Improving Lives with

Digital Healthcare
CONTENTS
3 Enabling Next-Generation Medical Devices
4 Commonalities and Differences Between Medical and
Consumer Wearables
6 Connectivity Solutions Respond to Trends in Robotic Surgery
8 Designing for Multi-Functional Cardiovascular Devices
10 Next-Generation Medical Devices for Brain-Computer
Interfaces
16 MedTech Innovation—Digitized, Miniature, Remote
20 Designing Medical Wearables for Real-Life: An interview
with Molex Printed Circuit Solutions
24 Medical Training with Immersive Technology
28 Connected Health: Patient Monitoring
2 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
PAUL GOLATA joined Mouser
Electronics in 2011. As a Senior
Technology Specialist, Paul contributes
to Mouser’s success through driving
strategic leadership, tactical execution,
and the overall product-line and
marketing directions for advanced
technology-related products. He
provides design engineers with
the latest information and trends in
electrical engineering by delivering
unique and valuable technical content
that facilitates and enhances Mouser
Electronics as the preferred distributor
of choice.
Before joining Mouser Electronics,
Paul served in various manufacturing,
marketing, and sales-related roles
for Hughes Aircraft Company, Melles
Griot, Piper Jaffray, Balzers Optics,
JDSU, and Arrow Electronics. He holds
a BSEET from the DeVry Institute of
Technology (Chicago, Ill.); an MBA from
Pepperdine University (Malibu, Calif.);
an MDiv w/BL from Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort
Worth, Texas); and a PhD from
Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas).
CONNECT WITH MOUSER
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a TTI Berkshire-Hathaway company. Mouser and
Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of
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names, service marks, are trademarks, registered
trademarks of Molex, LLC. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners. Names,
products, specifications, links, resources, and similar
were verified at the time of publication. Article
content, reference designs, datasheets, conceptual
illustrations, and other images provided herein are
for informational purposes only.
Enabling Next-Generation
Medical Devices
PAUL GOLATA
The future is rich with potential for medical
technology—and a better, connected patient
experience is at the center of it. Improving lives
by bringing more advanced care closer to home is
possible with the electronics expertise at Molex.
This eBook will cover in detail various connectivity
challenges engineers face and communicate how
Molex is at the forefront of providing design and
development connectivity solutions to enable the next
generation of medical devices.
Molex is a leader in next-generation medical device
innovation from initial concept idea to delivery. As
the medical areas of diagnostic, therapeutic, and
monitoring devices continue to merge, manufacturers
will need to utilize increasingly complex and
differentiated supply chains while remaining compliant
with various governmental and industry standards.
Through existing relationships with distributors,
specialty manufacturers, and design specialists, Molex
navigates this supply chain to offer a wide range of
compliant chips, contact systems, and other assembly
options from reliable sources.
Molex is the natural choice to support your next-
generation medical device designs. Its breakthrough
connectivity solutions and corresponding industry
expertise are paving the way to success. Our
success is due to our broad selection of high-quality
interconnected products and globally-diversified
deployment in existing MedTech designs.
FOREWORD
Molex does all of this with unsurpassed reliability.
Today’s complex medical devices need durable and
reliable cable solutions that withstand exposure
to challenging environments, repeated vibration
and mobility, rough handling, and even repetitive
sterilization techniques. Molex designs and
manufactures medical cable assemblies for the most
demanding surgical, patient monitoring, on-body
sensor, electrophysiology, and emergency medical
applications.
Molex offers deep industry alignment from extensive
experience in the medical field. But what makes
collaborating with Molex unique is our decades
of tackling issues in a range of industries outside
MedTech. From developing solutions for the world’s
most fortified data centers to creating complex cable
assemblies for surgical robotics, Molex helps you
reach beyond current MedTech strategies.
The following eBook has been prepared and tailored to
demonstrate the relevant topics and solutions Molex
is engaged in to enable the creation of future medical
devices. The entire team at Molex invites you to read
and enjoy learning about how we have supported our
customers’ design needs by solving the challenges
that face them. Come in and see how Molex is the
right supplier to work with to satisfy your next-
generation medical device design needs. n
Molex 2022 3

The use of personal health monitoring devices has
become commonplace, and advancements in both
in-hospital and remote medical wearable devices
have followed a similar trajectory, with the continued
development of sensors expanding their capabilities.
Individual consumer and medical wearables can
now directly measure multiple biofunctions, such as
temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels,
and more.
With advancing sensor capabilities and wireless
connectivity, there’s real potential for improving public
health by giving consumers, patients, and healthcare
providers a complete picture of a person’s health in
real time. In the world of medicine, remote patient
monitoring devices, including wearables, hold the
4 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
Commonalities
and Differences
Between
Medical and
Consumer
Wearables
FERDI KROEZE,
MOLEX BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Premo-Flex FFC Jumpers

