Industry

Vacuum pumps for medicine and hospitals

Vacuum sterilises, extracts and supplies diagnostic equipment: in the autoclave it removes the air so that the sterilant spreads, in hospitals and dental practices it extracts liquids and anaesthetic gas, and mass spectrometers, electron microscopes and imaging equipment work under vacuum. Added to this is the manufacture of medical devices with thermoforming, drying, testing and packaging. Below you can see which series the manufacturers themselves name for these tasks – 757 models from 7 manufacturers.

Compare 757 modelsSee the applications

  • 757Models
  • 75Series
  • 7Manufacturers
  • 8Applications
Operating theatre with medical equipment
Operating theatre with medical equipment

In short

Medical and healthcare: vacuum pumps – the key facts

  • SterilisationVacuum removes the air from the autoclave so that the sterilant spreads well, and dries at the end of the cycle (Leybold). For H₂O₂ sterilisation, Pfeiffer Vacuum names pump-down cycles down to 0.1 hPa, and for the humid environment of autoclaves Elmo Rietschle names L series liquid ring vacuum pumps.
  • Suction and standardsBusch describes its MEDIVAC hospital vacuum system with three pumps (one active, two on standby) and two bacteria filters and refers to MDR 2017/745 and ISO 7396-1:2016; for medical suction, Busch names MINK, R5 and SECO.
  • Compressed air and ventilationBusch names SAMOS and SECO for oil-free, clean medical compressed air; Elmo Rietschle names G series side channel blowers for ventilators and breathing aids as well as low-pressure side channel blowers for air beds and chair lifts.
  • DiagnosticsPfeiffer Vacuum states about 45 dB for HiScroll and names DuoVane and HiScroll for diagnostic imaging; Leybold names SOGEVAC BI, ECODRY plus and SCROLLVAC plus as backing pumps for analytical instruments in screening, diagnosis and drug research.

Applications

Medical and healthcare: what vacuum pumps are used for

For each application: what the vacuum does and which series the manufacturers name for it. The information comes from the manufacturers’ own pages.

Sterilisation (autoclave, H₂O₂, EtO)

Vacuum removes the air so that the sterilant spreads well, and dries at the end of the cycle (Leybold); Atlas Copco names air removal in the autoclave and vacuum cycles in EtO sterilisation. Pfeiffer Vacuum describes H₂O₂ sterilisation in pump-down cycles down to 0.1 hPa with vapour-tolerant rotary vane pumps and multi-stage Roots pumps and names ACP, DuoVane and HiScroll for it in its product finder; for the cold sterilisation of heat-sensitive products such as endoscopes, Leybold names TRIVAC and NEO D, and for steam sterilisation the dry screw pump VARODRY, which needs no water. Elmo Rietschle names L series liquid ring vacuum pumps for the humid environment of autoclaves, Busch COBRA and DOLPHIN for EtO and steam sterilisation, Atlas Copco GVD, LRP and AWC.

More on Sterilisation (autoclave, H₂O₂, EtO) →

Medical suction

Atlas Copco describes surgical suction as continuous, sterile and adjustable suction of body fluids. Busch names MINK, R5 and SECO for the hygienic suction of liquids and secretions, as well as its MEDIVAC system; Becker names pumps in central systems and devices for medical and surgical suction (families DÖ, KL, SCH, SK) and suction in hospitals and dental practices as a use case. Elmo Rietschle names compact G series side channel blowers for dental suction units and central systems for surgical suction.

More on Medical suction →

Anaesthetic gas scavenging (AGSS)

Anaesthetic gas is removed from the breathing circuits (Busch) and carried away from the operating theatre (Elmo Rietschle). Busch names DOLPHIN, MINK and SAMOS as well as the MEDIVAC system for this; Elmo Rietschle names anaesthetic gas scavenging without naming a series.

  • BuschDOLPHIN, MINK, SAMOS also names the MEDIVAC system
  • Elmo Rietschlenames the application without a series

More on Anaesthetic gas scavenging (AGSS) →

Medical compressed air and ventilation

Busch names SAMOS and SECO for oil-free, clean medical compressed air. Elmo Rietschle names G series side channel blowers that supply the air flow for ventilators and breathing aids, and low-pressure side channel blowers for air beds and chair lifts.

