Feature

Brushless DC motors optimise performance for medical ventilators

In modern medicine, ventilators have significantly enhanced patient survival rates. Providing essential airflow when natural breathing is insufficient to sustain life, these devices support people undergoing surgery, tackling lung issues, suffering pulmonary ailments, or facing otherwise imminent failure of bodily functions.

04/03/2025 12:36:00

Correctly specifying the miniature motors that power mechanical ventilators is essential for reliable operation, optimal performance and successful procedures.

Matthieu Bouat, Application Engineer at Portescap, explores why brushless DC (BLDC) miniature motors are the correct selection for a range of ventilator designs.

There are a variety of medical ventilators on the market, and they are differentiated by the drive mechanism that generates the airflow.

Compressor-based ventilators take several forms. Air or oxygen can be directly supplied from a compressor via lines or tanks, with bellows, vents or regulation valves managing delivery to the patient. Other designs feature pistons driven by electric motors, which compress air without the need for external hospital supply lines or compressors.

Turbine advantages
Increasingly popular with medical device manufacturers, turbine-driven ventilators utilise a high-speed turbine to produce pressurised airflow. The widespread adoption of this design is due to a few key advantages. First, pneumatic performance either equals or exceeds that of compressor-based ventilators used in intensive care units (ICUs).

Read the full article in DPA's March 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.