Medical Interconnect Solutions

Used to connect various components of a device, such as sensors, motors, and electronic circuits, medical interconnect solutions typically have unique design features to ensure they meet the stringent requirements of medical applications. Requirements such as being designed with materials that can withstand sterilization methods and are able to sustain repeated insertions and removals while allowing these devices to reliably communicate and transfer data to other devices or systems.

Nortech has been designing and manufacturing specialty wire, cable, and harness products for over four decades with the quality and dedication needed to create complex wire and cable projects. With this many years of design and production experience specifically for these types of applications, we know what it takes to design an interconnect to be reliable, meet your specifications, and offer incredible value to you and your customers.

Medical Interconnect Capabilities

Custom EMI shielding and signal interference (crosstalk) elimination
Custom harnesses, small high-density micro-coaxial assemblies
Phase-matched circuitry, precise attenuation and impedance management
High-performance RF balun design, assembly and tuning
Harsh imaging and digital video environments
Biocompatic molding/overmolding capabilities
Simplification of interconnect architecture
Interconnect-embedded diagnostics (smart cables, wireless)

Focus on Your Product

When designing electronic medical devices, connectors are often the last thing to be considered because the primary focus is typically on the functionality and performance of the device itself. Connectors are considered secondary to this and are often given little attention until the end of the design process. Additionally, the selection and integration of connectors can be complex and time-consuming, and designers may only want to spend resources on this once the device’s other aspects have been finalized.

However, connectors not compliant with regulatory standards and guidelines may not be approved for use, delaying or failing to bring the final product to market. Connectors not designed to safety standards can lead to malfunctions, recalls, and product liability issues. Weak connections can also cause malfunctions, increased maintenance and repair costs, and decreased device uptime.

At Nortech, we know that the interconnect solutions are a critical component of the device. We will apply our extensive knowledge base to selecting and integrating these interconnect solutions, thereby minimizing the negative impact on the safety, durability, compliance, reliability, and cost throughout the product’s lifecycle.

Innovate Safely and Effectively

Medical devices used to diagnose and treat patients must be durable and reliable to function properly and transmit accurate information. These same devices are often at the center of critical situations and must also be able to withstand harsh environments and transmit that same data quickly, ensuring medical staff efficiency to keep the patient safe.

Designing specifically for medical interconnect applications is important because it ensures that the device will function correctly and safely in the specific environment in which it will be used. These design considerations can include factors such as extreme temperatures, electromagnetic interference, and radio frequency delivery, which must be carefully managed to prevent damage or malfunction of the device. By designing and manufacturing with these specific requirements in mind, Nortech can ensure that our medical interconnect solutions will meet your needs and be safe for use in medical environments.

Leave the connections to us.

Keep It Secure

Unauthorized access, tampering, and information leakage are some potential medical device cybersecurity threats that can be addressed through comprehensive interconnect solution selection and integration. However, it is important to note that security measures need to be designed not to impede the medical device’s primary function and availability to the patient.

Restricting access to certain connections by placing them inside devices where only authorized maintenance personnel can access them is one way to mitigate the threats. Using secure connections and protocols, including encrypted connections, such as HTTPS or SSH, to protect data transmitted over the connector is another threat mitigation approach.

To determine the most appropriate type of connector for a device, let our team conduct a cost/benefit analysis to weigh the costs of implementing different types of connectors and security measures against the potential benefits of those measures in terms of improved security, compliance with regulations, and lifecycle costs.