Originally Published EMDM January/February 2003
ELECTRONICS
High-density packaging enables development of wearable monitoring deviceA supplier of miniature electronic systems announced its contribution to the development of a wearable medical monitoring device at the recent Electronica show. OEM Pendragon Medical chose Art of Technology (Zürich, Switzerland) to design and develop the electronics and firmware, as well as related testing equipment, for the device that fits into a housing the size of a wristwatch.
The key challenge, according to Rolf Schmid, managing director of Art of Technology, involved integrating complex control electronics, sensors, battery, and user interfaces into a device with strict size and weight specifications. In addition, Pendragon required that power consumption be kept to a minimum. Art of Technology's expertise in high-density packaging helped it to achieve these goals. (A confidentiality agreement prevents Schmid from revealing any details.)
The device's sensor technology required the supplier to conduct research on a new method of obtaining an electronic signal compatible with the desired medical measurement. Art of Technology played a key role in finding a measurement method that the company claims is revolutionary but, once again, cannot divulge.
To accelerate product development and time to market, Art of Technology built two preprototypes, integrating different iterations of surface-mount and chip-on-board (COB) technologies to progressively reduce the product's size as well as to show proof of design. The first version was an SMD prototype, followed by a COB and SMD device. This approach allowed the firm to finalize the form factor and condense prototype to ramp-up time.
A selection of innovative products and services displayed at Electronica (München), Emballage (Paris), and Medica (Düsseldorf, Germany)
Copyright ©2003 European Medical Device Manufacturer
