How hospitals benefit from technological automation

As society grows and ages, it’s vital that global healthcare adapts and evolves to meet the challenges this brings. Providing a high standard of healthcare is important to establishing a platform for a healthy civilisation that is prepared to reach its full potential. 

Automation of certain manual and repetitive tasks has fundamentally changed the healthcare sector. By alleviating the pressures that doctors and hospitals face on a day-to-day basis, it allows them to focus on tasks that require a hands-on-approach.

Whether they’re providing sterile work environments or supplying crucial equipment for assisting patients undergoing rehabilitation, the automation systems being integrated into the healthcare sector have undergone various improvements to ensure that hospitals and pharmaceuticals remain safe, efficient and effective.

With automation being integrated into day-to-day processes, from ventilation systems and water pumps to AI and medical robotics, it is important to understand the complexities of automation in the healthcare environment, and the inevitability of it adapting to current world issues.

HVAC and its significance within hospitals

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems played a key role in tackling COVID. Even before the pandemic, they had already been inadvertently preventing the spread of common illnesses, such as the flu virus and colds, from high-densely populated areas.

Unbeknownst to the wider public, engineers were among the frontline staff providing valuable input, especially in the medical sector. With the virus being easily transmissible when airborne, engineers were tasked with preventing essential locations such as hospitals and pharmaceutical facilities from becoming the kind of environment where the virus could lie dormant. As pressures on hospitals increased. experts were sought to examine buildings and investigate how they could reduce and prevent the virus from transferring from patient to patient. 

William Bahnfleth, a mechanical engineering professor, states in ‘The American Society Of Mechanical Engineers’: “That means that the first line of defence for people returning to work will include HVAC engineers, doing what they can to make those buildings safer. It is the sort of issue that engineers could have tackled years ago”. Expanding on this, Professor Bahnfleth explains that the predicament of employing HVAC engineers to optimise airflow quality wouldn’t have been a significant problem if they had authority over the systems when creating them.

In hospitals, HVAC systems must be equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and set to precise temperature and airflow requirements. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) within these systems help regulate how air is extracted, filtered and conditioned – either cooled or heated as required. VFDs also adjust fan speed to match demand, helping reduce energy use and maintain set temperatures. This energy efficiency not only improves system performance but also saves hospitals money in the long term.

CAT scans and the automation aiding doctors 

CT or CAT scans are a widely known diagnostic procedure, dedicated to the investigation, imaging and prevention of many underlying health issues. A by-product of CAT scans is X-ray radiation, which, while useful, can be harmful when exposed to prolonged or regular contact. Automating the CAT scan procedure saves time and increases safety for staff and patients. 

CAT scanners often include two VFDs) to ensure precise and repeatable operation during scanning. One VFD controls the rotational aspect of the gantry, maintaining a constant and carefully calibrated angular velocity to ensure even image resolution across the scan. The second VFD drives the linear actuator that controls the motorised bed, allowing for smooth, incremental movement of the patient into and out of the scanner bore. This precision in motion is vital for aligning the scan slices correctly and avoiding image artefacts. Coordinated operation between the scanner's imaging system and the motion control provided by the VFDs contributes significantly to the quality and diagnostic value of the resulting images.

Automation of hospital beds

A medical facility needs to be practical, but also as comfortable as possible for patients. Therefore, the equipment should suit any medical assistance they require while still offering comfort.

As an example of the specialism that goes into every aspect of care, electrical hospital beds are uniquely effective for aiding patients in their road to recovery. Most include various features which are perceived as comfortability additions, but they also provide valuable assistance to the patients and doctors alike. 

With reclining features on patient’s bed, it ensures that they’re positioned comfortably, whilst also offering suitable support for those who need to minimise pressure on recent surgical incision areas.

Height adjustment is another key feature that serves both comfort and safety. By raising or lowering the bed, patients of all sizes can get in and out more easily, and the risk of falls – especially for elderly or post-operative patients – is significantly reduced. Proper bed height also improves ergonomics for healthcare workers, reducing the physical strain of lifting and repositioning patients.

How are technological advancements in robotic surgery progressing? 

Innovation is valuable when manufacturing new technology, especially if its applications are used in a healthcare environment. Due to this, many products are part of wider scale projects dedicated to a singular goal: improving patient outcomes.

An example of the ever advancing field of robotic surgery is the Da Vinci robotic surgical arm, a long-term project by Intuitive, a company that has developed a range of robotic platforms tailored to different surgical applications.

The Da Vinci system represents a major leap in surgical assistance. It features articulated robotic arms equipped with high-precision instruments and is operated remotely by a surgeon using a console. The system translates the surgeon’s hand movements into micro-movements in real time, offering enhanced dexterity, stability, and precision that surpass the limits of human hands. Integrated 3D high-definition imaging also provides a magnified view of the surgical field, improving visibility and enabling more exact navigation during procedures.

By reducing the need for direct physical contact, robotic-assisted surgery can help lower the risk of infection. The technology also enables many procedures to be performed using minimally invasive techniques, with smaller incisions, less trauma to surrounding tissue, and more consistent suturing. These factors significantly shorten average recovery times, reduce postoperative pain, and lower the likelihood of complications.

Looking to the future with Nidec

Adaptability of the healthcare sector is fundamentally important, as integrating automation within key processes can save cost, improve efficiency but more importantly to mitigate health issues and support patients comfort in recovery.

For decades, Nidec has been developing high-precision, efficient solutions which will benefit all aspects of healthcare; from facilities management to the operating theatre.

Join us and help provide a healthier tomorrow.