Connectors for Medical Diagnostics Applications Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors used for medical diagnostic equipment from leading suppliers.
Connectors for Medical Diagnostics Applications
MINIDOCK Series Connectors from I-PEX are optimized for use in rugged docking applications and ruggedized applications with low-insertion-force cable plug terminations, like the cable plug mating end in ultrasound probe assemblies. Ultrasound equipment designers have several suitable connector options available, but the performance requirements are absolute. Ruggedness, ease of use, reliability, good signal integrity, and high mating cycles are critical. The MINIDOCK Series has rugged die-cast bodies with generous lead-in, integrated guidance hardware, and optional sealing against moisture intrusion. They support up to 20,000 mating cycles.
The LEMO B Series offers a modular, ergonomic, rugged, and reliable circular multipole connector for applications needing quick and secure push-pull latching. The modular insert configurations include a wide range of high-density multi-pole or hybrid electrical contacts. Contacts can be of solder type, crimp, PCB straight or PCB elbow, fiber, coaxial, thermocouple, pneumatic, fluidic, or high voltage. The LEMO B Series is an ideal choice for medical devices (including diagnostics), Test & Measurement, instrumentation, research, and audio/video applications. It ranges from 00 to 5B size, and features the LEMO “chocolate design” pattern. LEMO’s keying system allows for a higher contact density while preventing mismating. These high quality LEMO connectors are UL listed and cable assembly can be provided.
HyperGrip Flex from Smiths Interconnect is designed to meet medical industry requirements including finger-proofing to IEC60601, flammability rated to UL94 V0, and compliance with most sterilization methods. It is equipped with high-density, screw-machined, tested, and qualified contacts. HyperGrip Flex offers low-level contact resistance (LLCR) compared to standard contacts, high density with 0.4 mm diameter socket contacts, and low insertion and extraction forces (connector mates and de-mates smoothly with low force reducing), making it perfect for diagnostic applications. The contact provides standard industry cycle life of at least 2,000 cycles for general medical applications. High volumes and lower costs are achieved with simplified crimp-and-poke assembly of the machined crimp contact, compared to traditional nested solder contacts. Materials are RoHS III compliant. The new HyperGrip Flex has all the benefits of the existing Hypergrip connector in a cost-effective design for standard cycle life applications. With the advanced keying system, customers can build connectors with six different keyed versions of the same standard connector.
The 5811 Series Board-to-Board connector from KYOCERA AVX is optimized for small devices such as wearables. It is miniaturized to 1.7 mm in width and maintains durability by adopting a flat stacking structure, which enables workability when stacking and reduction of damage, despite its low 0.6 mm stack height. In addition, it is resistant to the high current required for connectors, making it a suitable design for battery connection. To meet customer demands for wearable devices, the 5811 series can accommodate up to five signal pins and two power pins.
The ITT Cannon DLM Series of Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connectors provides high performance, multiple-wire power, and signal connectors for medical (ultrasonic and Test & Measurement), commercial/industrial, computer, and peripheral equipment. As the metal version of the original DL connectors, the DLM series features a minimum rated life of 10,000 mating cycles with no performance loss. These connectors can be mated and unmated in less than two seconds with up to 360 contacts and offer enhanced environmental protection and EMI/RFI shielding.
Samtec SEARAY™ is a high density, high bandwidth connector system used in a variety of medical equipment applications including imaging, surgical, remote monitoring, and rapid diagnostics. The 1.27 mm open pin field grid array gives designers maximum grounding and routing flexibility, with over 500 I/Os for single-ended designs, or 125 differential pairs. SEARAY products feature the rugged Edge Rate® contact system. The smooth, broad, milled mating surface of the Edge Rate contact minimizes the effects of broadside coupling, which decrease crosstalk for superior signal integrity performance. Increased impedance control is achieved by a straight, consistent material cross-section. Robust when mating and unmating, this contact system also features a long contact wipe up to 1.5 mm, which improves the mating angle tolerance. SEARAY is rated for speeds up to 56 Gb/s PAM4/28 Gb/s NRZ. SEARAY connectors are available in vertical, right angle, coplanar, or horizontal orientations, as well as in high-speed, high-density array cable assemblies, with ribbonized coax and twinax cables.
Amphenol’s MUSBR series USB Type C connectors serve many markets and applications, including medical analyzers, medical diagnostics, and ultrasound equipment. MUSBR series is a line of Generation 2 ruggedized USB Type C connectors with die cast housings and IP67 sealing, designed for harsh environment applications. This connector series provides reliable performance in extreme conditions for the most demanding applications, and mate with standard USB Type C plugs.
Allied Electronics & Automation supplies TE Connectivity Circular Plastic Connectors (CPC). Versatile and rugged with a cost-effective design, CPC comes in six different series. Mounting options include panel mount, free-hanging, and wire-to-board. The receptacle and plug housings accept Type III+ or Size 20 signal contacts, Type XII power contacts, or AMP POWERBAND contacts. The housings come in configurations designed to handle signal, power, or combinations of signal and power in the same housing. Sealing to IP67 is also available. Features include lightweight, UL94V-0 rated, quick connect and disconnect capability, and built-in pin and socket protection. It is well-suited to medical instrumentation and equipment.
Hirose Electric’s miniature ER8 board-to-board connector combines a rugged design with high-speed transmission speeds of more than 16 Gb/s (PCIe Gen 4). Featuring a pitch of only 0.8 mm and up to 125°C operating temperature, the ER8 Series contacts are optimized for high signal integrity, ensuring reliable high-speed performance. The ER8 Series from Hirose, compatible with Samtec’s Edge Rate®, is well-suited for ultrasonic machines, computed tomography (CT) scanners, and other medical equipment. The series offers a wide self-alignment range of ±1.6 mm with reduced mating force while maintaining high extraction forces in comparison to typical micro pitch connectors. The rugged micro pitch connectors offer additional robustness when “zippered” during mating/unmating. In addition, the ER8 Series connectors have an increased contact wipe and insertion depth, making them ideal for medical equipment that requires high-mating cycles and resistance to shock and vibration. These connectors are available in parallel (mezzanine), right angle, and coplanar versions and with low profile stacking heights from 7 mm to 12 mm, they meet the size requirements of portable medical equipment.
Like this article? Check out our other Product Roundup, Product News, and Connector Industry News features and our 2021 Article Archives.
Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletters, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, and check out our eBook archives for more applicable, expert-informed connectivity content.
- Sealing Success: Overmolding for More Secure Connections - April 23, 2024
- Medical Cable Assemblies Product Roundup - April 23, 2024
- Mezzanine Connectors Product Roundup - April 16, 2024
