ECG Thermal Printer

ECG thermal printers record electrical heart activity over a specific time period using electrodes placed on the patient’s body. The resulting graph is printed on a thermal sensitive paper that is delivered by a DC motor powered roller.

A leading medical device and diagnostics company approached Portescap to improve their ECG printer motion solution. They wanted to replace their existing motor design with a motor of similar performance but longer life and a lower price point.

Portescap’s Quick Prototype Team developed an approach to employ an Athlonix^TM 22DCP brush DC motor with a single ball bearing design (as opposed to a dual ball bearing design in the incumbent motor). The new solution maintains performance and even improves the life of the application, thanks to the high results achieved with the Athlonix brush commutation. This out-of-the box thinking provided the necessary cost savings and long-life printer operation. Also, Portescap’s global sales and support organization provide the application support desired by the international customer.

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