Electronics

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Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measurements typically involve time-consuming skin preparation, lead application, conductive gels, and even shaving of body hair. More recently, dry contact sensors have come into use in some sports and home health monitoring units, but these frequently experience contact problems, particularly in users with dry skin.
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Devices that support various functions of our bodies are being used increasingly. Today, they include cardiac pacemakers or hearing aids. Tomorrow, they may be contact lenses with automatically changing focal length or computer-controlled displays generating images directly in the eye. But, none of these devices will work if not coupled to an efficient and long-lasting power supply source. Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw say that the best solution seems to be miniaturized biofuel cells that consume substances naturally occurring in the human body or in its immediate surroundings.
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Today’s medical device OEMs live in an age of abundance: both abundant options and abundant regulatory requirements. With so many options and so many restrictions, it can be very difficult to select the right contract manufacturer (CM) or electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider. So many factors come into play. What are their testing services? Do they have clean room capabilities? How do our corporate cultures mix? Will this be a long-lasting or one-time relationship? Could they help me with miniaturization?
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Ohmite Manufacturing, Arlington Heights, IL, introduces a new line of heat sinks for single LED power modules. The SV300 Series is composed of high performance, low cost, scalable heat sinks designed to accommodate a single LED. Ideal for use with LEDs in medical industry applications, these high aspect ratio devices are available in two standard lengths, 14mm and 25mm, with a 9.9mm mounting surface. Customizable options for this series include length, surface finish, mounting holes, and custom machining.
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Cicoil, Valencia, CA, designed ultraflexible flat silicone cables are halogenfree, flame retardant, and provide premium current carrying capacity, reduced skewing effects, weight and space savings, tighter bend radius, and consistent electrical characteristics. The silicone is “selfhealing” from small punctures, and the non-contaminating, silicone encapsulation will not delaminate or degrade due to exposure to steam, water, alcohol, UV light, high heat (+260°C), humidity, mechanical stress, vibration, and shock.
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TandD Corporation, Saratoga Springs, NY, has introduced the RTR-574-H, a Wireless 4 Channel Logger that monitors illuminance, ultraviolet, temperature, and humidity, and achieves a temperature measurement accuracy of ±0.3°C (between 10° to 40°C) with an overall range of -30° to 80°C. The humidity measurement accuracy is ±2.5% (at 25°C, 10 to 85% RH) with an overall range of 0 to 99% RH.
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Galil Motion Control, Rocklin, CA, announced the latest product in its RIO Pocket PLC Series, the RIO- 47300, which includes more I/O, screw terminals, and two Ethernet ports, which allow management of an unlimited number of inputs and outputs without an external Ethernet switch. It allows 400 program lines, 254 variables, and 1,000 array elements.
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Ironwood Electronics, Eagan, MN, introduced a new high performance QFP socket for 0.4mm pitch 128 pin QFP. The SG-QFE- 7011 socket is designed for 14mm x 14mm x 1.6mm package size with 16mm x 16mm lead tip to tip and operates at bandwidths up to 10 GHz with less than 1dB of insertion loss. The socket connects all pins with 10 GHz bandwidth on all connections, and is mounted on the target PCB with no soldering.
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The RNV14 from Stackpole Electronics Inc., Raleigh, NC, is a ¼ watt high voltage metal film resistor with a maximum working voltage of 1,600 volts DC, 1,150 AC. It can withstand thousands of surges of up to 7KV per IEC60065.14.1, and its protective coating allows it to withstand prolonged exposure to 200°C heat and humidity levels of 90% RH or more.
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Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, are developing edible electronic devices that can be implanted in the body, and say that the device could be programmed and deployed in the gastrointestinal tract or the small intestine and once the battery packaging is in place, they can activate the battery.

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Chroma Systems Solutions, Inc., Foothill Ranch, CA, a leading provider of electrical power test equipment and systems, announces its new 19020 Series Multichannel Hipot tester, which allows one unit to perform 10 channel sync output and measurements at the same time, and conduct tests on a maximum of 100 devices simultaneously, increasing regulatory test efficiency and productivity. BIOMEDevice Booth 922
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TDK Corp., San Diego, CA, expands its Lambda HFE1600 range of 1.6kW high-density, front end power supplies with the addition of a 32V model. The HFE1600-32 operates from a universal 85 to 265Vac input. In addition to the 32V model, supplies are available with other voltages, and each HFE1600 supply has two variable-speed cooling fans and can operate in temperatures ranging from -10°C to +70°C. BIOMEDevice Booth 1024
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Omnetics Connector Corp., Minneapolis, MN, offers a new Polarized Nano connector line, the PZN series of ultra-miniature connectors using military style pin and socket designs to provide uninterrupted electrical connections for portable applications. PZN connector contact spacing is set at 25 one thousandths of an inch. Medical designers can use the PZN format to squeeze more electronics into smaller devices. Other applications include drive circuits for handheld laser and orthopedic tools.
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In addition to the Chemicals Regulation REACH (Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances), medical devices will soon have to comply with the European RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This affects US exports to the EU, the EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), Switzerland, and Turkey. The current scope of products will expand until the use of the RoHs 6 hazardous substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and the flame retardants PBB and PBDE, will be essentially banned in all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) up to 1,000 Volts AC, 1,500 volts DC sold in the EU.

