Medical Design Briefs - June 2023 - 30

fingerprint contamination, which can
also be problematic to PCB reliability.
Aerosol flux removers and cleaners
are one of the most common PCB
cleaning tools. However, some
aerosol- style cleaning fluids can generate
up to 12,000 V of ESD, which is
created by the friction of the molecules
as they move down the plastic
spray tube. Instead, consider using
dispensing tools made from durable
aluminum and stainless steel.
In addition, installing a stat-zapping
tool to the aerosol can helps make the
cleaning technician part of the grounding
circuit by maintaining contact with
the static zapping tool itself. The charge
is carried to the ground, reducing ESD
to just 50 V.
ESD-safe controlled flux remover fluid
dispensing systems can also help to
Wear antistatic wrist straps when working on sensitive PCBs. (Credit: MicroCare)
control static. A flux remover dispensing
tool uses grounding measures to reduce
the static going to sensitive electronic
components. It is also a very effective
way to clean dense miniaturized PCBs.
The fluid can reach under the low surface-mounted
components to loosen
and rinse away contaminants for more
thorough cleaning and static dispersal.
n Stay in Control
For medical devices with critical
electronic components, damage from
ESD during manufacturing can introduce
defects, with devices failing
once the product is in use, endangering
the patient's safety.
ESD can affect the functionality
and reliability of medical equipment,
so
implementing
control
through
strategies, processes, and effective
ESD-safe cleaning fluids and tools is
essential when manufacturing sensitive
medical electronics.
ESD-safe controlled flux remover fluid dispensing systems can help control static. (Credit: MicroCare)
5. Keep air humidity in the production
area between 40 and 70 percent to
help prevent static buildup.
6. Never use compressed air when drying
PCBs.
7. Remove all unnecessary items from
the work area that have the potential
to create ESD.
8. Ensure that the PCBs are shipped in
static-controlled containers.
30
n Static Dissipative Cleaning Tools
Cleaning is an effective way to reduce
ESD. Work surfaces and tools used to assemble,
clean, and test PCBs hold static
charges, so it is important to dissipate
the charges and contamination by wiping
them down with presaturated,
ESD-reducing cleaning wipes. Highquality
ESD cleaning wipes are also effective
at removing grime, grease, oil, and
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Reference
1. " Medical Electronics Market (By Product:
Therapeutics, Diagnostics, and Others; By Application:
Hospitals, Ambulatory Centers,
Homecare, and Others)-Global Industry
Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional
Outlook, and Forecast 2021-2030, " Dec
2021,
Precedence
Research,
https://www.
precedenceresearch.com/medical-electronics-market.
This
article was written by Elizabeth
Norwood, Senior Chemist at MicroCare,
LLC, New Britain, CT. Norwood currently
has one patent issued and two
pending. For more information, visit
www.microcare.com.
Medical Design Briefs, June 2023
https://www.precedenceresearch.com/medical-electronics-market https://www.precedenceresearch.com/medical-electronics-market http://www.microcare.com http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
Medical Design Briefs - June 2023

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