promise of better clinical outcomes by detecting
problems early, facilitating earlier diagnosis, and as
a result, enabling earlier intervention and potentially
reducing hospital admissions. For example, in-home
monitoring for conditions such as heart disease,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and
diabetes has been shown to reduce hospitalizations,
according to a 2018 KLAS Research Report.
Additionally, in the consumer world, the biodata
gathered by wearable devices can help users make
more informed decisions regarding their health and
give them real-time data to manage their physical
activity and lifestyle actively.
Similar Technology,
Different Path to Market
While consumer and medical wearable devices share
much of the same technology, some differences
impact their design and marketing. Consumer
wearables offer real-time measurements of
biofunctions, such as blood oxygen levels and heart
rhythms, and they do so with impressive accuracy.
However, these devices are not regulated by the
U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and do not
undergo the agency’s approval process. Therefore,
consumer wearables do not support claims of a clinical
diagnostic or therapeutic role.
The benefits for designing a consumer product include
a faster time to market compared to a regulated
medical device because it may not undergo FDA
scrutiny and require regulatory approvals. However,
despite their potential technical sophistication
and accuracy, consumer wearables cannot make
specific claims that medical devices can. The result
is that consumer wearable manufacturers have to
communicate a more general promise to potential
customers, relaying factual statements or data about
what their products measure without making claims
beyond that.
On the other hand, many wearables that are FDA
approved and classified as regulated medical devices
have proven clinical data supporting diagnostic claims.
For example, while a consumer wearable can identify
an abnormal heart rhythm in a generalized way, it
doesn’t have the diagnostic capacity of a medical
device that helps a doctor determine the particular
type of abnormality.
Furthermore, because of the immense variety of
human anatomy and physiology, medical device
designs require a broad range of options. To meet the
needs of diverse populations, engineers must design
and test for performance and accuracy across different
patient types.
Molex ISM Standalone
Antennas
Learn More  Learn More
Overcoming Design Challenges
Despite the differences in the regulatory hurdles they
face (or avoid), both medical and consumer wearables
have common design challenges inherent in creating
a comfortable and easy device to use while also
being reliable and accurate. For instance, wearable
devices and their circuitry must fit, flex, and stretch
to accommodate different body types to deliver
unencumbered use. Wearables must also handle the
stresses of everyday life and have circuitry that performs
while the body moves.
Additionally, this same circuitry must withstand moisture
due to sweating and bathing and occasional shocks
and bumps—and do all of this over days, weeks, or
even months. Both consumer and medical wearables
must also be lightweight and low profile so users feel
unencumbered by their presence. But as devices shrink
and function increases, space constraints become more
daunting.
In response to these challenges, Molex engineers have
developed cutting-edge solutions. Moving beyond the
confines of past medical device strategies, we leverage
innovations from other markets and push beyond
theoretical boundaries to create real-world solutions
that help to ensure optimal health monitoring.
Solving for size/dimensional challenges, microminiature
and hybrid connectivity can reliably communicate
between and power subsystems and functions without
sacrificing compactness. Furthermore, flexible circuitry
that bends in multiple directions can help engineers
mitigate space constraints while being lightweight,
contributing to user mobility and comfort. To meet
the expectations of wireless connectivity and data
transmission, Molex also offers a broad antenna
portfolio to provide real-time communication of health
data between users and their healthcare providers.
Connected devices and the data they transmit are at
the heart of medical innovation. These products help
to create immediate, and possibly even lifesaving,
connections. With innovative design and engineering,
better healthcare and a healthier population are within
reach. n
SlimStack Battery

Molex 2022 5
Connectivity Solutions
Respond to Trends in
Robotic Surgery
TYSON MASAR, MOLEX MEDICAL SALES DIRECTOR

Surgeons using surgical robots can perform

operations with previously unachievable
precision. By making the robot an extension
of the surgeon’s mind and skills, suturing,
dissecting, and retracting tissue can be more
precise, guided by 3D cameras that can
simultaneously improve visualization and
record or stream the procedure.

Robots have transformed the way everyday objects

are made. Working quickly and with great precision,
robots are a powerful tool in mass production
environments that require the first article manufactured
to be identical to the last.
The qualities of speed and precision that make robots
so valuable for the industrial arena also make them Treatment Tailored to the Patient
attractive in the medical field. Healthcare professionals
are constantly developing new techniques to provide Because every patient is different and has a unique
the greatest possible care for patients—treatments anatomy, each will uniquely present symptoms.
that include improved clinical outcomes and reduced Surgeons build up years of experience and expertise
hospitalizations. The first robots used in the medical in understanding the subtleties involved in treating
world were designed to facilitate minimally-invasive patients, including how to take patients’ unique
treatments by improving surgeons’ visualization and anatomies and disease manifestations into account.
precision. In contrast, robots are designed to perform precisely
the same task many times. Robotic tools are designed
One of the most significant advantages of using robots to augment the surgeon’s skill with the precision that
for surgery is facilitating keyhole surgery, or surgery robotic systems can deliver.
through small ports. Unlike traditional open surgery,
a small incision is made through which a robotic
arm is inserted. This arm can be used to “extend
the surgeon’s hands” into the precise location of the
anatomy where the surgeon will perform the required RF Connectors
procedure. The port’s small size means that damage
to healthy tissue is kept to a minimum, reducing both
patient discomfort and the time needed for recovery.
Learn More 