Laboratory, analytics and diagnostics

Mass spectrometers and electron microscopes serve screening, diagnosis and drug research; Leybold names SOGEVAC BI, ECODRY plus and SCROLLVAC plus for them and counts X-ray, MRI, PET, CT and linear accelerators among the further equipment. Pfeiffer Vacuum names quiet, clean laboratory vacuum with HiScroll (about 45 dB), ACP, DuoVane and SmartVane for mass spectrometers, freeze drying, glove boxes and filtration; Becker names laboratory vacuum for the BCV claw vacuum pumps.

More on Laboratory, analytics and diagnostics →

Imaging and radiotherapy

Pfeiffer Vacuum names DuoVane and HiScroll for diagnostic imaging and lists imaging and medical accelerators among its medical applications. For proton therapy, Leybold describes cyclotron sections that need a vacuum of around 10⁻⁷ mbar despite the magnetic field and radiation, with SCROLLVAC plus as the backing pump; for accelerators, Pfeiffer Vacuum names radiation-resistant pumps (ACP, HiScroll).

More on Imaging and radiotherapy →

Manufacture of medical devices: thermoforming, drying, degassing

For the manufacture, testing and packaging of medical devices, Atlas Copco names GVD, GVS 16–630 A, DZS and GHS VSD+: vacuum removes the air from the moulds in the thermoforming and injection moulding of syringes, housings and connectors, dries and degasses plastics, adhesives and coatings of catheters and tubing, and lowers the boiling point in tray, freeze and rotary drying (GVD). Becker describes degassing as the removal of gas inclusions from pastes and liquids under vacuum and names the degassing of raw materials for prostheses as a use case.

More on Manufacture of medical devices: thermoforming, drying, degassing →

Leak testing, packaging and handling

Atlas Copco names leak detection on implants and infusion systems, airtight packaging and vacuum grippers on pick-and-place robots in assembly. Pfeiffer Vacuum describes container closure integrity testing (CCIT) as non-destructive proof of the tightness of sterile packaging and medical devices down to −80 °C with leak rates of ≤10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s and names the leak testing of medical devices; as pumps for leak detection, Pfeiffer Vacuum lists ACP, DuoVane and HiScroll.

  • Atlas CopcoGVD, GVS, DZS, GHS VSD+ series of the medical devices page
  • Pfeiffer VacuumDuoVane, HiScroll also names ACP; the leak detectors ASM 2000, OES and Mass Extraction as measuring instruments

More on Leak testing, packaging and handling →

Manufacturers and series

Medical and healthcare: 7 manufacturers, 75 series

Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this industry. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.

Product overview

Medical and healthcare: all 757 models compared

Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection – by manufacturer, technology and the models’ key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.

Atlas Copco AWC series 9 models

AWC 30Pumping speed 27 m³/h 50 Hz32 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 1.1 kW 50 Hz1.5 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWC 50Pumping speed 52 m³/h 50 Hz62 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 1.5 kW 50 Hz2.4 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWC 80Pumping speed 80 m³/h 50 Hz96 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 3 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWC 110Pumping speed 110 m³/h 50 Hz130 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 3.85 – 4 kW 50 Hz6.3 kW 60 HzVariants 9
AWC 160Pumping speed 165 m³/h 50 Hz185 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz5.5 – 6.3 kW 60 HzVariants 15
AWC 220Pumping speed 230 m³/h 50 Hz265 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 – 8.2 kW 60 HzVariants 15
AWC 290Pumping speed 280 m³/h 50 Hz310 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz11 – 12.6 kW 60 HzVariants 15
AWC 390Pumping speed 400 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz15 – 16.5 kW 60 HzVariants 15
AWC 500Pumping speed 500 m³/h 50 Hz535 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz18.5 kW 60 HzVariants 15

