electronica 2014 MEDICAL ELECTRONICS Hall B4 Stand 378
Cables you can trust N
Neil Tyler talks to Emmanuel Deboval, EMEA Director, and Justin Dubow, Senior Product Manager, at Alpha Wire about the design challenges confronting the medical market when it comes to cables and connectivity
o matter how demanding the environment, and the medical market is among the most demanding in the world, a cable which combines performance and reliability is obviously vital. It is crucial then, that the cable selected for an application meets its needs and does so no matter what the electrical noise or regulatory requirement requires.
US-based Alpha Wire is recognised for high-
quality, premium-grade products for a wide range of applications and it offers same day shipping, flexibility of both small and large put- ups, fast turnaround on special orders and works closely with distributors and customers to supply the right cable. According to Emmanuel Deboval, EMEA Director, and Justin Dubow, Senior Product Manager, at Alpha Wire, the company is focused on designing and manufacturing cables to meet the needs of real-world applications, using premium materials, advanced manufacturing techniques and world class quality control. "We sell our products primarily
through distribution," explains Dubow. "We use to sell directly but we've found that distributors are capable of adding real value when it comes to servicing the needs of customers. We've been in business for over 80 years and our value proposition is supplying cable you trust alongside a level of service that you deserve. And that's never changed." That focus on service comes out in a number of ways, according to Dubow. "We work closely with design engineers providing free samples, helping with purchasing and supplying quality product.
"Our focus has always been on supplying cable that will go the distance. You'll know with Alpha Wire that the cable, wire or heat-shrink tuning you'll be getting will be of uniform construction and offer consistent levels of performance." In Europe the company is more of a niche
supplier, working closely with electronic engineers.
"It tends to be the case that the design of cables and connectors is only considered at the end of the design process," suggests Deboval, "and that is unlikely to change. As a result we have to be ahead of the design curve looking to address problems before they arise. To that end we've focused on developing smaller cables which bring both environmental and financial benefits. Miniaturisation is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed."
14 CIE electronica 2014
Environmental issues also play a crucial part in the design process. Alpha Wire has recently developed an
alternative wire insulation to PVC which offers better performance and has a significantly less environmental impact. Although PVC insulation is a mainstay of the wire and cable industry due to its mechanical and electrical properties and its low cost, it presents environmental issues due to its halogen content. Elements such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine are highly reactive and can be harmful to people and animals. PVC contains approximately 29% chlorine by weight; in fact, the C in PVC is chloride, an ion of
landfills and produce toxic gases when burned. PVC can be recycled but it is not always technically feasible and rarely cost effective. Other common wire insulations present similar, if less severe, problems. On the other hand, mPPE is thermoplastic and more easily recycled as it does not contain the aforementioned hazardous materials.
As one might suspect, mPPE insulated wire does have an added cost component. Moreover, it's a new product and engineers tend to be fairly risk adverse, commonly selecting the known over the unknown. However, that is not the case as this compound is widely accepted in a variety of industries. Regulations have a role to play in the adoption of new materials, and the adoption of mPPE based products such as EcoWire should not be hindered by its perceived novelty. In fact Underwriters Laboratories has already approved mPPE as a suitable insulation for over fifty AWM cable styles.
"In terms of the medical market
chlorine. Teflon FEP and PTFE contain up to 76% fluorine and, when burned, produce toxic acid. Halogens, under normal circumstances, are very stable and present no danger. However, environmental problems arise when they burn. The concern with common wire and cable insulating materials is the release of toxic gases, smoke, and acids when they burn. Newer materials, principally low smoke,
zero halogen (LSZH) plastics, do not emit dangerous gases or smokes when burned. While they may contain trace amounts of halogens, usually under 1 per cent, they are considered essentially halogen free. Despite its improved safety features, the drawback to LSZH is that it cannot be conveniently recycled and reused. Like PVC, it will not safely decompose in a landfill. Alpha Wire's new EcoWire hook up wire uses flexible Noryl insulation to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to PVC. Noryl is a modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) thermoplastic that is lighter, tougher, and more durable than PVC. In addition to its ecological benefits, mPPE brings a number of performance advantages. Plastics present significant disposal issues. Its harmful additives leak into the groundwater in
new regulations brought forward in the European market have been crucial in driving forward design innovation in this market," explains Deboval "We've worked hard to develop a range of products that are suitable for the medical market, for example, but which do not sacrifice performance in terms of their temperature range or because of the different compounds we are obliged to use in our cabling. "The primary design requirement for medical devices is that you look to make them smaller, fully recyclable and more flexible. In response our latest products are up to 47 per cent smaller than those currently on the market." Alpha Wire has recently added a new version – the 300 V – to its EcoCable recyclable cable line which is 32 per cent smaller and 44 per cent lighter than the current standard 300 V PVC cable.
"Low outgassing makes it suitable for power and signal transmission applications in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and its superior EMI/RFI shielding makes it perfect for medical device interconnects," explains Dubow.
Size and weight savings are therefore crucial
differentiators for Alpha Wire. "More and more design engineers are coming to us to help them when it comes to designing suitable cable products," explains Dubow.
And selecting the right cable is critical for medical applications. Alpha Wire provides an online resource centre that offers a wire and cable selection guide, a full product catalogue and provides a Cable Design Center that can help the design engineer design the cable they need to meet their own unique specifications.
Alpha Wire |
www.alphawire.com
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