6 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare

Robots in medical procedures allow the surgeon to
reach places that would have previously required
invasive techniques and their associated hazards. To
achieve this, the latest generation of medical robots
must perform a range of tasks simultaneously. This
integration of multiple modalities such as visualization
and precise mechanical movements while providing
tactile feedback to surgeons’ hands drives the
complexity of medical robotics.
The challenge of providing visualization, precision
movement, and tactile feedback to facilitate the surgical
procedure, all within minimally invasive instruments and
tools, means that systems are under increasing pressure
to provide more sophistication in smaller packages.
Medical robots need to perform all these tasks, and they
must also possess features that include low latency and
high reliability. The surgeon operating the robot needs to
be able to see and act immediately, and the robot needs
to afford great visualization and speed.
Delivered by Light
One of the most exciting aspects of this latest
generation of robots is the use of optical technology.
Fiber has long been used in the telecommunications
industry due to its ability to carry large amounts of
data over long distances. In the medical environment,
fiber is being used in different ways. Its small diameter
is ideal for employment in minimally-invasive surgery,
and its unique properties allow it to be used to provide
surgeons with high-resolution, real-time visualization.
In addition, new sources of energy are being used
to deliver treatment to highly localized areas without
damaging the surrounding tissue. One of these
techniques is laser therapy, which can be applied with
remarkable precision using optical fiber.
Elsewhere in the robot, large numbers of sensors are
collecting data about everything from the positioning
of the device to the resistance being encountered.
Data collection is incredibly vital, as surgeons depend
on the information provided by the sensors to give the
“feel” or “touch” of the instrument. The use of haptic
controls provides the surgeons with the feedback they
need while conducting delicate operations.
Therefore, the modern surgical robot is a complex,
autonomous device that can serve as an extension
of the surgeon’s own hands. Far from replacing these
professionals with decades of experience, these highly
sophisticated machines enable the best surgeons to
deliver minimally-invasive care and facilitate faster
recovery for patients.
Expresslink 2.0
Pico-Clasp Data
Cables
Learn More 
Mini-Fit Sigma
Connectors
Learn More 
The Complexity of Connections
This sophistication comes at a cost, however.
Combining complex functionality into a single
machine—with optimal levels of visualization,
precision movement, and tactile feedback—requires
complex electronics systems, and designers are under
pressure to deliver the best possible performance in
the smallest possible package. This complexity of
connections becomes even more significant when the
time comes to connect the robot to the outside world.
The growing complexity of surgical robots, coupled
with the broad range of tasks they need to perform,
is creating challenges for interconnect designers.
The extensive use of microelectronics and multiple
operating modes bring with them the need for higher
connector densities and mixed contact types. With
the need to incorporate power, signal, high voltage,
and even optical fiber, engineers require connector
solutions that are adaptable and reliable.
Molex has a comprehensive range of connectors
that have been designed specifically for use in the
medical industry. Its dedicated family of configurable
connectors and cable assemblies are instrumental
in providing the hybrid connectivity demanded by
medical robots. n
Molex 2022 7
Designing for Multi-Functional
Cardiovascular Devices
STELLA KIM, MOLEX DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL MARKETING
In the quest to develop effective methods of treating
cardiovascular disease, doctors are turning to
innovative energy sources and advanced technologies
to guide diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring after
treatment. Microwaves, cryoenergy, and even lasers
allow physicians to treat patients using minimally
invasive techniques that deliver the best clinical
outcomes and have cost-effective treatment options
by reducing hospitalization stays.
For example, the latest technologies and the new
energy sources physicians employ allow them to
operate without the risk of complications with open-
heart surgery. Traditional risks to the patient include
the possibility of strokes, post-operative infections,
and long recovery times. These latest technologies
improve the patient’s outcome, reducing the need for
extensive post-operative care and lengthy hospital
stays. These are critical needs for the healthcare
industry: Improved outcomes and cost-effective care.
8 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
Real-Time Sensing
To diagnose and deliver the best therapy and
monitor patients after treatment, designers of the
latest generation of cardiovascular devices are
taking full advantage of microminiature electronics.
High-performance electronics allows the designer
to integrate multiple modalities within the same
instrument. Combining different functions into a single
catheter further enhances the possibilities of minimally-
invasive surgery. Inserted using a single, small incision,
the latest devices provide treatment, diagnosis, and
monitoring capabilities.
Active Optical Cable
(AOC) Assemblies
Learn More 

