Maxon’s High-Precision Joints and Autoclavable Motors Drive Next-Gen Surgical Robotics

At the MD&M West MedTech showcase earlier this year, the latest generation of robotic joints and surgical drive systems drove performance.

Peter van Beek, Business Development Manager for Maxon Medical, demonstrated why OEMs are prioritizing pre-validated, modular subsystems to meet stringent performance and sterilization requirements, particularly for surgical robotic systems, surgical power tools, pumping systems and prostheses.

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One example is high-precision joint modules built around strain-wave gearing. “A high-performance joint (HPJ) is constructed of a strain wave gear and it is modular in that you can add a brake on the rear if you like and torque sensing within the strain wave gear or on the exterior,” explained van Beek. “It also comes with two encoders, one for commutation and another for positional control.” The strain wave gear is available with different ratios.

Consolidating the individual components into a single unit shifts the burden of validating and subsystem integration from the OEM to the supplier. For design teams, it means fewer discrete components to source.

Energy Efficiency at the Joint Level

In parallel, Maxon’s high-efficiency joint variants address a different set of design constraints. The platform is based on high-efficiency planetary gear systems paired with frameless, torque-dense EC motors (“we call it a dynamic torque motor”) and dual-encoder architectures. According to van Beek, the emphasis is more on system efficiency for untethered medical and robotic applications where power consumption and runtime are important considerations.

Sterilization Drives Material, Sealing and Motor Design Choices

Van Beek pointed out that sterilization is another performance imperative. Motors made for power tools and robotic systems need to withstand repeated autoclave cycles—typically, 135°C, 100% humidity and under 2.3 bar of pressure, he said.

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Manufacturers are therefore addressing motor construction at the material and sealing level. Encapsulating techniques protect internal components from moisture ingress and thermal stress. Corrosion-resistant stainless-steel grades and high-temperature lubricants ensure durability under autoclave conditions, said van Beek.

Washable Motors Designed for Clinical Cleaning Cycles

In addition to the autoclave sterilization, Maxon is engineering “washable” motors that withstand exposure to saline solutions and aggressive cleaning agents used in clinical environments.

According to van Beek, this development expands the applicability of surgical power tools and other medical devices when they are intended to go through cleansing and sterilization processes up to 500,000 times, van Beek said.

Current offerings in the 13 mm and 16 mm range reflect ongoing demand for compact, high-performance drive solutions that can be integrated into space-constrained surgical instruments without compromising torque or durability.