Smiths Interconnect Completes Product Offering for Disposable Healthcare Devices

Smiths Interconnect today announces the addition of a new disposable option to its renowned Hypergrip® connector series for the medical market segment.

Patient safety is a top priority for medical device makers. Their customers and the world of disposable medical devices are constantly evolving, due in large part to the risk and cost associated with reprocessing devices, compounded by growing regulations regarding the enviromental impact of disposable devices versus sterilization processes. Limited and single-use connections for medical devices are a growing area of need. In recent times, there has been an increasing focus on developing connectors that are safe, reliable, and cost-effective for single use applications. This has been motivated by the need to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and improve hygiene in medical environments. However, this trend has also led to challenges in ensuring that such connections are as robust and functional as reusable ones.

To meet the market demand, Smiths Interconnect has developed a new disposable receptacle connector to complete its Hypergrip® Series of patented and proven high reliability circular connectors specifically designed for medical applications.

The need for a disposable solution that maintains the premium look, reliability, regulatory compliance, and ease of use of the HyperGrip® connector series has driven Smiths Interconnect to develop disposable Hypergrip® receptacles that maintain current electrical performance with limited cycle life and environmental tolerance (up to 30 mating cycles). The disposable configurations of the Hypergrip series embed all benefits of the existing versatile Hypergrip® Series within a cost-effective design for single or few-use applications.

The new disposable receptacle connectors complement the recent release of the disposable plug versions, leveraging the versatility of the Hypergrip® Series to deliver a reliable interconnect solution that is ideal for applications that require a premium disposable connector.

Available in standard 12 (HG2) and 33 (HG4) contact positions, the new receptacles are designed to support overmoulding and high volume production for applications in patient monitoring, therapeutic, and minimally-invasive device market segments. They offer the proven electrical performance of the standard receptacles in terms of insulation resistance, dieletric withstand voltage, current carrying, low level current resistance, and at least IPX4 with potting or overmolding.

“Disposable connectors play a crucial role in ensuring safety and hygiene in medical settings by providing single-use solutions that help mitigate the risk of cross-contamination,” says Mark Kelleher, VP and General Manager of the Connectors Business Unit at Smiths Interconnect.  “We usually focus on designing connectors that are not only safe and reliable but also easy to use and efficient for healthcare professionals”.

Smiths Interconnect HG2 and HG4 disposable receptacles meet the medical industry requirements in terms of finger-proofing to IEC60601, flammability rated to UL94, and compliance with most sterilization methods.

• The new receptacles have been designed and tested to provide:device

• Longer cycle life than current disposable receptacles in the marketplace (industry standard cycle life of at least 30 cycles).

• Colour coding for visually intuitive mating to plug.

• Breakaway design that is backwards compatible with unshielded HG2 and HG4 Hypergrip® plugs with support for all 6 standard keying options 

• Mateability with disposable and reusable HG plugs

• RoHS III compliant materials