Off-the-Shelf Picoflex
Ribbon Cable
Learn More  can go home on the same day as their treatment.
FCT D-Sub
Standard
Connectors
Learn More  superior performance. The voltages detected by these
However, these new medical devices must be flexible
and adaptable. Every person is different, and their
anatomy is unique. Physicians must be provided with
a complete understanding of individual differences,
and the latest sensors capture accurate information
to generate a high-resolution mapping of the patient’s
physiology. This advancement in visualization enables
faster diagnoses.
Once the physician is armed with the best possible
picture of their patient’s needs, they must provide
therapy that will selectively destroy cells within the
heart that create abnormal electrical signals. It is
imperative that the treatment precisely targets the
damaged cells while preserving healthy tissue and
this is among the reasons why new energy sources
are so important. The latest instruments can deliver
the energy with pinpoint accuracy while monitoring
the effects in real-time. By reviewing the impact of
the procedure even while it is still underway, surgeons
are provided with instantaneous feedback on the
treatment results. This feedback allows the therapy to
be delivered more effectively, reducing the need for
“
post-operative care and the chance that the procedure
might have to be repeated.
To diagnose and deliver the best
therapy and monitor patients
after treatment, designers of the
latest generation of cardiovascular
devices are taking full advantage of
microminiature electronics.
New Energy Sources
Modern sensors enable physicians to deliver
treatments with a high degree of accuracy and take
advantage of new energy sources for ablation. These
treatments shorten the time taken for recovery and
reduce the burden on busy hospitals, as the patient
The integration of multiple modalities in a single catheter
brings with it considerable complexity. Sensors are
vital in understanding the patient’s anatomy, with some
devices incorporating more than 300 electrodes. Each
of these electrodes needs to be connected via a cable
to the 3D mapping system. The high number of wires
and cables required means the connectors need to
feature high contact densities while also delivering
electrodes can be very faint, so contacts with high
reliability and low contact resistance are essential to
prevent the signal from being lost.
Hybrid Connectors
Along with low-voltage signal contacts, connectors
must deliver the energy needed for the latest
technologies. Radio frequency (RF) energy sources
and imaging catheters utilizing transducers need
dedicated coaxial contacts. The potential use of lasers
means that fiber optic contacts offer the ideal method
to deliver therapy, bringing with them yet another form
of contact. Optical fibers can also provide illumination
and collect high-resolution imagery, providing
physicians with the real-time feedback critical to their
chances of success.
Therefore, the ideal connector solution for
cardiovascular medical devices is a hybrid designed
to accommodate different contact types. Hybrid
connectors can employ a mix of high-density signals,
high power, RF, and optical fiber contacts, all within a
single assembly that combines compact design and
ease of use.
Molex offers a range of connectors that have been
designed specifically for use in the medical industry.
Configurable connectors and cable assemblies provide
the ability to create customized solutions for the latest
generation of cardiovascular surgical equipment. View
the range today to see whether Molex configurable
connectors could be the solution to your next design
challenge. n
Molex 2022 9
 Next-Generation Medical
Devices for Brain-Computer
Interfaces
PAUL GOLATA, MOUSER ELECTRONICS

Brain-computer interface
(BCI) applications are
rapidly transforming the
medical device industry. In
the following, we’ll examine
this field and some of the
critical electronic components
within the signal chain required to
measure brain waves and how AI is
used to pull it all together.

The cursor flashes at me, taunting me to put down What is BCI?

something. I have nothing, so I amuse myself by
BCI applications are rapidly transforming the medical
clocking the refresh rate for a minute to ascertain its
device industry and will continue to do so because of
value. I find it is blinking at a rate of 50Hz. Each flash is
their benefits. BCI applications refer to devices that
telling me I have nothing so far. It feels as if a Neuralizer
allow users to interact with computers, measuring
from the movie Men in Black (1997) erased my
the user’s brain activity. The electrical activity is most
thoughts. It is the age-old battle for most writers: How
commonly measured with an electroencephalogram
to start a good story, how to write an article to engage
(EEG), recognizing the energy and frequency patterns
and inform. How am I to get the thoughts and ideas
of the brain. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine
in my brain onto the page? It is a battle of transferring
learning (ML) enable greater accuracy and reliability
what I wish to express into the published word.
in evaluating and developing BCI applications. In the
If only I had a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) to following, we will examine this field and some of the
intelligently augment my brain with endless amounts of critical electronic components within the signal chain
valuable data, stirring an instant stream of consciousness required to measure brain waves and other bodily
from my keyboard onto the computer screen. functions and how AI puts it all together.
Well, you are not here to learn about my writing
problems. We’re here to discuss BCIs.

