The characteristics of medical connectors
A variety of high-durability materials are suitable for the manufacture of lightweight portable and wearable medical technology equipment. The contact base and plating of the connector are generally made of metal materials, while the housing and strain relief devices are made of medical-grade plastic or metal. Gold-plated contacts generally have the best performance in harsh environments. Although tin material is more economical, the contact effect of gold plating is the most reliable, and the number of insertions and removals is the most. In addition, the industry has also proven the effectiveness of nickel-palladium-gold plating and is widely used.
The connector interface can be pulled out normally and the well-designed equipment can be visually inspected to reduce the accumulation of debris. If contaminants are found, they can be eliminated before affecting performance. The sterilization process of medical devices, especially contact with sterile wipes, gamma radiation, ethylene gas contact, autoclaving, and the Sterrad process, also have an impact on the selection and design of materials. Each method of disinfection produces different levels of exposure, exposure to various chemicals, various reactions, and risks to the integrity of the connector. Medical technology applications usually require connectors to withstand fluid intrusion, and in most cases, IP6 or IP7 protection levels are required.
According to the connection method with the device, medical connectors are divided into two types: locking type and non-locking type. In the assembly that connects the patient to the portable device, it is usually necessary to achieve a firm locking connection to avoid accidental disconnection. In addition, where axial force is applied to avoid accidental injury to the patient, the connector, or the cable assembly, the connector may also need to be safely disconnected. Even in non-locking connectors, medical cables need to provide a rigid connection between the plug and the socket. Loose connections can cause intermittent contact, generate unnecessary noise or signal degradation, and interfere with the performance of the device.
The selection of pins and sockets, as well as the physical design of plugs and sockets, can control the insertion force and retention force. The retention force defines the firmness of the connector held by the socket. If the connector is desired to have a higher number of insertions and removals, it is generally necessary to achieve retention through metal pins and sockets. In some cases, for example, if a portable defibrillator requires a securely locking connector, a flexible cover can be wrapped around the connector to protect the locking mechanism under reasonable circumstances. If the retention force is achieved through the pin socket, and the friction of the connector housing is insufficient, the retention force can be improved by design so that the axial force applied to the cable will not be directly applied to the connector to remove the external force. On the axis. In contrast, the design of a non-locking connector can disconnect the connector by applying an axial force to the cable. The use of right-angle connectors can be another way to enhance retention and prevent accidental pullout.
During the insertion and removal process, the retention force is measured at pre-established time intervals to ensure that the required retention force is maintained during the design life of the connector. To ensure that the requirements of the specification are met or exceeded in the final design, the verification test of the medical connector plays a vital role.