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The demand for ever-smaller electronic devices has led to the miniaturization of a variety of technologies, but energy-storage units, such as batteries and capacitors, have lagged behind. Now, researchers at UCLA say that they have developed an innovative technique using a DVD burner to fabricate micro-scale graphene-based supercapacitors, which can charge and discharge a hundred to a thousand times faster than standard batteries. These micro-supercapacitors, made from a one-atom–thick layer of graphitic carbon, can be easily manufactured and readily integrated into small devices such as next-generation pacemakers, they say.

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Electromagnetic devices all require an electric current to create the magnetic fields that allow them to function. But as devices become smaller, being able to efficiently deliver a current to create magnetic fields becomes more difficult. Researchers at UCLA say that they have developed a method to switch tiny magnetic fields on and off with an electric field, instead of the traditional approach of running a current through a wire, which they say could lead to big changes in storing digital information and powering motors in small hand-held devices.

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Researchers at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL and the University of Illinois have demonstrated a stretchable lithium-ion battery can power their innovative stretchable electronics. The stretchable electronic devices now could be used anywhere, including inside the human body, they say, powering implantable electronics that could monitor anything from brain waves to heart activity. They say that they have demonstrated a battery that powers a commercial light-emitting diode even when stretched, folded, twisted, and mounted on a human elbow. The battery can work for eight to nine hours before needing recharging, which can be done wirelessly.

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The need for physical security in the health care industry is no longer limited to grounds, buildings, and rooms. Today, security must extend down to medical enclosures, including cabinets, dispensing carts, charting stations, and new portable diagnostic equipment. For many health care facility owners and operators, monitoring security at the enclosure or cart level can be a challenge, and they are looking to the manufacturers of these enclosures for solutions.
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Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc., Cincinnati, OH, introduces a new series of electronic valves designed for the analytical industry, and for applications where cleanliness is especially important. The pneumatic valves utilize a unique patented system with a low power consumption of only 0.67 watts, a response time of 5 to 10 milliseconds, and voltages of 6, 12, or 24 VDC. Available in 2-way or 3-way, normally- closed or fully ported.
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Mill-Max Mfg. Corp., Oyster Bay, NY, introduces four new USB 3.0 connectors. USB 3.0, SuperSpeed USB, provides a 10x faster data transfer rate over Hi-Speed USB with a 5 Gbps signaling rate. SuperSpeed USB is a Sync-N-Go technology that minimizes user wait time and provides optimized power efficiency. Mill-Max offers both standard size and micro USB 3.0 connectors, which are are smaller and lighter than existing USB connectors for portable and handheld devices.
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Caritronics, Inc., West Caldwell, NJ, announces its newest high voltage DC/DC converter series. The “V” series offers high isolation, low noise, and high voltage outputs, up to 1.5 watts of power. Unit dimensions are 2.5" × 1.5" × .75". Caritronics has been engaged in the DC/DC converter business since 1969 and offers an extensive capability for custom units to meet specific mechanical and electrical requirements.
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Nordson EFD, East Providence, RI, has more than tripled the speed of its PICO™ series of piezoelectric jet dispensing systems— from 150Hz (cycles per second) up to an industry-leading continuous 500Hz, making the new and improved versions the fastest piezoelectric valves available to the global manufacturing community. PICO systems are used to apply adhesives, lubricants, and other assembly fluids in amounts as small as 2 nanoliters. They are ideal for applying precise amounts of fluid on uneven surfaces or products with small components, tight tolerances, or hard-to-access areas, such as medical devices.
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Standex-Meder Electronics, Cincinnati, OH, announces its 3D magnetic mapping capabilities for reed sensors, which allows designers to more accurately place sensors and magnetic components within a system, eliminating issues that may result in faulty operation. 3D mapping also helps designers adjust the magnetic sensitivity of the reed sensor and/or the magnet’s size and strength. It is particularly useful in applications using more than one reed sensor or more than one magnet.
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BEI Kimco Magnetics, Vista, CA, introduces its latest generation Housed Voice Coil Actuator (VCA), the LAS28-53-00A. Engineered as an all inclusive package, the new VCA incorporates an integrated position feedback sensor with analog output for servo positioning or velocity control. It includes shielded cables and connectors that allow plug and play installation. With shaft and bearings contained in the housing, there is no need to design parts to capture the coil and field assemblies and maintain concentric position.
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ADLINK Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA, presents its latest COM Express offering, the Express-IB, a high performance COM.0 R2.0 Type 6 module featuring an Intel Core i7/i5/i3 processor supporting Intel HD Graphics integrated on the CPU with three independent displays. The Express-IB is ideal for customers with advanced processing performance and graphics requirements looking to reduce development time by outsourcing the base design of their system and focusing on application functionality.

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