Flex: Just What the Doctor Ordered for Medical Devices
February 22, 2016 | Dave Becker, All FlexEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Medical devices represent one of the fastest growing electronic markets in the United States. The drive for reduced space and weight, added functionality, and reduced cost has driven the adoption of a wide array of custom flexible circuits. The design freedom offered by this three-dimensional interconnect supports the packaging design requirements for a myriad of diverse applications within the medical electronic market. The adoption of flexible circuitry in medical devices goes back to the early 1970s, when companies like Cardiac Pacemakers and Medtronic used flex circuitry for implantable pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. As electronics and packaging advanced, medical products enjoyed a tremendous growth both in the U.S. and overseas. This growth will most certainly continue as new and innovative products, with increasingly demanding electronic requirements, challenge product designers to add functionality within smaller and smarter devices. Today flexible circuits are found in many medical applications:
- Implantable medical devices: These include pacemakers, defibrillators, neurological implants and cochlear implants (hearing). These devices are surgically implanted in the human body. Product requirements are extreme reliability, long life cycle, light weight, biocompatibility and compact size.
- Non-implantable medical devices: Hearing aids, drug dispensing systems, and external defibrillators (attached to patient) are examples of this medical application. These devices are generally worn or attached to the skin of the patient.
- Monitoring devices: These products include portable and wearable electronics that monitor heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and blood sugar rate. Also included in this category are bedside monitoring devices.
- Diagnostic equipment: This category includes equipment for ultrasound scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography scanning (CAT scan), X-rays and a variety of other types of equipment to aid in detecting and diagnosing health problems.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2016 issue of The PCB Magazine.
Suggested Items
Septentrio Expands UAV Ecosystem for Reliable GNSS Positioning
04/22/2024 | SeptentrioSeptentrio, a leader in high-precision GNSS* positioning solutions, is closely working with several major drone solutions providers including 3DR, Holybro, ARK Electronics and Systork, which is resulting in various new products that allow easier prototyping or integration of the mosaic™ GNSS receiver into UAVs.
AIM to Highlight NC259FPA Ultrafine No Clean Solder Paste at SMTA Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum
04/18/2024 | AIMAIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming SMTA Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum taking place on May 7 at the Four Points by Sheraton | Milwaukee Airport, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
New Yorker, Geyer Electronic Sign New Distribution Agreement
04/16/2024 | New Yorker Electronics Co.New Yorker Electronics, global distributor of electronic components, recently announced a new franchised distribution agreement with Geyer Electronic. Geyer is an international manufacturer of Quart Crystals, Oscillators and Resonators.
DigiKey, 3PEAK Establish Global Distribution Partnership
04/11/2024 | DigiKeyDigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced today its expanded product portfolio through a strategic global distribution partnership with 3PEAK, a high-performance developer of semiconductor technology.
U.S. Updates Advanced Semiconductor Ban, Actual Impact on the Industry Will Be Insignificant
04/09/2024 | TrendForceOn March 29th, the United States announced another round of updates to its export controls, targeting advanced computing, supercomputers, semiconductor end-uses, and semiconductor manufacturing products.