Medical Electronics Product Roundup

Suited for backlighting medical displays, the SE/SE2 and E200II Series inverters from Endicott Research Group (Endicott, NY) operate at high efficiencies, typically 80% to 85%. The E200II can power one or two CCFLs with up to 8 W of output power. The SE/SE2 is only 0.420 x 0.75 x 2.98 in. The SE provides up to 5 W of output power for single CFFL backlights, and the SE2 is for two-lamp configurations.

Endicott Research Group’s SE/SE2 and E200II Series inverters

Texas Instruments’ (Dallas, TX) 1.2-MHz TPS61081 dc/dc boost converter supports 27-V of output voltage and improves battery life in portable medical applications, such as diagnostic systems. The device combines a 1.3-A current switch, input-to-input isolation, and power diode. It supports input voltages from 2.5 to 6 V and point-of-load voltages, such as 3.3 to 12 V or 5 to 24 V.

Special function

Omron Electronic Components (Schaumburg, IL) offers the B6TS-04LT/B6TS-08NF application-ready touch-sensing ICs that can measure floating capacitance through most touch-panel materials. The parts integrate detecting and processing functions into a single-chip microcontroller that can be programmed quickly and easily. The four-channel B6TS-04LT operates from 3.0 to 5.5 Vdc, and the B6TS-08NF operates from 4.5 to 5.5 Vdc.

Omron’s B6TS touch-sensing IC

Zarlink Semiconductor’s (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) ZL70101 transceiver chip allows medical device manufacturers to design in-body communication systems that will improve patient care, lower healthcare costs, and support new monitoring, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. During surgery to implant medical devices, the longer operating range of the ZL70101 chip allows the base station/programmer to be located outside the sterile environment.

Zarlink’s ZL70101 transceiver chip

The ZL70101 transceiver incorporates a unique wake-up receiver that allows the integrated circuit to operate in an extremely low-current 250-nA sleep mode. In full operation, the ZL70101 typically consumes 5 mA of supply current. The part includes an on-chip MAC and is available as implantable-grade wire-bondable die or in a 48-pin QFN.

Semitec’s (Babylon, NY) thermistor assembly integrates the company’s thermistor chip. The part is suited for catheter applications.

Semitec’s thermistor assembly

Primarily targeted toward the medical imaging market, the AD9271 AFE from Analog Devices, (Norwood, MA) operates from 20 to 50 Msamples/s using only 115 to 175 mW per channel, respectively. Features include an integrated crosspoint switch, a VGA range of 30 dB, and an ADC providing a SNR of 70 dB.

Analog Devices AD9271 AFE

Allegro’s (Worcester, MA) A4983 DMOS microstepping motor driver with built-in translator is designed to operate bipolar stepper motors in full-, half-, quarter-, eighth-, and sixteenth-step modes, with an output drive capacity of up to 35 V and ±2 A. Features include mixed and slow current decay modes, internal UVLO, crossover-current protection, 3.3- and 5-V-compatible logic supply, and thermal shutdown circuitry.

Displays/lasers

Apollo Display Technologies (Ronkonkoma, NY) offers LCDs for medical applications with a range of value-added enhancements. The company’s most popular LCDs are the 5.7-in. passive-matrix CSTN and 6.5, 8.4, and 10.4-in active matrix TFT LCDs.

Apollo Display’s medical LCDs

Intense (Baltimore, MD) offers the HPD7404 laser driver system, which is designed for current control and temperature compensation of the company’s high-power free space or fibered visible laser components. Unlike traditional laser drivers, the HPD7404 is a complete integrated system. Included are the current driver, temperature controller, and a choice of high-power red laser diodes630, 635, or 655 nm, up to 700 mW, as well as 670 or 690 nm, up to 1 W.

Intense’s HPD7404 laser driver system Components

Ideal for oxygen concentrators, inhaled anesthetics, heliox, CPAP, and ventilator applications, the D6F series MEMS flow sensors from Omron Electronic Components (Schaumburg, IL) have the ability to measure flow speed from 1 mm/s to 40 m/s. The parts operate from –10° to 60°C with a supply voltage of 12 to 24 Vdc while consuming just 15 mA. They have an integral orifice with an analog output of 1 to 5 Vdc and measure just 15 x 20 x 60 mm.

—Christina Nickolas