Alexander Kapelevich: AKGears
Thomas McNamara: Thermotech

Abstract
Modern achievements in medical design require engineers to consider using gear drives for numerous applications, such as a wide variety of pumps, surgical and dental instruments, hospital and handicap equipment, disposable devices, data acquisition and recording systems, etc. Medical applications set specific performance priorities that are very different from more traditional gear applications like, for example, propulsion or positioning gear transmissions. These performance priorities may include: tight space limitations (miniature gear drives), extremely high RPM, low or no noise operation, restricted use of lubricants, disposability, and others. Accordingly, the gears are made from non-traditional gear materials from soft polymers to harden stainless alloys. Design of the medical gear drives must satisfy specifics of operating conditions and performance requirements.