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1White paper - How to Specify a Break-Away Connector

Medical device design engineers and military equipment designers face similar challenges:

a need to save valuable PC board space. One popular solution is to integrate electronics into

a connector. An example of connector manufacturers doing this for many years is a connector

integrating noise ltering and EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) suppression components into the

rear shell of circular or d-sub connectors.

LEMO USA, Inc., a subsidiary of LEMO SA, a leading push-pull connector manufacturer, has an

integrated solution available to the medical device designer. Integrated solutions can be achie-

ved by designing a small PCB that ts a small surface mount circuit with IC packages such as

the TSOC (Thin Small-Outline C-lead), SOT (Small Outline Transistor), SO (Small Outline) and

passive SMD components such as resistors, caps and fuses. Figure 1 (below) shows some exa-

mple congurations of LEMO connectors with integrated electronics.

“One of the trends we see today is a smart medical device using a microcontroller and EEPROM,

integrated with the connector plug or receptacle,” said Steven Lassen, Product & Applications

Manager. Using an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) opens up

many new possible features for medical devices. For example using this solution with disposable

probes, which are designed to have limited usage, can enable the main device to keep count

and give an error message or disable the disposable unit if it’s used too many times. This would

prevent operator error and, allow logging of usage, and even alleviate potential liability issues re-

lated to equipment connections. This EEPROM solution can also serve as a method of electronic

serialization. Electronic serialization or tracking can reduce expenses associated with physical

marking of devices such as insucient space, permanency, poor cosmetics, and legibility. Me-

mory in the probe allows for calibration and unique adjustments of each probe. Another benet

of integrated electronics is the ability to prevent pirating and counterfeits by having built-in code

and authentication features. See Figure 2 (below) for typical circuit using a microcontroller.

A: Single Patient Use receptacle for cable mounting

B: Shielded metal plug for cable mounting

C: Plastic plug for cable mounting

Figure 1