Flexible PCBs

As the demand for medical devices grows, manufacturers want their products to be smaller and more compact. These requirements have led to the rise of flexible PCBs in the market, as they are able to fit into the tight spaces and complex shapes that most medical equipment requires.

The flexible PCBs are also able to endure bending and flexing, which is crucial for medical devices since they are likely to be subjected to this kind of movement during their use. Medical devices are designed to be as durable and reliable as possible, and the flexible pcb board have been a key component in these efforts, especially for telecommunications-related electronic devices that need to be able to withstand vibrations and constant motion.

Medical PCBs must be able to withstand rigorous testing, including multiple solder reflow cycles and thermal cycling. The flex boards used in medical devices are often multi-layered, and the layers should be stacked according to their application in order to ensure they meet the required standards for durability.

Flexible PCBs for Medical Devices

It is important to use a high-quality network epoxy resin for the flex board layer stack, such as polyimide. This type of network epoxy resin is extremely tough, able to handle multiple soldering reflow cycles and high temperatures, and can withstand vibrations and other environmental factors. In addition, polyimide is able to withstand repeated bending and flexing, which is an important consideration for most medical devices.

Using the right conductive materials is also important for medical PCBs. In general, it is recommended to use thicker copper and wider traces. This helps with current-carrying capacity and reduces signal loss. On the other hand, thin traces are more prone to breakage during flexing and bending, so it is important to minimize their number in the flex circuitry as much as possible.

Another factor in medical PCB design is ensuring that the board can accommodate a variety of components. This includes making sure the connections are easily accessible, and that the flex material is able to support large component sizes. Moreover, it is also important to use an appropriate adhesive for the flex circuits in order to secure them properly to the rigid layers of the PCB.

As the demands for medical and telecommunications devices continue to grow, it is expected that the demand for flexible PCBs will increase as well. The ability of these specialized circuits to withstand bending, flexing and other stresses makes them an ideal choice for many applications, from mobile phones that can record and transmit heart rate data to a patient’s doctor, to wristwatches that can track a patient’s blood pressure.

The tinier these devices get, the more challenging it is for manufacturers to make them, as they force designers to choose finer lines and spaces, thinner copper, and even less base material than in the past. The flex circuits used in these devices also require special plating techniques, such as button plating, where copper is only deposited on the pads/vias and not in the overall panel.