Atlas Copco AWS series 22 models

AWS 180Pumping speed 168 m³/h 50 Hz202 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWS 280Pumping speed 246 m³/h 50 Hz290 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz11 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWS 360Pumping speed 340 m³/h 50 Hz412 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 6
AWS 450Pumping speed 450 m³/h 50 Hz535 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz22 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 600Pumping speed 600 m³/h 50 Hz700 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 800Pumping speed 750 m³/h 50 Hz888 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz30 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 1100Pumping speed 1,080 m³/h 50 Hz1,320 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz45 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 1300Pumping speed 1,230 m³/h 50 Hz1,452 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 37 kW 50 Hz55 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 1600Pumping speed 1,700 m³/h 50 Hz2,000 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 45 kW 50 Hz75 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 2500Pumping speed 2,450 m³/h 50 Hz2,780 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz90 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 3300Pumping speed 3,200 m³/h 50 Hz3,840 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 75 kW 50 Hz110 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 3800Pumping speed 3,750 m³/h 50 Hz4,520 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 90 kW 50 Hz132 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 5500Pumping speed 5,300 m³/h 50 Hz5,850 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 160 kW 50 Hz185 kW 60 HzVariants 8
AWS 6500Pumping speed 6,510 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 169 kW 50 HzVariants 8
AWS 8000Pumping speed 8,100 m³/h 50 HzUltimate pressure 33 mbarRated motor power 200 kW 50 HzVariants 8

Atlas Copco DBD series 6 models

Atlas Copco DBDt series 17 models

Atlas Copco DBS series 29 models

Atlas Copco DBSt series 12 models

Atlas Copco DHS VSD+ series 1 model

Atlas Copco DRB series 4 models

Atlas Copco DVS series 10 models

Atlas Copco DWS VSD+ series 6 models

Atlas Copco DZS series 8 models

Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ series 21 models

Atlas Copco GVD series 13 models

Atlas Copco GVS series 9 models

Atlas Copco GVS VSD+ series 4 models

Atlas Copco LRP VSD+ series 3 models

Atlas Copco ZRS series 5 models

Becker BCV series 7 models

Becker DVT series 4 models

Becker KVT series 4 models

Becker KVX series 4 models

Becker O series 6 models

Becker RBP series 3 models

Becker SV series 16 models

Becker T series 6 models

Becker U4 series 6 models

Becker U series 8 models

Becker VADS series 3 models

Becker VARIAIR RV series 1 model

Becker VASF series 6 models

Becker VATP series 1 model

Becker VTLF series 6 models

Becker VT series 7 models

Becker VXLF series 5 models

Becker VX series 4 models

Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models

Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models

Busch MINK series 32 models

Busch R5 series 58 models

Busch SAMOS series 31 models

Busch SECO series 10 models

Busch TYR series 16 models

Edwards EDC series 2 models

Edwards nEDC series 3 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH1 series 25 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH2 series 9 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH7 series 15 models

Elmo Rietschle G-BH9 series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle G-BH100 series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle L-BL2 series 7 models

Elmo Rietschle L-BV2 series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle L-BV3 series 1 model

Elmo Rietschle L-BV5 series 5 models

Elmo Rietschle L-BV7 series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle V-KTR series 4 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCA/VCE series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCB series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCS series 13 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VCX series 7 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VGD series 2 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VTN series 3 models

Elmo Rietschle V-VTR series 2 models

Leybold ECODRY series 5 models

Leybold NEO D series 5 models

Leybold SCROLLVAC series 5 models

Leybold SOGEVAC series 23 models

Leybold TRIVAC series 20 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum A4 series 12 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum A 100/200 L series 3 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum ACP series 4 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum DuoVane series 12 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe series 17 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum HiScroll series 4 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum SmartVane series 2 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum TORRI series 4 models

Model comparison

Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.

Selection

Medical and healthcare: choosing a vacuum pump

What the manufacturers highlight for use in this industry.

Moisture and vapour

Sterilisers bring water vapour to the pump: for the humid environment of autoclaves, Elmo Rietschle names L series liquid ring vacuum pumps, Pfeiffer Vacuum vapour-tolerant rotary vane pumps and multi-stage Roots pumps. For steam sterilisation, Leybold names a dry screw pump instead of the liquid ring pump – with no need for water.

