Benefícios de PCBs em dispositivos médicos | Leadsintec
O avanço da tecnologia está beneficiando todas as indústrias, including the medical industry. Medical devices are progressively becoming smaller, yet more powerful, all the while meeting the demands of the profession. Innovations and advancements in technology are helping in the design and manufacturing of compact and complex medical devices.
As the medical industry deals with the lives of living beings, they must essentially involve precision and quality. This is dependent on the Placas de circuito impresso or PCBs that are the basis of the foundation for these devices. That is why Rush PCB Inc focuses more attention on the quality of PCBs for medical devices.
PCBS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
A circuit board or a PCB necessary for designing the medical device forms the backbone of the device. It must satisfy the design requirements for the instrumentation needs of the device. Designers must pay attention to precision and reliability when designing PCBs for medical devices. This is because medical devices are critical, and they save lives.
Functionally, a PCB integrates the electronic components that make up the medical device. The circuit board anchors the electronic components, making the device compact and safe for humans. Like any other electronic equipment, the PCB of a medical device may contain a wide range of components, including active and passive electronic components. Apart from providing mechanical support, the circuit board also provides the necessary electrical interconnections for the components the board is holding.
Electroplated copper conductors on the board provide electrical interconnections. If the board is multi-layered, these conductors are present in the inner layers also, passing through vias or holes for interconnecting with copper conductors on other layers. Most PCBs for medical devices are high-end and feature high performance.
PCB DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
As medical devices save lives, they are delicate enough to emphasize precision and quality during design, fabricação, e montagem. Por exemplo, design considerations must include:
SAFETY
This is an important factor, as medical devices must be safe for use. PCBs must be well-designed to prevent any shock to the patient. The designer must pay attention to the safety factor when designing the PCB.
ACCURACY, PRECISION & REPEATABILITY
As human lives depend on them, PCBs for medical devices must be accurate, precise, and repeatable in their functionality. The designer must pay attention to these factors also when designing the PCB.
RELIABILITY
The reliability of a medical device is very essential, especially when monitoring a patient. As the reliability of the device depends on the PCB inside it, the designer must make all efforts to maximize the reliability of the components and the PCB when designing.
LOW EMI/EMC
As medical devices connect to human beings, the devices must meet the specifications of low EMI/EMC very strictly. That means the PCBs inside the device must also meet these specifications. Designers must pay adequate attention to EMI/EMC when designing medical-grade PCBs.
SMT FOR PCBS IN MEDICAL DEVICES
There are two major types of components in use in the electronic industry—components with long leads or Through-Hole Technology (Tht), e componentes sem cabos ou tecnologia de montagem em superfície (Smt). Os fabricantes preferem componentes SMT para dispositivos médicos, como estes são menores, menos caro, e mais confiável em comparação com componentes THT.
A ausência de cabos nos componentes SMT significa que a PCB não requer furos para montá-los. Isso melhora a confiabilidade da placa. Também, o processo de montagem de componentes SMT proporciona ancoragem e soldagem rígidas, o que também melhora o desempenho e a confiabilidade do dispositivo mesmo enfrentando vibrações e movimentos constantes.
Como os componentes SMT são muito menores que seus equivalentes THT, a densidade do componente pode ser muito maior na placa. Portanto, todo o tamanho do PCB pode ser muito menor comparativamente, resultando em um tamanho mais compacto para o dispositivo médico.
Atualmente, Fabricantes de PCB prefira componentes SMT para dispositivos médicos. Seu tamanho menor, better performance, lower cost, and ease of assembly, make them highly popular. Além disso, manufacturers can use automated methods of assembly, which removes any manual involvement throughout the manufacturing process, thereby improving quality and reliability.
PCB MANUFACTURERS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
Manufacturers must meet specific requirements for PCBs to be used in dispositivos médicos. Design de PCB for medical devices is a complex activity, as failure in medical devices can cause greater harm—a patient can die as a result. PCB manufacturers for medical devices must adhere to international standards and regulations such as those stipulated by FDA, CIP, e ISO. Tipicamente, they classify devices as Class 1, Aula 2, and Class 3.
Medical devices of Class 1 are low-risk. They include IV stands, adhesive bandages, bedpans, etc., and are subject to the lowest level of regulatory controls.
Medical devices of Class 2 estão associados a um nível de risco superior ao da Classe 1, mas inferior ao da classe 3. Isso inclui seringas, manguitos de pressão arterial, cadeiras de rodas motorizadas, dispositivos de transfusão de sangue, etc., e estão sujeitos a níveis gerais e especiais de controle regulatório.
Medical devices of Class 3 estão associados ao mais alto nível de risco para pacientes e usuários. Esses dispositivos são normalmente produtos de suporte à vida e estão sujeitos aos mais altos níveis de controle regulatório. PCBs médicos devem atender à classe 3 padrões eletrônicos.
CONCLUSÃO
A fabricação de PCBs médicos é um processo crucial. A criticidade dos dispositivos médicos os torna tão importantes. Além disso, pois esses dispositivos salvam vidas, há uma necessidade adicional de atenção séria durante o projeto e a fabricação. Rush PCB Inc enfatiza controle de alta qualidade na fabricação de PCBs para equipamentos médicos.