10 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare


Figure 1: A woman undergoing non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG).
(Yakobchuk Viacheslav/Shutterstock.com)troencephalography-695951221).
BCI & EEG
The human brain produces oscillating electronic
voltages. The typical value of these voltages is
minimal, measured in units on the order of millionths
of volts. The most common way to collect and
analyze these brain-wave voltages is through
an electroencephalogram (EEG). An EEG is an
electrophysiological monitoring method to record
electrical activity on the scalp. It captures signals
directly related to the brain waves happening directly
under the skull (Figure 1).
Table 1: The five general categories
of brain wave bands. Each frequency
range is a nominal value and not
necessarily absolute. (Source: Author)
Band Frequency (Hz)
Delta 0.5-3
Theta 3-8
Alpha 8-12
Beta 12-38
Gamma 38-42
BCI via an EEG can be unidirectional (one-way) or
bidirectional (two-way). Bidirectional allows information
to flow both ways, thus opening the brain to feedback
and future adjustments. EEGs can be invasive, semi-
invasive, or non-invasive. Invasive EEGs involve directly
locating and connecting devices into the human
brain. Semi-invasive EEGs can be placed between
the brain and the skull. Non-invasive is generally done
by a cap placed on the skull with various electrodes.
EEGs provide temporal resolution of @ 0.05 seconds
and spatial resolutions on the order of 10mm. Other
techniques, besides the electrical technique employed
by EEGs, can be used to gather data. These techniques
can employ magnetic, metabolic, or other forms.
Brain waves are classified into one of five general
categories based upon their frequency (Table 1). Medical
researchers break these into bands because each band
represents a distinct way a brain operates in performing
its functions. For example, critical activities such as
memory and recollection happen especially, but not
exclusively, in the theta band. Researchers use these
bands to analyze what might be going on if it appears
signals are too little, too great, or an optimal amount.
An EEG acquires the brainwave signals and digitizes
them. They are then signal-processed where features
can be extracted and translation algorithms perform
classifications. They also can be printed out or recorded
for future analysis. Signal outputs can be utilized
to form device commands to provide instructions
related to motor control, locomotion/movement, and
environmental conditions or stimuli. BCI helps allow
disabled people to have more control of their external
environments.
Molex 2022 11
 BCI and the Human Condition
Because of human biology, our senses and our intelligence
have fundamental limitations. It is conceivable that brain-
computer interfaces and implants could enhance or
provide new sensory information and augment biological
capabilities. A primary consideration in merging man
and machine is understanding how the machine and
the human interact and exchange information between
themselves on a real-time basis, since they operate in
two different domains. More work remains to be done to
understand how the mutual coordination of individually-
addressable neurons directing the brain can function in
its environment while maintaining coordination with the
digitally-addressable domain of the interface.
12 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
BCI Research
BCI is also being investigated to look
at areas to help humanity, including
restoring or enhancing human vision,
motor recovery for disabled limbs, and
brain mapping to assist restoring and
correcting various neurological damage
and disorders. Brain mapping can lead
to a greater understanding of seeing
how human thought is realized into
human action. It can lead to augmented
human learning, new or enhanced
human sensing, and new embedded
autonomous neural systems. Let’s look
at two examples of where BCI can
continue to evolve and lead.
“ It is conceivable
that brain-computer
interfaces and implants
could enhance or
provide new sensory
”
information and
augment biological
capabilities.
Superhuman Cognition
Billionaire Elon Musk is actively investigating BCI
issues. He is one of the founders of Neuralink Corp.,
a neurotechnology company developing implantable
brain-machine interfaces. Neuralink is working on
building better tools for communicating with the brain.
These founders believe that, with the right team, the
applications for this technology are limitless. Neuralink
is exploring the possibility of embedding into the brain
ultrafine electronic threads that permit neural activity.
One of Musk’s stated goals is to achieve “superhuman
cognition.” Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil
believes that human intelligence is characterized
by its remarkable ability to recognize patterns. He
views human intelligence as an evolutionary, self-
organizing hierarchical system operating in the
context of a biological pattern-recognition machine.
Musk is motivated to achieve superhuman cognition
based upon his desire for humanity to negotiate more
proficiently in understanding the emergence and
spread of more powerful AI, which is becoming ever
more adept in its excellence at pattern recognitions.
New Senses
When looking at how BCI can enhance human senses,
one can consider the case of Neil Harbisson, cofounder
of the Cyber Foundation. He has been recognized as
the world’s first cyborg. Born color-blind, Harbisson has
permanently installed an antenna into his skull so that
he can now literally hear color, substituting his auditory
sense in place of his visual limitation. Harbisson
is actively advocating a future in which humans
incorporate technology into their bodies.
Sensor Hubs
Supporting these efforts, sensor hubs are being
employed in various ways to collect additional biometric
information beyond BCI. Sensor hubs use multiple
sensors and a microcontroller to collect and analyze
numerous human parameters not directly accessed by
brain waves. These can include collecting information
about the human pulse heart rate, pulse blood oxygen
saturation (SpO2), and estimated blood pressure.
Molex 2022 13
“” Successful electronic component
selection will focus on utilizing high-
precision, low-noise, high-resolution
signal chain products.
Ensuring High-Quality Data
Because brain signals are so small, the entire
electronic signal chain is prioritized in its design to
minimize noisy, spurious, or artifact signals. The
patient might induce these sources through their
physical movements, sweating, eye movements, heart
rhythms, and the like. Electrical errors can result from
50Hz/60Hz noise, electrode-skin contact issues, and
cable movements.
Successful electronic component selection will
focus on utilizing high-precision, low-noise, high-
resolution signal chain products. Low-noise amplifiers
(LNA), unity-gain buffers, and precision analog-to-
digital converters (ADCs) are chosen to prevent the
introduction of unwanted signals into the chain while
providing the ability to resolve data accurately and
reliably correctly. Differential amplifiers and bandpass
filters are also employed to ensure only high-quality
data is transmitted. Appropriate connectors and
jumpers are needed to get accurate signals into and
out of the brain. Let’s look at how Molex provides
these solutions.
14 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
Connecting into the Brain
Molex 0.25mm-Pitch Premo-Flex Jumpers offer
reliable connectivity in a compact design for tight
packaging applications. The jumpers deliver durable,
ultra-flexible, cost-effective solutions for printed circuit
board (PCB) connections in virtually any industry.
These FFC/FPC jumpers are available in standard
lengths, pitches, and circuit sizes to accommodate
a wide range of flexible interconnect requirements
between two PCBs. Molex 0.25mm-Pitch Premo-Flex
Jumpers are ideal for medical applications, including
patient monitoring for signals, including the body’s
condition, surgical equipment, and telehealth.
Molex 0.25mm Pitch Easy-On FPC Connectors offer
a 50V voltage rating, 50MΩ insulation resistance,
and 150VAC dielectric withstanding voltage. These
connectors provide designers with a range of sizes and
styles to accommodate other PCB components. Molex
0.25mm Pitch Easy-On FPC Connectors are ideal for
next-generation medical devices.

