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Electronics Design For Mobile Medical Facilities


Design Considerations for Electronics in Mobile Medical Facilities

Mobile medical facilities, such as response vehicles, field hospitals, and telemedicine units, bring healthcare services to remote locations and emergency situations. Although much of their equipment functionality is essentially the same as in stationary hospitals, these facilities require specialized electronics that are portable, durable, and capable of withstanding challenging environments.

It is important to consider the right connectors inside these systems. Personnel need to make on-the-fly configurations and equipment must maintain reliable operation in unpredictable conditions.

In this post, we’ll explore the design considerations for connectors in mobile medical facilities compared to those used in conventional hospitals.

Connector Requirements in Mobile Medical Facilities

Mobile medical facilities operate in dynamic environments subject to vibrations, temperature variations, humidity, and limited space. Devices in these settings must also be compatible with a wide range of medical equipment, including sensors, diagnostic devices, monitoring systems, and therapeutic instruments. These challenges necessitate careful consideration of connector selection to ensure robust and reliable connections.

Connectors used in mobile medical facilities must fulfill several requirements. Ideally, the components should be:

  • Compact and lightweight to optimize space utilization in cramped settings.
  • Durable and capable of withstanding harsh conditions, including moisture, dust, and mechanical stress. Ingress protection (IP) rated parts are recommended.
  • Easy to use –– allowing for quick and secure connections, as medical professionals often work under time constraints.
  • Compatibility with a variety of medical devices and equipment is crucial to ensure seamless integration and interoperability.

Ideal Connectors for Mobile Medical Facilities

Norcomp recommends the following components from its catalog that match the requirements of both medical equipment and all the possible outdoor conditions that it might encounter.

QUIK-LOQ CONNECTORS

QUIK-LOQ™ Circular Push-Pull Connector systems are rugged, precise, and IP67 rated connectors used for most high-reliability, waterproof applications. The mechanism locks connections in place but a pull on the casing releases the engagement, perfect for medical personnel who have to assemble, dissemble, or re-configure systems on the fly.

  • Available in a range of pin numbers and positions
  • Accepts 14-28 awg wires
  • Rated for 2 to 30 amps
  • High Mating Cycles (>5000)
  • Machined contacts and housing
  • 360° shielding for full EMI / RFI

VULCON STEEL


VULCON™ metric circular connectors have screw-thread locks for a strong, reliable hold. These connectors make for robust waterproof cable-to-panel or cable-to-PC board interfaces and take up less room than rectangular connectors of the same pin count. A spectrum of cabling size and pin options have made these circular connectors popular in multiple outdoor applications due to their flexibility, ruggedness, and reliability.

  • Available in pin counts ranging from 3 to 12 positions
  • IP67/68 Performance in both mated and unmated conditions
  • Solder Cup
  • Vertical Mount, and Right-Angle Board Mount options
  • Cable Mount in hybrid or 316 Stainless Steel
  • Up to 5 Amp contact rating / -40°C to +85°C
  • A, D, X, & L codes available
  • Available as loose piece or as pre-made cables

Seal-D®

The common D-shaped connections in medical equipment transfer both signal and power to computerized applications. For outdoor applications, it is important to upgrade to IP67-rated versions. In these cases, the Seal-D product line from Norcomp delivers the best in reliability and performance.

  • 6 standard sizes
  • Standard pin density: 9, 15, 25 — high pin density: 15, 26, 44
  • Combo-D / High Power in several configurations
  • Solder Cup, Vertical Mount, & Right-Angle Board Mount options
  • High Reliability Screw Machined Contacts
  • 3 amp / 5 amp / 20 amp / 40 amp options
  • -55ºC to +105ºC operating temperature

For more compact versions of D-shaped interconnects, see our line of Micro-D products.[BD2]

Check in with Norcomp

Compactness, durability, ease of use, and compatibility are always key factors in medical equipment. Additionally, mobile medical facilities demand electronics that can withstand challenging environments while maintaining reliable data transmission and power.

Medical device engineers look to Norcomp for their connector selection and production sourcing needs. For more information about choosing a component for your project, feel free to contact a Norcomp expert. Consult our brochures for more catalog options in these categories:


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