Medical PCB plays a significant role in the modern medical devices and equipment of today in research, laboratories, hospitals, as well as any other related medical field.
In order to have the most appropriate PCB, there’s a need to comprehend the outs and ins of these printed circuit boards. This is why working with the best PCB manufacturers is important.
Therefore, this guide begins by defining the medical printed circuit boards, before we go ahead to talk about its benefits. After then, we will consider other related subheadings, which include the types, use, and applications of medical grade pcbs.
If you wish to have a good understanding of what medical PCB is all about, then please continue reading.
What is a Medical PCB?
The medical sector is known to be very sensitive. This is because it has to do with human life. Its high level of sensitivity means that any facility or medical equipment used here must have some features. The most important of all these must be precision.
Medical PCBs are printed circuit boards, specifically designed to make medical equipment as well as facilities. Therefore, these printed circuit boards are specialized for different lab and care settings, as well as different testing scenarios.
Some medical machines and equipment made with the help of these printed circuit boards include heart monitors, Blood glucose monitors, etc.
Others include monitors for blood pressure and heart peacemakers.
Technologies Used During the Assembly of Medical PCB
Via-in-pad technology
Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
Via-in-pad is very useful when you need to save some space on the printed circuit board. This design technology involves the insertion of the via into the copper pad. This PCB provides about 50% added space to ensure the placement of the components when using the in-pad technology. The PCB engineers’ use of the via-in-pad technology extensively has occurred from the pursuing of more pitch devices as well as smaller electronics.
SMT is useful in all devices that are manufactured commercially today. This is because it offers great benefits during manufacturing of printed circuit boards. This also permits more electronics to be packed into smaller spaces as a result of the SMT components’ small size. Asides from its compactness, SMT makes PCB assembly and automated soldering possible, thereby saving money and improving dependability.
Design and Assembly Tips for Medical PCB
If the project of your medical device will include the design as well as assembly, then you must consider these factors. These include safety, compliance, obsolescence, through-hole or SMT, size of component and shrinking device.
Safety
Work with PCB manufacturers that can deliver designs to help accommodate any danger concern. This is because any malfunction could be very dangerous. The second aspect of safety is cleanliness. Ensure that you can disinfect & clean your medical devices easily.
Comply
The design of medical devices must be in line with a specific strict standard for class three electronics. At times, some customers have some internal expectations and special requirements which surpass the class 3 regulations. As a PCB manufacturer, you must work with these requirements and standards
Through-hole or SMT?
Working with the right PCB assembly service gives you the opportunity to use the best technology that suits your needs. More board designs are leaning towards surface mount technology. Moreover, through-hole assembly sees benefits in power requirements and connectors. This is because of their stronger nature.
Obsolescence
Electronics manufacturers must be alert to changes in components availability. This is even more important for those use medical printed circuit boards to making life-saving products.
The Design and Fabrication of Medical PCBs
The design of PCBs for medical applications and medical devices must be done with repeatability, reliability, and quality. Also, these PCBs must be traceable, durable, and strong. Also, depending on that area where you’ll be using these PCBs for medical use, there are other requirements. Furthermore, work with the best medical pcb manufacturer.
Below is a design process for any medical PCB
Draw your initial schematic
What you do here is get the necessary information from that client and make use of it to draw an initial schematic. Make sure to write the specifications on one of the sides. You should capture details like power, materials, PCB type, etc. This is to ensure absolute accuracy
Scanning and Preparing the Layout
Next is scanning and uploading your drawing to the software for PCB design. Then add the requirements of the client to it one by one.
Pay Close Attention to the Critical Factors
Whenever you are designing printed circuit boards for medical uses and applications, you must consider some important factors. These include areas like split planes, sequencing, etc.
Splitting Power Properly
In order to reduce the noise levels and the crosstalk in the printed circuit board, diversification of electric power and ground planes is very important.
Provision of Multiple Ground Layers
With many ground layers present at the base of your PCB, you’ll be able to reduce SNR levels and noise. Also, they enhance overall reliability and PCB performance.
BOM Reviewing
In this step, you are checking the components to be sure that they have the necessary tolerance levels. Also the OEM and PCB designs should do the BOM review together.
Components Checking
Make sure that you are making use of the best components according to requirements
Prepare Alternative Components
In case the components options you have chosen don’t meet your requirements, there must be alternate components available. This helps in saving whatever time you have spent during the PCB design.
Check these Alternative Components
The same way you did when choosing the components, properly check your alternative components. This is to know their success, as well as failure ratings.
Creating a Drawing for Your Medical PCB Assembly
This helps in avoiding mistakes relating to the fabrication and the medical pcb assembly. Make sure you consider all revision levels if you are making any changes on the initial design.
What are the Benefits of Medical PCB?
The medical printed circuit board is useful in these ways:
Electronic Records of Health
One serious issue back then was the absence of integration. This led to slowness in the delivery of medical services. Some patients lost their lives because there was a delay in transferring their records between different sections.
However, due to the medical PCB technologies of today, things have improved. As a result of easy information flow, there is speed and efficiency in the delivery of health services.
Mobile Health
Smartphones and IPads today have made medical specialists find it easy to receive and transmit information freely. Ordering drugs has also become easy. Therefore it is significant in medical research and documentation.
Data-driven Medicine
Thanks to PCB technology, it is easy to gather data, which also means that there is a quicker and better development of medicines. This has been possible due to the different equipments using these special PCBs.
There are available systems, which aid in conveying any secure information and alerts such as lab tests. Most times, they make use of web applications, smartphones, or clinically-based systems.
Now, this is a huge improvement, looking at the inconvenience of delivering the information. Also, you will see hospital staff making use of walkie-talkies and messaging apps. This departure from using pages and PA systems is a positive one.
Medical Wearables
Modern medical devices are available today, which aid in monitoring information, most especially that of patients. Football players put on “bras” having trackers. This helps in tracking the heart rate of the player, among other benefits.
Application and Uses of Medical PCB
One significant application of medical PCBs is the electrical muscle stimulation equipment and medical imaging systems. Other areas and many medical devices where medical PCBs are applicable are:
Body temperature monitors and blood glucose monitors: These PCBs are useful in manufacturing healthcare and personal monitors. These medical devices include blood pressure monitors, heart rate, and glucose monitors, etc.
Control Systems: Here, it includes equipment useful in controlling dispensation, flow rate, and fluid infusion.
Scanning Technology: This includes the PCB manufacturing of scanning systems such as ultrasonic equipment technology and CT scanners.
Internal and Worn Medical Devices: These medical devices are implantable devices, which are fitted into the bodies of patients due to some medical conditions.
Scientific Instrumentation: Also, these instruments for medical research are useful in studying disease trends as well as testing the outcomes of patients. Examples here include electronic photometers and microscopes. Also in this category are control systems for compressors and generators.
Conclusion
Today, the PCB medical industry has become sophisticated. The sensitive nature of the medical industry means that it needs the use of high technological electronic medical devices. To ensure high performance, these medical devices and equipment must feature advanced circuitry. This is why medical printed circuit boards are important in enhancing the sector’s functionality, most especially in the medical industry and research service delivery. Work with the best PCB manufacturers and medical device manufacturers. RayMing PCB is one of such and offers high-quality services