AI with BCI
AI and its subsets, including machine learning and
deep learning (DL), are enabling approaches in
EEG-based BCIs (Figure 4). DL can offer automatic
classifications of EEG signals. This effort allows for
the data to be utilized in various applications and
other convolutional neural networks (CNN) training.
At present, human expertise supports AI approaches.
The desire is to eliminate artifacts, increase the data
quality, and continue to realize gains in AI technology
so that measured brain wave signals can continue
to exhibit exponential increases in their ability to be
classified by AI through DL techniques.
Molex 0.25mm-Pitch
Premo-Flex Jumpers
Learn More  Learn More
Figure 4: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning
development over time. (Source: elenabsl/Shutterstock.com)
Conclusion
EEG-based BCI relies on high-performance electronic
signal chains. Careful consideration of all critical
electronic components, including reliable connectivity
in compact designs, are needed to accurately
measure EEG and other bodily functions. AI and
DL techniques enable dynamic EEG data to receive
better interpretations and allow humanity to realize
more benefits from BCI. BCI will continue to be an
emerging method for human-machine interfacing. And
one day, it might offer a cure to any mental block we
encounter, especially the empty page that any writer
will eventually face. n
Molex 0.25mm
Pitch Easy-On FPC
Connectors

Molex 2022 15
 MedTech Innovation—
Digitized, Miniature, Remote
MOLEX FOR MOUSER ELECTRONICS
Thanks to technological developments
in wireless data transmission and the
miniaturization of components, minimally
invasive procedures and remote healthcare
are already becoming an everyday
reality. Here, we discuss how innovative
technologies are transforming healthcare.
16 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
A patient undergoes a minimally invasive procedure
via a surgeon employing a robotic device. As a result,
recovery time is reduced and can be spent at home. In
the meantime, a wearable medical device administers
medicines while merging seamlessly with the patient’s
day-to-day activities. The device also transmits
biodata to a doctor who uses the information to track
the patient’s condition in real-time.
This is a snapshot of MedTech’s potential. Thanks
to technological developments in wireless data
transmission and the miniaturization of components,
minimally invasive procedures and remote healthcare
are becoming an everyday reality.

