The casters in hospitals are not simple: A guide to selecting and maintaining medical equipment casters
Time：Aug 23,2025
In hospitals, casters are the "invisible legs" of various medical equipment, from beds and carts to instrument stands; almost all movable equipment relies on them. However, medical casters are not ordinary casters—they must meet special requirements such as quietness, anti-slip, easy cleaning, and infection prevention. Choosing or using the wrong ones can affect treatment efficiency and even patient safety. Today, let's specifically discuss the selection tips and daily maintenance skills for medical equipment casters, all based on frontline medical staff experience.
Different medical equipment have very different caster requirements.
Hospital equipment functions vary, and so do caster requirements. Blindly choosing the same type of caster can easily cause problems.
Bed casters are critical; they must bear heavy loads (bed + patient often exceed 300 kg) and move smoothly. These casters must have a dual brake system —which can lock the wheel rotation and fix the steering axis to prevent the bed from sliding unexpectedly on slopes or when pushed. The wheel material should be high-elasticity polyurethane, quiet when pushed and not disturbing, especially during night rounds so as not to wake patients. Additionally, the bed caster bracket must be made of thickened steel plate with rounded corners to avoid scratching patients or walls.
Treatment carts (such as infusion carts and dressing carts) shuttle daily between wards and nurse stations, so caster flexibility and stability are crucial. It is recommended to choose a combination of swivel casters + fixed casters , with two swivel casters with brakes at the front for easy turning and direction adjustment; and two fixed casters at the rear to ensure straight movement without deviation. A wheel diameter of 5-6 inches is most suitable, allowing easy crossing over floor thresholds without raising the cart's center of gravity too high and causing wobbling.
Casters for instrument equipment (such as monitors and ultrasound machines) require precision and must have no wobble. These casters must have shock absorption function , with elastic cushioning structures inside the wheels to avoid vibrations affecting instrument accuracy during movement. The preferred material is nylon resistant to chemical corrosion, as instruments are often wiped with disinfectants, and ordinary rubber wheels are prone to corrosion and cracking.
Three key points to focus on when selecting medical casters.
The hospital environment is special; besides basic load capacity and size, these three details must not be overlooked when choosing casters.
Infection prevention design is the baseline. Medical casters must have a seamless structure , with no grooves or holes at the connection between the wheel and bracket, as these can accumulate dust, blood stains, and disinfectant residues, becoming breeding grounds for bacteria. High-quality medical casters now feature fully enclosed designs with smooth surfaces that are easy to clean and do not harbor dirt when wiped with alcohol. Casters with bearings should use sealed bearings to prevent contaminants from entering and affecting rotation.
Quiet performance affects patient rest. Caster noise in ward areas must be controlled below 50 decibels, equivalent to normal conversation volume. Testing caster quietness is simple: push the equipment over a tiled floor and listen from 1 meter away; if no obvious "rumbling" sound is heard, it passes. Polyurethane wheels are quieter than rubber wheels, and larger diameter wheels produce less rolling noise than smaller ones, so prioritize these when selecting.
Load safety factor must have margin. Medical equipment casters should not be selected based on "just enough" load capacity; a safety margin of over 50% must be reserved. For example, a cart with an actual load of 200 kg should have casters rated for at least 300 kg. Because equipment may encounter bumps during movement, causing instantaneous load increases, long-term full load use can lead to bracket deformation or breakage, posing safety risks.
Follow these daily maintenance steps to reduce caster failures.
Medical casters are used frequently every day; proper maintenance can reduce failure rates and extend service life.
Daily cleaning cannot be skipped. Before finishing work, wipe the caster surfaces with a cloth dampened with neutral detergent, focusing on cleaning hair, threads, and dust from wheel gaps. If blood or medicine spills occur, promptly wipe with disinfectant to prevent stains from hardening and becoming difficult to clean. During cleaning, also check if brakes are responsive; after stepping on the brake, pushing the equipment without any wheel movement is normal.
Regular lubrication prevents sticking. Apply medical-grade lubricant to caster bearings and steering shafts once a month. Do not use cooking oil as a substitute, as it attracts dust and causes sticking. After lubrication, push the equipment back and forth several times to allow the lubricant to penetrate fully; no abnormal noise during rotation indicates proper lubrication.
Replace worn parts promptly. If cracks appear on the wheel surface, brakes fail, or abnormal noises occur during rotation, stop using the equipment immediately and replace the casters. When replacing, ensure model compatibility, especially for bed casters, which must use original factory parts and not ordinary casters. Spare casters should be stored in dry, ventilated places, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent rubber aging.
Although small, medical casters are an important part of hospital safety operations. Choosing the right model and maintaining them well not only reduces equipment failures but also lowers cross-infection risks, making medical work smoother. Next time when purchasing or replacing casters in the hospital, check against these points to avoid small parts affecting medical quality. If casters in your department have abnormal noises or brake failures, be sure to report to the equipment department promptly.
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