MEDICAL


The Critical Role of Cleaning in Wearable Medical Device Manufacturing


Elizabeth Norwood, senior chemist, MicroCare


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earable medical devices are transforming healthcare, offering real-time monitoring, diagnostics and  that measure heart rate to advanced biosensors monitoring glucose levels, these devices are becoming essential tools in patient care. The global wearable technology  reaching over $150 billion by 2029, highlighting the increasing demand for compact, high-performance medical solutions. While these advancements offer clear  manufacturing challenges, particularly in ensuring long-term reliability and safety. One  aspects of wearable device production is precision cleaning. Contaminants left behind on printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) can compromise device performance, lead to 


26 MARCH 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS


The Challenge of Miniaturisation Miniaturisation plays a crucial role in wearable medical technology. Devices are getting smaller while incorporating more advanced  allows for enhanced functionality in a  in manufacturing and cleaning.


As PCBA designs become denser and more    increases. These issues can degrade performance over time, leading to device malfunctions.


In medical applications, such failures are  where a glitch might be a minor


inconvenience, a failure in a wearable medical device could have profound consequences for patient safety.





 control. Effective cleaning should not be just an afterthought; it must be an integral part of the design and production process from the beginning.


Cleaning as a Fundamental Step in PCBA Manufacturing


A robust cleaning process is essential to supporting device reliability. Contaminants on  categories: polar inorganic, non-polar organic  cleaning approach to prevent reliability issues in wearable medical devices. Polar inorganic contaminants include salts,   manufacturing processes. These hydrophilic residues can attract moisture, leading to corrosion and surface degradation. Non-polar organic contaminants, such as oils, greases


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