“
Thanks to technological
developments in wireless
data transmission and the
miniaturization of components,
”
minimally invasive procedures
and remote healthcare are
becoming an everyday reality.
Drug-Delivery Devices
For instance, these converging technologies hold
the potential to transform healthcare with digital
drug delivery. Molex and its medical device delivery
division, Phillips-Medisize, commissioned a survey on
digital health and the future of pharma in April 2021,
gathering responses from 215 qualified pharmaceutical
professionals representing a range of roles and regions.
The findings confirm an increasing adoption of
digitized drug delivery and uncovered opportunities
and challenges involved with this new technology. For
example, a third of survey respondents are already
marketing digital drug delivery therapy, and 65 percent
believe the technology is extremely or very important
to their companies’ future plans.
Respondents were largely in agreement about drug-
delivery devices’ impact on healthcare, with 92
percent expecting better health outcomes. They felt
the therapeutic areas that have the greatest potential
for benefiting from these devices include endocrine,
respiratory, inflammatory/immune, cardiovascular, and
infectious disease.
Additionally, these devices make treatment more
convenient for patients, which potentially can improve
medication compliance and, ultimately, outcomes.
In Molex’s survey, 69 percent of respondents cited
increased patient engagement as one of the factors
driving their organizations’ interest in drug-delivery
solutions.
However, to optimize the benefits of remote healthcare,
engineers need to design wearables that encourage
regular use by addressing durability and reliability
requirements while also providing patient comfort.
Consumer and Medical Wearables
The presence of both consumer and medical
wearable health-monitoring devices is common,
and their capabilities keep expanding. Wearable
health-monitoring devices can measure multiple
bio-functions, such as temperature, heart rate, blood
pressure, oxygen levels, and more.
Despite the differences in the regulatory hurdles they
face (or avoid), both medical and consumer wearables
have common design challenges inherent in creating a
comfortable and easy-to-use device while also being
reliable and accurate.
Molex 2022 17
 “ Many of the goals of
wearables for improving
healthcare outcomes,
along with some of the
design challenges,
are shared by another

”
cutting-edge MedTech
development—robotic
surgery.

Supporting the need to keep wearables lightweight and

compact, some auto-injector and wearable systems require
microminiaturization and wireless connectivity. In response,
Molex delivers compact board-to-board, signal wire-to-board,
and flat-printed circuit connectors, such as the Easy-On
FFC/FPC Connector and SlimStack Connector families,
connect PCBs and flexible circuits, along with Bluetooth®,
Wi-Fi®, NFC, and wireless antennas. Additionally, Molex
offers Premo-Flex cable jumper assemblies that provide
durability and flexibility, and USB Type-C and Type-B I/O
products, making connectivity solutions simpler, more
comfortable, and more reliable.
Many of the goals of wearables for improving
healthcare outcomes, along with some of the design
challenges, are shared by another cutting-edge
MedTech development—robotic surgery.

18 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare

Surgeons Using Robots
Robotic devices help surgeons perform operations with
previously unachievable precision. However, combining
functionality into a single machine requires complex
electronic systems, and designers are under pressure
to deliver the best possible performance, along with low
latency, in the smallest possible package. This becomes
even more significant when the time comes to connect
the robot to the outside world.
Molex Compact Robotic Connectors (CRCs) provide
a compact solution for small robotics where durability
meets clean-room aesthetics. The connector system
was designed to meet various medical and clean-
room applications’ space savings and shielding
requirements. Furthermore, Molex’s rugged, high-
density Versabeam Array MT cable assemblies
are designed to exceed market requirements for
high-bandwidth medical applications. Adapted
from the Molex traditional data communication and
telecommunication inter-chassis connections, the
interconnect system has proved valuable in robotic-
assist surgical applications and picture archival
communications systems (PACS) applications. When
space constraints are an issue, hybrid designs can
reduce the number of connectors needed and provide
easy installation for most applications. The use of
hybrid connectivity also can bridge the transition from
electrical to optical by combining fiber and copper in a
single connector housing.
Multifunctional Cardiovascular Devices
In the quest to develop effective methods of treating
cardiovascular disease, doctors are turning to
innovative energy sources and advanced technologies
to guide diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring after
treatment. Microwaves, cryo-energy. and even lasers
are providing physicians with the ability to treat
patients using minimally invasive techniques that
deliver the best clinical outcomes.
The integration of multiple modalities in a single catheter
brings with it considerable complexity. For example, the
high number of wires and cables required means that
the connectors need to feature high contact densities
while also delivering superior performance.
Molex’s compact 433MHz ISM Antenna delivers more
space savings and higher radiation efficiency (>50 to
>56 percent, 50mm to 300mm cable length) for its
size (90.00mm by 40.00mm). The Molex 868MHz and
915MHz ISM Antennas with MobliquA™ Technology
enable significant antenna volume reduction while
eliminating the need for expensive circuits and
the frequency tuning required for ground plane-
dependence issues. Additionally, cardiovascular device
applications require both power and a signal. Molex
has been at the forefront with connectors such as the
Mini-Fit Connector Family, which offers up to 8.5A
with a 3.00mm pitch, delivering power in a compact
package. Because reliability is crucial in cardiovascular
devices, Molex offers the Micro-Fit TPA Connector
Family, which helps prevent failure in end products by
providing terminal position assurance (TPA).
Conclusion
Technological developments in wireless data
transmission and the miniaturization of components
and connectors have enabled more effective remote
healthcare in drug delivery and minimally invasive
robotic surgery. Whether it is wearable devices
engineered to provide a drug-delivery solution
or robotics helping surgeons perform precision
operations. Molex’s vast selection of interconnects
and high-performance compact antennas are leading
the way in helping to transform the healthcare industry
and enable MedTech’s vision to become a reality and
deliver the best clinical outcomes. n
Molex 2022 19
 Designing
Medical
Wearables
for Real-Life:
An interview with
Molex Printed
Circuit Solutions

