Asymtek’s Conformal Coating Technology Adds Reliability to Medical Electronics

Asymtek, a Nordson company and leader in dispensing technology and pioneer in jetting technology, improves the reliability of implantable medical devices by supplying equipment to apply conformal coating materials that protect the electronics inside the devices.

Jetting conformal coating materials onto the electronics in life-saving medical devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, protects the electronic circuitry from moisture, dust, chemicals, solvents and other types of environmental contaminants. Conformal coating also dampens the effects of mechanical and thermal stresses, vibrations, and electrical noise that can impair the functioning of the devices.

Asymtek’s SC-400 PreciseCoat™ Conformal Coating Jet enables the application of coating materials to highly selective areas, especially on small substrates, devices, or substrates with high-component density where there are tight tolerances between coated and uncoated areas. Delivery of the coating is so accurately controlled that only the part of the device that needs coating is protected, without the need to mask any surrounding areas. It is a clean process, which is especially important in the manufacture of sensitive implantable medical devices.

“When assembling something as critical as a pacemaker, medical device manufacturers do the utmost to make their products reliable,” said Jim Klocke, senior business development manager ofAsymtek. “Applying conformal coating to the electronics in these devices provides extra assurance that they will be reliable and perform as designed.”

Using a needle design with non-contact jetting action and fast pulse-width modulated control, the SC-400 jet delivers small volumes and precision control of the conformal coating material for line widths down to 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inch) wide. Film thicknesses of 15 micrometers are achievable when using solvent-based materials. Acrylics, silicones, urethanes, UV-cure, and water-based materials with a viscosity range of 1 to 850 centipoise (cps) can be jetted.