution linear encoder in one compact, rugged unit
Medical devices have to work first time, every time to avoid potentially disastrous consequences and manufacturers are, quite correctly, required to carry out rigorous testing to prove their quality standards.
Oral inhalers for asthma and other conditions are no exception.
The traditional method for automated mechanical testing of inhalers often involved crude air cylinders with additional sensors bolted on for force and position feedback, resulting in a cumbersome, complicated and inflexible apparatus.
Orlin Technologies says it can offer a better alternative with its moving coil actuator from Smac.
The moving coil actuator (MCA) is an electric actuator which incorporates a non-cogging, direct-drive voice coil linear motor, precision linear guiding mechanism and high resolution linear encoder in one compact, rugged unit.
Furthermore, the Smac controller, by modulating the current in the coil it is able to monitor and control the force applied by the unit.
This means that every Smac MCA system offers precise force feedback as an inherent feature, with no additional hardware required.
Standard position encoder resolution is 5microns, with higher resolution options available and zero-backlash ensures excellent repeatability (typically +/-1 encoder count).
The inhaler testing application takes advantage of all of these features.
Conclusion: the Smac actuator can be used as a qualitative test instrument to produce an accurate force vs position profile of an inhaler (or other devices were such a test is needed, eg switches).
It is self-contained, rugged and easy to use.
Also, because of their high speed and long life (several hundred million cycles), Smac MCAs can also be used for life cycle testing, or a combination of both life and qualitative testing (eg, carry out 10,000 cycles then produce a force graph to determine wear over time).
A video of this test is available on request from Orlin Technologies.
