Notably, it is not easy to ignore that the modern technological revolution has led to the comprehensive usage of handheld devices with most of them going even further, towards greater miniaturization and increased functionalism. Such features are made possible by the development of fine line flexible PCB which give impetus to new medical technologies and provide enhanced alternatives for wearable devices, implantable devices, and so forth. This paper seeks to look into utilization of flexible circuit boards in medical devices, the benefits of the use of thin line circuit boards, and the criteria used in sourcing for quality flexible PCB manufacturers.
Definition of super fine line flexible PCB
Super fine line flexible PCB refers to the conductive lines on the flexible printed circuit board are very thin, so thin that they are almost invisible. The circuit lines can only be seen under a microscope. In particular, for applications in medical devices, the superior performance of an fine line design enables to significantly bring down the thickness and weight of the circuit boards, resulting in lighter and more delicate instruments giving more comfort to the patients and ease when operating the devices.
Flex PCB project of Flex Plus
Among many flexible PCB suppliers, Flex Plus stands out with its high-precision design technology. Its unique Flex PCB project has received wide attention in the medical device industry:
Extremely circuit line width:
Flex Plus's Flex PCB project meets the standards of extremely circuit lines, with the finest line width being only 40μm. This level of refinement can help medical device designers further reduce the size of the device, allowing the circuit board to provide complex functions in a very small space, which is very suitable for implantable devices with limited space.
Gold plating thickness:
In order to ensure the high conductivity and corrosion resistance of the printed circuit board, the pads are plated with a gold plating process with a gold plating thickness of only 0.3μm. This thickness provides a long-term stable connection effect for the circuit board, ensuring the durability and high performance of the device in long-term use, which is particularly suitable for medical devices with extremely high stability requirements.
Total circuit board thickness:
The total thickness of the entire circuit board for this project is 300μm (including 275μm stiffener). This ultra-thin design can significantly reduce the weight of the device, bringing a lighter use experience to wearable and implantable devices, and helping to improve the comfort of patients.
This technology of Flex Plus has significant technical advantages in the medical industry, providing a more mature solution for the miniaturization and high precision of medical equipment.
Application of flexible circuit boards in medical devices
FPCs continue to be an integral element of modern medicine. They have the added advantage of being bendable, foldable and twistable and can fit into many places that are impossible for a rigid PCB. Some of the notable uses of flexible circuits in medical equipment include the following:
Medical monitoring devices: such as heart rate, blood pressure, and smart bracelets are examples of wearable devices. These devices need to have contours that closely fit the human body, and thus, they are designed using durable thin circuits, which dramatically enhances wearing comfort for patients.
And implantable medical devices: cochlear implants and pacemakers are examples here; these types of devices x usually would need to be able to perform internally within a human body for an extended period of time. As such, the ultra-thin construction, and fine circuit structure of Flex Plus serves this purpose well.
Equipment such as endoscopes, minimally invasive surgical instruments or precision measuring devices are tools that many medical practitioners rely on due to the precision of their internal structures, and these components have very large applications and can adapt to miniaturized complex circuit designs and overcome difficulties.
Thermometers for biometrics and advanced testing equipment, which require highly sensitive and stable signal processing capabilities. The high reliability and ultrafine design of the Flex Plus project are very suitable for these applications.
Advantages of super fine line flex PCB
The advantages of super fine line flex printed circuits are mainly reflected in their flexibility, high precision, light weight and durability:
Flexibility and adaptability: Unlike rigid circuit boards, flexible PCB boards can be folded and bent at multiple angles, making them very suitable for compact and irregularly shaped devices.
High precision: The Super fine line design enables flexible circuit boards to adapt to complex circuit requirements, especially in medical devices, where electrical signals can be transmitted more efficiently. The 40μm line design of Flex Plus ensures efficient signal transmission capabilities and adapts to more complex medical needs.
Lightweight: Due to its ultra-thin characteristics, ultrafine line flexible circuit boards can significantly reduce the weight of equipment and are very suitable for wearable and implantable medical devices. The total thickness of the Flex Plus circuit board is only 0.3 mm, which greatly reduces the space and weight requirements of the equipment.
High durability: Medical equipment often needs to work stably for a long time, and good-quality flexible PCBs have good fatigue resistance and durability and can withstand high-frequency bending. The gold plating thickness of Flex Plus is 0.3μm, which provides additional durability in high-frequency applications.
The width of the general circuit line
In general, the width of the copper foil line used on flexible printed circuit board is usually between 50-100μm, and the specific range varies according to the application scenario and manufacturing technology. The following are the common copper foil line widths in different applications:
Consumer electronics (such as smartphones, cameras, etc.)
Line widths of 50-75μm are the most common. This width not only ensures signal transmission, but also facilitates mass production, and is suitable for the needs of most electronic products.
Automotive electronics (such as dashboards, navigation systems, sensors, etc.)
In order to meet the high reliability requirements of the automotive environment, the commonly used copper foil line width is about 75-100μm, and sometimes wider. Wider lines increase conductivity and durability, and are more suitable for environments with high stability requirements such as automobiles.
High-end precision equipment (such as wearable devices, medical devices, etc.)
The line width used can be 25-50μm or even smaller. In high-end equipment, space is limited and portability and precision are required, so narrower copper foil lines are required.
Special purposes (such as laboratory research and development and ultra-precision instruments):
Use copper foil lines below 10μm, but such technology is difficult and is mainly used in laboratories or small-scale production.
Therefore, the standard range of copper foil line width in general production is 50-100μm, while those below 25μm are mostly used for special or high-end applications.
How to choose a good flexible PCB factory?
Choosing a suitable Flex PCB Factory is crucial to ensure the quality of the circuit board. The following suggestions can help you find the right supplier:
1. Certification and qualifications: Choose a factory with medical industry certification, such as ISO 13485 certification, which is the international standard for medical device production. Flex Plus has multiple certifications and strictly implements the high standards of medical equipment.
2. Advanced production equipment and technology: As an advanced circuit board factory, Flex Plus has advanced equipment that supports fine line design to ensure high-quality circuit board production.
3. Quality control: Ensure that the factory has a complete quality inspection process, such as AOI (automatic optical inspection), E-test (electrical performance inspection), etc. Flex Plus uses a number of inspection methods to ensure the reliability and stability of flexible circuit boards.
If you have any questions after reading our flexible PCB manufacturing capabilities above, please contact us directly. We can help you solve any flexible PCB assembly, engineering, design and manufacturing problems. We look forward to being your one-stop flexible PCB supplier.
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