HDI PCB for Medical Device Electronic Design

HDI PCB for Medical Device Electronic Design

PCBs have gotten smaller and smaller over the past few decades, and few industries have taken advantage of this more than the medical industry. While this has been making headlines lately, medical device electronics design isn't limited to shrinking size.

Buyers and their own end customers see much-needed improvements in performance. How is that? High Density Interconnect or HDI PCB.

Today, more than ever, electronic engineers have a reason to use HDI PCBs. As you will see below, the changing needs of the healthcare industry!

What is HDI PCB?

First things first: HDI PCBs are able to make them more compact by using advanced technology to incorporate a lot of internal wiring. New technologies help reduce size without sacrificing performance and offer engineers a variety of construction options depending on the application.

HDI boards require additional manufacturing techniques such as:

lSequential lamination

lStacked micropores

l Staggered micropores

lBuried holes

l Plated through holes

lLaser drilling

Why is high density board critical to medical technology?

Medical equipment must meet the highest standards, which means you need the best technology currently available. Quality of life is also problematic - the less invasive and invasive the device is, the sooner patients will use it.

The need for cutting edge technology in medical electronics design is most evident when you look at implants. For example, pacemakers need to be small, lightweight and reliable. High-speed transmission in HDI PCBs is ideal for medical devices, where device response time can mean life or death.

The need for smaller boards and better performance has resulted in HDI PCBs allowing more components to be placed on each side of the original board. Designers can use the increased I/O in a smaller space. Signal transmission is faster with less signal loss.

HDI PCBs are more challenging and expensive to design and manufacture, but often the gains are worth it. Medical PCB assembly often requires HDI technology, even with increased cost per board.

Limitations of HDI PCBs

Every technology has limitations, and HDI PCB technology is no exception.

For most medical device manufacturers, the biggest limitation of HDI technology is its cost.

Manufacturing HDI boards requires expensive equipment and expertise that not every board manufacturer has. Yields are lower as each board takes more time to build. Multiple layers of the board need to be constructed with the correct materials to achieve the desired results.

The technology is relatively new and evolving rapidly, so what was last year may not be the case this year. You'll also have to figure out which of the six variants is best for your device - a difficult task without the help of experts inside.

HDI PCB: Is it a need or a need?

Compared to standard PCB boards, what we can do now with HDI boards may seem like magic, especially for generations. However, magic requires careful engineering and manufacturing, so your product is more than just smoke and mirrors.

If you and your manufacturing partner can combine the right HDI board with the right application, you'll end up with a smaller, more efficient board. The peace of mind it brings to the patient will be worth it.