The Challenge:
Robotic-assisted surgery is an emerging technology that has seen rapid growth over the past decade. One company on the leading edge and a global leader in the field contacted XMEK with their idea for a new device they were developing. Requirements for the seals on this very expensive device were complex and would require a vast knowledge of materials and engineering expertise not found at a typical seal company. The customer specified that the seal not only needed to be dry running, but also must have very low friction in order for the equipment to operate properly. Additional challenges included dealing with both vacuum and pressure as well as the ability to withstand contact with harsh chemicals, such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide, used during the system cleaning process.
The Solution:
The highly knowledgeable and experienced team from XMEK worked very closely with the customers own engineering team to develop a solution. Balancing sealing with concerns about friction, the team recommendation was a spring energized seal. Spring energized seals offer extreme sealing for the most demanding applications. The performance of spring energized seals is unmatched in high-pressure, high-temperature environments, as well as providing the best chemical resistance.
The Results:
The customer was thrilled with the unbiased approach used by the XMEK team. They appreciated that they were not just sold a product; rather offered a complete solution customized to their specific needs. In addition, because XMEK has the manufacturing capabilities to produce the spring energized seal, the customer was able to work directly with XMEK to optimized the quality of the final product.
Application / Products:
- Spring energized seals for remote surgery equipment
