Back

Main Menu

Connect:

Request A Quote Contact Us

Your browser is out of date.

You are currently using Internet Explorer 7/8/9, which is not supported by our site. For the best experience, please use one of the latest browsers.

banner

Bearings for the Medical Industry 

AST Bearings provides a range of bearing products tailored to the demanding applications of the medical industry, including surgical and dental tools, diagnostic and laboratory equipment, pumps and much more.

When choosing bearings for medical devices & medical applications, considerations include high speeds, low noise, service life and resistance to harsh environments, aggressive chemicals or fluids. These factors coupled with strict regulations make selecting the correct bearing of the utmost importance.

All bearings should be manufactured using rings produced from high purity material.
Common materials for bearings for medical instruments include:

  • Martensitic stainless steel, similar to AISI 440C
  • Nitrogen enhanced martensitic stainless steel
  • Ceramic materials, such as silicon nitride
  • 300 series Stainless Steel

Lubrication 

Lubricant selection may be the specification most overlooked by designers and engineers. In Medical, and most bearing applications, life depends on proper lubrication in terms of both type and amount.

In many cases, miniature and smaller instrument bearings are lubricated once for the lifetime of the device. AST has thousands of greases and oils available that are designed to function in a variety of conditions and environments. Click here to learn more about lubrication.

bearing

Bearings Catalog

Check out our online product catalog with more than 10,000 products with full specifications & 3D CAD Models available for download - all free of charge!

Bearing Products for the Medical Industry 

There are a wide variety of medical applications, the following bearings are some of the more commonly utilized in medical devices. For our full product listing, click here.

Miniature ball bearings have an outside diameter of less than 3/8" (<9.525 mm) or are small bearings with an outside diameter less than or equal to 1/2" (≤12.7 mm) having a ratio of outside diameter to inside diameter equal to or less than two.

Instrument ball bearings are not limited to certain sizes. They are precision ball bearings that must meet two or more of the following criteria: low or uniform starting or running torque; smooth operation or vibration limitations; a definite contact angle or preload or both; high cleanliness standards.

Ball bearings can support moderate radial loads and moderate axial loads (parallel to the shaft). They can operate at high speeds. Ball bearings with shields or seals for protection can be lubricated to last for the operating life. 

Linear bushing bearings and linear way bearings incorporate several rows of re-circulating balls or rollers for low-friction and precise linear motion. Linear bushing bearings use a round shaft and linear way bearings have a rectangular-shaped track.

Sub-assemblies incorporate precision bearings and components manufactured to the most exacting specifications. AST can conduct design reviews and provide assemblies manufactured to your specifications or ours. Our highly skilled technicians can provide you with a reliable assembly at significant cost savings.

Need Assistance Selecting the Proper Medical Industry?

If you need help in selecting the best products for your particular application, please remember that design engineering and application assistance are available from AST as part of our value-added services designed to make your job easier.

Value added services

Ask A Question

Ask us a question and one of our team members will respond as soon as possible.
Fields marked with * are required.