Medical electronics connectors are used with medical devices and medical equipment in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, and other healthcare facilities. They carry product specifications for category, connector type, gender, and mounting style. Medical electronics connectors also differ in terms of coupling type, contact pitch, performance, and features. Products may bear certifications such as the UL Listing Mark or the VDE Component Mark; comply with standards from the CSA, IEC, or NEMA; or meet the requirements of European Union directives such as RoHS.
Product categories for medical electronics connectors include circular and cylindrical connectors, coaxial connectors, micro connectors and nano connectors, and heavy-duty rectangular connectors. Circular and cylindrical products are multi-pin devices that are used primarily for external interfacing. By design, these medical electronics connectors protect the connection from environmental factors. Coaxial connectors are often used in applications that require the transmission of large amounts of data. Micro connectors and nano connectors have contacts with pitches of 0.05-inch (micro) and 0.025-inch (nano), respectively. Heavy-duty rectangular connectors are designed to accommodate large electrical loads and direct signals under a multitude of operating conditions.
Connector type, gender, and mounting style are important parameters to consider when selecting medical electronics connectors. There are two main choices for connector type: banana and safety. Banana plugs are slender, slightly bulged metal prongs that can be inserted into a special banana jack that sits almost flush with the component’s surface, or that fits into a binding post. Safety jacks and safety plugs are special medical electronics connectors that include safety features not found in other products. In terms of gender, male medical electronics connectors are designed to plug into female medical electronics connectors. These electrical outlets or receptacles are referred to as jacks, whereas male connectors are called plugs. Choices for mounting style include bulkhead mount, PC mount, and 2-hole or 4-hole flange mount; in-line, jam nut, and weld-mount receptacle; and cable-end and end-launch.
In addition to coupling types and contact pitch, medical electronics connectors are described by performance specifications and features. Impedance, voltage rating, number of contacts, and contact size (termination size) are important performance parameters to consider. In terms of features, some medical electronics connectors use an advanced coupling type or are both couplings and connectors. Other products are environmentally-resistant, hermetically sealed, or specifically-designed for cryogenic use or underwater use. Water-resistant, oil-resistant, and moisture-resistant medical electronics connectors are also available. Locking, press-fit, ESD shielded, and reverse polarity products may be required for some medical, surgical, or healthcare applications.
