Medical PCB – Applications and Types of PCBs for Medical Industry

Medical device PCBs

The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) business has expanded its irresistible and beneficial influence due to the ongoing growth in the tech world and its use in various sectors. Its impact on the world of electronics in recent years has beyond all predictions, with IoT devices, smartphones, computers, AI, and more.

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Now, PCBs are transforming medical equipment and overcoming gaps between a patient and a doctor in the healthcare technology business.

PCBs, enable the development of these handy medical gadgets. Advancements in healthcare technology are helping to solve several critical challenges in the medical field, such as establishing accurate diagnoses and tracking patients’ health status.

The medical electronics industry quickly increases and does not appear to be slowing down, demonstrating PCBs’ influence in the medical sector. By 2022, the global market for medical electronics is anticipated to reach $ 4.4 billion. As technology advances, PCBs are becoming increasingly important in the medical field. Because of their digital nature, most medical equipment and gadgets today require PCBs to work correctly and effectively.

PCBs are required to operate medical devices such as defibrillators, electrical muscle stimulation equipment, MRIs, medical imaging systems, CT scans, and ultrasonic equipment.

Medical PCB Technologies And Its Type

Extra attention must be taken while producing medical PCBs to assure reliability. This is because human life relies on the equipment in which they are placed. When it comes to cleanliness, PCBs must also satisfy very rigorous requirements. This is particularly true of those utilized in implants. First and foremost, they must be hygienic. They must also be more compact than usual. As a result, HDI (High-density interconnect) PCBs are employed in the majority of medical devices.

Following are the technologies used in the medical PCB assembly:

HDI / via-in-pad technology

The design of inserting the via within the copper pad is known as via-in-pad, and it is commonly used to save space on the PCB. The PCB may offer up to 50% more space for component placement when employing in-pad technology. The extensive usage of via in pad by PCB engineers has resulted from the pursuit of more acceptable pitch devices and smaller electronic goods.

Other vias, such as blind vias and buried vias, help reduce space and improve component density, but only via-in-pad remains the best option for PCBs that require high speed and high dissipation.

Surface Mount Technology

Surface mount technology, or SMT, is used in virtually all commercially manufactured devices today since it provides substantial advantages during PCB manufacturing and allows considerably more electronics to be packed into a much smaller space due to the smaller size of SMT components. Aside from the compactness, surface mount technology (SMT) enables automated soldering and PCB assembly, improving dependability and saving money.

PCB Fine Lines And Spaces

The next generation of portable electronic devices will rely heavily on high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB technology, including tiny lines and spaces (2 mils and below). This technique has several advantages over traditional technologies, including reduced circuit board size, enhanced routing, and cheaper fabrication costs.

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Applications of Medical PCB in the Healthcare Industry

Printed circuit boards and electronics play an essential role in the medical industry. They are employed not just in appliances but also in monitoring, diagnostic, and therapeutic equipment. In addition, PCBs in the healthcare industry is rapidly expanding as technology advances, opening up new possibilities.

PCBs are commonly used in the following applications:

Scanning Device: CT scanners, X-ray screens, and ultrasonic scans all rely on electronic components to work.

Monitors: Medical monitoring equipment such as heart rate monitors, blood glucose monitors, and blood pressure monitors contain electronic components.

Medical Instruments: Various instruments are required in medical research to collect data and test results. PCBs are commonly found in electronic microscopes, control systems, compressors, and other equipment.

Because of health concerns, PCBs must be held to a higher standard in the medical industry. In addition, these devices must be dependable and of good quality in order to meet medical requirements. Due to device size restrictions, medical device PCBs are mainly developed and tend to be smaller.

Choosing the Right PCB Manufacturer

Choosing the best printed circuit board manufacturer might be a challenging process. Because there are several circuit board manufacturers available, it is critical that you select the ideal one. You will only be able to accomplish so if you have a sufficient understanding of the manufacturers available in the city. When it comes to the production of circuit boards, each manufacturer will offer you a distinct set of services. Choosing the wrong medical PCB manufacturer may lengthen the manufacturing process and raise your costs. 

Here are some pointers for selecting a medical PCB manufacturer:

• First, check to see whether they have a proper set of guidelines.
• Next, examine the Machines’ Type, Quality, and Quantity.
• Know what kind of quality control procedures they employ.
• How many production lines does the company have?
• Check to see whether they have basic components in stock.
• Be aware of the order size and time limit they offer.
• Find out how they use solder paste and how they apply it.
• Do they Hire Qualified Pick-and-Place Employees?
• Is there a distinction between their lead and non-lead production lines?
• Finally, look to see whether they have adequate storage.

Winding Up

Medical PCB is a high-end PCB product that is becoming increasingly essential as the market for medical electronics expands quickly. Medical PCBs are used in various devices, including scanners, pacemakers, monitors, temperature controls, and fluid controllers. In recent years, more personal healthcare gadgets have entered daily life.

Moreover, medical equipment that is qualified gives more accurate experience and reports for clinical diagnosis while saving time and money and helps personal health improvement. Effective circuit designs and highly efficient medical device PCBs are critical for ensuring that medical devices operate as intended. 

Therefore, PCB manufacturers should offer prototype services to customers in the medical sector in order to optimize a circuit board before mass manufacturing. Of course, every circuit board must be inspected and tested to verify its quality.

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