FEATURE CABLES & CONNECTORS


MEET CHANGING INDUSTRY DEMANDS WITH HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS


Despite facing obstacles such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,


Smiths Interconnect has responded to the growing demands for interconnection technologies in markets such as medical, and provided solutions for the


semiconductor test and aerospace industries. Rachael Morling finds out more from Roberta Rebora, product marketing and communications director, Smiths Interconnect


C


OVID-19 has had an impact on all businesses, from supply chain


issues to changes in market demand, as Roberta Rebora, product marketing communications director at Smiths Interconnect, explains: “We have maintained business continuity throughout the year with no interruption to our market support. While we have seen somewhat weaker demand across some of our markets, this has been offset by the growth in others.” There are a number of sectors that


have relied on Smiths Interconnect’s solutions over the past year, with the medical sector, understandably, one of those areas which has seen growth. “Our products and services are instrumental to the continued operation of essential industries such as medical/healthcare, aerospace, defence, rail, communications and digital infrastructure,” says Rebora. “We’ve long been a trusted partner to key ventilator manufacturers, providing high reliability connectors renowned for their durability and unfaltering performance in critical environments. As a global organisation with design and manufacturing locations in North Africa, APAC, the Americas and Europe, we have worked across nations, time zones and cultures to rapidly produce the connectivity solutions needed to support medical programmes around the globe. It is at the forefront of our operating model and at the heart of how we


support our customers – especially in times of extreme crisis. “In particular, we’ve delivered board-


to-board connectors with Hypertac hyperboloid technology (KNB series) utilised within a French-made portable ventilator found in ambulances, ambulatory helicopters and hospitals; push-pull, hyperboloid circular connectors (D series) used to provide power to a US-developed, Asia- manufactured, ventilator system; and finally board-to-board connectors (custom interposers) with spring probe contacts used for mating with replaceable battery packs in a UK developed breathing system.” In fact the medical industry relies


heavily on the company’s products for a wide range of applications. “There are growing technology needs in the medical industry so it is a considerable market segment for us,” explains Rebora. “Smiths Interconnect designs and manufactures high-reliability connectors and cable assemblies, RF components and sub-systems that ensure optimal performance, durability and safety to a number of medical applications, including surgical and monitoring systems, imaging systems and disposables applications. “Our interconnect solutions comply


D series


connectors have been used in a ventilator system


14 MARCH 2021 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS


with regulatory and application specific requirements and have established a reputation for excellence in the marketplace. An example of the innovation that we bring to the medical industry is the high-performance edge card technology for disposable medical applications that allows for quick and reliable connections for a broad range of critical medical devices, the Eclipta connector series. For electrophysiology catheter applications, these connectors bridge the gap between the catheter and


the extension cable. A standout feature of Eclipta is the fact that the PCB acts as the contact in the connector. Since the board is often part of the disposable device, it eliminates the need for an additional contact system on that side, thereby reducing costs to the customer. In addition, its plug and play design provides easier termination and virtually eliminates the potential contact damage associated with the termination process.” Medical demands, however, need to


be met with reliable solutions that can be supplied on time. “COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of ensuring rapid delivery of the systems and components that are essential to treat patients. The quality and reliability of these systems and components remains paramount, for obvious reasons, particularly in the medical market segment,” Rebora states. As a result, the company closely


monitored the potential impact that this unprecedented situation could have on its supply chain and took the appropriate measures to minimise any effect on product manufacture and delivery to customers. “This has resulted in minimal disruption of our operations and limited impact on our customer base,” Rebora adds. Outside of the medical industry, there


has been growing demand in other industries for Smiths Interconnect solutions, according to Rebora: “While the pandemic has affected the


/ DESIGNSOLUTIONS


An example of the innovation that the company brings to the medical industry is the high-performance edge card technology for disposable medical applications that allows for quick and reliable connections for a broad range of critical medical devices, the Eclipta connector series


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