Innovations in Modern Medical PCB Assembly

Innovations in Modern Medical PCB Assembly

Modern medicine and medical devices are undergoing a paradigm shift due to increasing consumer demand. This has led to pioneering innovations in PCB assembly to develop functional medical devices that simplify ease of use and enhance functionality.

Electronics and related aspects are an integral part of the breakthrough developments in modern medicine. Rapid modernization of technology brings the future of healthcare through improved and updated equipment. Traditional surveillance systems are paving the way for tablets, smartphones and iPads to ensure better recording and monitoring.

With a single click of a smartphone, patients can connect with medical experts for easy diagnosis. Instead of traditional monitoring by nurses, doctors can check the patient's real-time status via an interactive tablet. Read on to learn about the role of PCB assembly in modern medicine and various modern medical devices.

What is PCB Assembly?

PCBA or printed circuit board Assembly is the connection/soldering of electrical components to a printed circuit board. PCBA mainly includes:

1. PCB Design

2. Develop a PCB model according to the device/equipment.

Conditions of PCB assembly process:

The PCB assembly process is based on changing conditions such as:

1. Electronic components and their characteristics.

2. The purpose of the PCB for a specific device.

3. Classification of circuit boards.

A collection of components for the PCB assembly process:

All necessary components must be collected for assembly. Important parts include:

1. printed circuit board

2. Components to be soldered.

3. Soldering components such as solder paste, solder wire or rod and their starting materials.

4. Welding equipment such as soldering station, testing and SMT equipment.

Start the PCB assembly process:

Now, the device-specific PCB assembly can be completed. The main processes of PCBA include:

1. Few components have legs (protruding leads) that fit into PCB holes.

2. Once the components are installed, they can be soldered.

3. Must be cleaned and tested after soldering.

4. If errors are found in the assembled PCB, the necessary steps must be taken to correct them.

5. Use two welding processes:

l Traditional welding

l Wave soldering

Surface Mount Technology – One of the Best PCB Assembly Processes:

l This surface mount technology does not include protruding leads for assembly.

l As the name suggests, the components are easy to mount on the PCB.

l SMT components are called surface mount devices (SMD).

l The technology utilizes a completely different set of equipment, welding items and components.

l This technology is considered one of the best assembly processes due to easier automation, affordability, dynamic use, less space requirements, higher density and efficiency.

How does PCB assembly contribute to modern medicine?

Innovation has led to increased demand for fully functional and futuristic medical devices for automated monitoring and diagnostics. Some prominent applications of medical PCBs include:

1. Pacemaker

2. NMR

3. Monitoring device – body temperature monitor

In addition to these primary applications, PCB manufacturers also use prototyping PCB assembly techniques to develop medical devices that will be available in the future.

Classes of medical devices that enable PCB assembly:

Here are some medical devices that use the PCB manufacturing and assembly process:

Medical Implants:

Some implantable medical devices include:

l Implants that help the hearing impaired - cochlear implants.

l Implants to assist patients with heart problems - defibrillator implants.

l Implants to help epilepsy-prone patients – responsive neurostimulators (RNS)

Monitoring equipment:

Surveillance devices used to integrate PCB fabrication and assembly methods to detect human phenomena include:

l Blood glucose meter

l Pressure monitor

l Temperature monitor

Imaging equipment:

Some popular circuit card components for imaging equipment include:

l Ultrasonic equipment

l Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

l Computed tomography (CT) scan

Other medical equipment:

Other modern medical devices that use PCBs include:

l Neurostimulator

l Heart monitor

l Infusion control

l EMG system

Prerequisites for Medical Device Manufacturers:

Modern PCB assembly methods in medical devices should meet the following three conditions:

l Purpose – The device to be manufactured needs to have a specific purpose and target audience as well as a comprehensive solution.

l Functionality – Accuracy, functionality and efficiency provide consumers with the best possible product.

l Flexibility – traditional medical equipment is sturdy. However, modern technology can jump over hurdles and implement complex technologies in small devices, reducing space.