Learning Custom Medical Cable Assembly Materials

by | Nov 6, 2020 | Guides

LEARNING CUSTOM MEDICAL CABLE ASSEMBLY MATERIALS

An important design difference between Lemo and Fischer is how the latching mechanism works. When comparing Lemo and Fischer receptacles, how the latch works is almost identical. The real magic happens on the plugs. Lemo achieves this function with an outer shell and latching sleeve. The latching sleeve and outer sleeve work together to achieve the push-pull experience. Straight plug items 1 and 2 below.

Low-Cost Medical Disposable Cable Assemblies

• Performance requirements
• Sterilization method: Non sterile, EO, or gamma
• Single use
• Materials
• Flexible insulators or components: PVC
• Rigid structural components: ABS, ABS/PC blend, or PBT
• Cable conductors: low strand count tin plated or bare copper
• Electrical contacts: Copper alloys with nickel or gold flash plating

Semi Reusable Medical Cable Assemblies

• Performance requirements
• Sterilization method: Wipe down, autoclave, and or Sterrad
• Reusable 50+ times
• Materials
• Flexible insulators or components: FEP, TPV, or TPU
• Rigid structural components: PC, PSU, or PESU
• Cable conductors: high strand count tin or silver plated copper
• Electrical contacts: Copper alloys with gold plating

Reusable Medical Cable Assemblies

• Performance requirements
• Sterilization method: Wipe down, immersion bath, autoclave, and or Sterrad
• Reusable 500+ times
• Materials
• Flexible insulators or components: PFA, PTFE, ETFE, silicone and other rubber-like materials
• Rigid structural components: Stainless steel, copper alloys, PEEK, PPSU, LCP, PPS, PTFE
• Cable conductors: High strength silver plated copper alloys
• Electrical contacts: Copper alloys with heavy gold plating
Understanding the application requirements of your medical cable assembly will drive the material selection. These categories provide some basic guidelines but depending on the exact application, materials may float between the above medical cable assembly categories.