Hygiene, redundancy, standards

Busch describes its hospital vacuum system with three pumps (one active, two on standby) and two bacteria filters and refers to the Medical Device Regulation MDR 2017/745 and ISO 7396-1:2016. For suction, Busch names the hygienic suction of liquids and secretions, Atlas Copco continuous, sterile and adjustable suction.

Oil-free and clean

Busch names SAMOS and SECO for oil-free, clean medical compressed air; Pfeiffer Vacuum names clean vacuum for air-sensitive work in glove boxes (HiScroll) and a stable pressure without traces of oil for freeze drying.

Noise

Diagnostic equipment often stands next to the workplace: Pfeiffer Vacuum states about 45 dB for HiScroll. For dental suction units Elmo Rietschle names compact side channel blowers, for air beds low-pressure side channel blowers.

Frequently asked questions

Medical and healthcare: frequently asked questions about vacuum pumps

Which vacuum pump is suitable for sterilisers and autoclaves?

Vacuum removes the air so that the sterilant spreads well, and dries at the end of the cycle (Leybold). For the humid environment of autoclaves, Elmo Rietschle names L series liquid ring vacuum pumps, Busch COBRA and DOLPHIN for EtO and steam sterilisation, Atlas Copco GVD, LRP and AWC. For steam sterilisation, Leybold names the dry screw pump VARODRY, which needs no water.

Which vacuum pump for H₂O₂ sterilisation (cold sterilisation)?

Pfeiffer Vacuum describes H₂O₂ sterilisation in pump-down cycles down to 0.1 hPa with vapour-tolerant rotary vane pumps and multi-stage Roots pumps and names DuoVane, HiScroll and ACP. For heat-sensitive products such as endoscopes, Leybold names TRIVAC and NEO D.

Which vacuum pump for medical suction in hospitals?

Busch names MINK, R5 and SECO for the hygienic suction of liquids and secretions, and its MEDIVAC system with three pumps and two bacteria filters. Becker names pumps in suction systems and devices (families DÖ, KL, SCH, SK), Atlas Copco continuous, sterile and adjustable suction of body fluids, Elmo Rietschle systems for surgical suction.

Which pump is suitable for dental suction?

Elmo Rietschle names compact G series side channel blowers for dental suction units. Becker names the suction of liquids and secretions in hospitals and dental practices as a use case without naming a series.

Which pump for anaesthetic gas scavenging (AGSS)?

Busch names DOLPHIN, MINK and SAMOS as well as its MEDIVAC system for removing anaesthetic gas from the breathing circuits. Elmo Rietschle names anaesthetic gas scavenging in the operating theatre without naming a series.

Which compressors supply oil-free compressed air in hospitals?

Busch names SAMOS and SECO for oil-free, clean medical compressed air. Elmo Rietschle names G series side channel blowers for the air flow of ventilators and breathing aids.

Which vacuum pump for a diagnostic laboratory or a mass spectrometer?

Pfeiffer Vacuum names HiScroll (about 45 dB), ACP, DuoVane and SmartVane for mass spectrometers, freeze drying, glove boxes and filtration. Leybold names SOGEVAC BI, ECODRY plus and SCROLLVAC plus as backing pumps for mass spectrometers and electron microscopes in screening, diagnosis and drug research.

Which vacuum pump for MRI and imaging equipment?

Pfeiffer Vacuum names DuoVane and HiScroll for diagnostic imaging. Leybold names X-ray, MRI, PET and CT as further medical equipment without giving figures of its own for them.

Which vacuum pump for proton therapy and medical accelerators?

Leybold describes cyclotron sections that need a vacuum of around 10⁻⁷ mbar despite the magnetic field and radiation, and names SCROLLVAC plus as the backing pump. For accelerators, Pfeiffer Vacuum names radiation-resistant pumps and lists ACP, DuoVane and HiScroll for medical accelerators.

Which vacuum pump for the manufacture of medical devices?

Atlas Copco names GVD, GVS 16–630 A, DZS and GHS VSD+ for thermoforming and injection moulding, drying and degassing of catheters and tubing, leak detection on implants, packaging and handling. Pfeiffer Vacuum names the leak testing of sterile packaging (CCIT) with leak rates of ≤10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s down to −80 °C; Edwards lists EDC and nEDC for medical systems, without a description.

Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?

Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.

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