Creating printed circuit boards (PCBs) within the healthcare electronic manufacturing industry is a meticulous process that must be approached with care and diligence. Printed circuit boards in medical devices save lives, so ensuring they are of the highest quality, and have the longest shelf-life possible, is extremely important.
As a healthcare PCB manufacturer currently providing tailored, high-quality services, we are perfectly placed to provide electronic product consultancy for the healthcare industry. We have been expertly building PCBs for the healthcare industry for over 40 years. Our bespoke start-to-end PCB assembly service ensures that we are meeting the necessary safety guidelines and specifications every step of the way.
Due to the nature of our products, and the role of PCBs in medical devices, it’s likely no surprise that the standards and guidelines that must be followed are strict. Our expert team is well-equipped to bring the best quality service and consultation throughout.
Providing bespoke PCB services for over 40 years!
Our years of experience mean we are well-versed in the standards within the healthcare electronic manufacturing industry. Medical equipment and PCBs in medical devices go through more stringent checks, rules and regulations than those used in other industries, due to the importance of their role. At ABL Circuits we are up to date with the different regulations and guidelines within the industry, such as:
- The FCC Title 47 rules: Guidelines from the Government Printing Office (GPO).
- IEC 60601-1: This guideline outlines the standard aspects of medical electronics.
- ISO 13485 Medical Equipment: This standard is meant for businesses and persons dealing with the design, manufacturing, installation, and servicing of healthcare equipment.
- ISO 14971:2007: This standard outlines the due process for medical electronic manufacturers to detect any hazard in medical devices.
At ABL Circuits, we have years of experience working with these required standards, ensuring they are meticulously followed to create a product that has a long shelf life.
As medical technology advances, we must adapt to create smaller PCBs for devices, without sacrificing quality. This can impact the design and assembly of the components of a circuit board. For example, PCB used in medical devices do not always conform to the standard shapes or services. This means that within the healthcare electronic manufacturing industry, flex and rigid flex PCBs are often used, as they maintain the same reliability and durability, whilst being lighter in weight. These flex and rigid flex PCBs are able to be used in different shapes and sizes to be used in a wide range of small medical devices, or even wearable medical technology such as trackers. At ABL Circuits we have spent the last 40 years designing and manufacturing a wide range of circuits boards, from single-sided to double-sided, rigid flex and flex circuit boards. e are well-equipped to make boards that can adhere to all different shapes and sizes, to fit the needs of your products.
At ABL Circuits we also have years of experience with surface mount technology, including our new X machines. Surface mount technology is widely used in the healthcare electronic manufacturing industry as it allows for the use of smaller components, thus reducing the size and weight of a PCB. This is extremely important in PCBs for medical devices.
We also ensure that we give clear and careful thought to the materials we use when manufacturing PCBs for the healthcare industry. As the life of patients depends on the use of these medical devices, it is critically important that the materials our boards are made from are chosen with precision. We ensure the materials we are choosing take into account the temperature the end product may endure in its lifetime, what signals or transmission speed signals are needed, as well as the size of the product.
How have we helped previous Healthcare partners?
We have worked with several healthcare partners over the years, most recently Diamedica, who we worked closely with throughout the pandemic to provide PCBs to be used within ventilators in hospitals across the country.
Our experience within the healthcare electronic manufacturing industry spans beyond this, creating a variety of boards that are used for several different products, including:
- MRI scanners
- Colonoscopy equipment
- Laser treatment
These are just a few examples of the innovative products we have helped to create for modern-day healthcare technology. As well as creating the boards for these products, we offer a unique start-to-end service, offering consultancy at every step of the journey from concept to design, all the way through to assembly. Each brief that comes our way is unique, exciting and adds to our knowledge and experience within the industry.
How are Healthcare printed circuit boards used today?
PCBs within the healthcare industry are constantly evolving as medical technology evolves. As the need for smaller, smarter, more versatile PCBs continues to grow, we must adapt to ensure we are keeping up with this fast-paced environment, without sacrificing quality or standards. The role of PCBs in the healthcare electronic manufacturing industry is huge, and only set to advance alongside modern-day technology.
PCBs are used in a wide range of medical devices, including:
- Implanted devices – such as Responsive Neurostimulators (RNS), an implanted device (on the brain) that is used in people with epilepsy and implanted defibrillators.
- CT, MRI and Ultrasound equipment.
- Monitoring devices, such as heart rate monitors, pacemakers, blood glucose monitors and more.
Looking for a bespoke manufacturing solution? See how ABL Circuits can help you today.
If you’d like to find out more information on how we can help, or on our experience in this field, get in contact today for a free quote.