MIKE DEPPE, GLEN CAPEK, AND PAUL GOLATA

The Molex Printed Circuit Solutions business unit,

or PCS, creates a wide range of innovative flexible
circuitry, sensors, and user interface products used
in many customer applications. In this insightful
and informative transcript of a webchat, Mike Deppe,
Vice President and General Manager at Molex’s  Printed
Circuit Business business unit, discusses relevant trends and
opportunities driving new solutions for Medical Wearables applications.

20 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare

Interviewer: Mike, tell the audience a
bit about the PCS team. I would like you
to direct your remarks specifically to the
medical wearable technologies.
Mike Deppe: The PCS team has been
involved with medical wearables for
well over twenty-five (25) years. Molex
PCS originally started supporting our
customers with user interface keypads.
Molex PCS also did the control panels
with flexible printed circuit assemblies
as well. That has ultimately transformed
our capabilities to be able to design
and manufacture highly complicated
electronics onto flexible circuitry that the
patient can wear.
Pico-Clasp Wire-to-Board Connectors


Interviewer: When you talk about medical wearables, you are talking about a
piece of technology that the patient is wearing. Please tell me more about how
this technology comes to be part of what the patient is wearing.
Mike Deppe: Certainly. Consider the following example. There could be the
end desire or goal to locate a wide variety of sensors or circuitry attached
to the body to pick up different vital signs such as your heart rate and an
electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Additionally, one may be interested in body
temperature, oxygen levels, and such. It would be ideal if this circuitry could
employ wireless monitoring. Here at Molex, we have different specific medical
applications, such as monitoring the body’s temperature during surgery to help
keep the patient stabilized.

Interviewer: During the pandemic, I have witnessed first-hand the

reality of people talking directly to their doctors over the computer
and similar devices to avoid the necessity of visiting face-to-face.
What is Molex doing in this space as it pertains to telehealth?
Mike Deppe: COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact in the medical
space, especially concerning telehealth. This is because patients
have found it extremely difficult to have live visits with their personal
doctors and healthcare providers. To alleviate and mitigate this issue,
Molex PCS attempts to modify how we interact with healthcare
providers. We capture more patient data by relying more heavily on
medical wearables or different related types of devices. The patient
and the doctor may exchange this data, and each can better monitor
the patient’s conditions. This applies whether it is vital signs or other
information that may lead to better preventative maintenance, and it
allows the patient to provide that data to their healthcare provider in
an ongoing and continuous manner. This ultimately helps everyone
involved make better decisions while doing all this remotely.

Molex 2022 21
 Interviewer: What are some trends that Molex PCS is seeing in this
part of the industry?
Mike Deppe: There are several trends that Molex PCS is identifying
around patient comfort. Patient comfort may include ensuring that
the typically bulky and rigid electronics are designed to be more
easily applied flexibly and comfortably on the patient. Lowering
mass, increasing flexibility, extending battery life, reducing
power consumption, and the like are essential criteria.
Molex PCS is also seeing noticeable changes in patient
compliance. Patient compliance describes the degree “Molex PCS delivers
to which a patient correctly follows medical advice. It solutions that
most commonly refers to medication or drug compliance,
but it can also apply to other situations such as medical help healthcare
device use, self-care, self-directed exercises, or therapy professionals track
sessions. It is desired by all that patients or healthcare users
follow the adherence guidance provided by the medical
and observe precisely
professionals. This is to ensure that the patient is receiving how well their patients
the highest quality care possible. Molex PCS delivers are complying.”
solutions that help healthcare professionals track and
observe precisely how well their patients are complying and
following the medical recommendations.
Finally, another trend that Molex PCS is following is related
to software integration. Medical devices have traditionally been
mechanical hardware. However, with more and more electronics
being incorporated and added to these devices, it requires more
software integration.
In conclusion, Molex PCS is seeing three (3) different types of
megatrends occurring in this space: Patient comfort, patient
compliance, and software integration.

Interviewer: How is Molex PCS responding to some of these mega

software trends?
Mike Deppe: Molex PCS is in a position to provide both the hardware
and the software. With our internal mechanical engineering and electrical
engineering teams, Molex PCS can offer a great advantage to our
customers by integrating and supporting both the hardware and software
elements across the board. It’s the team that we have within PCS that
differentiates and makes the difference. To fully support our customers’
needs from a design aspect, our processing capabilities, and our global
manufacturing footprint, which allows us to deliver competitive solutions.
Having all those facets co-located within one business unit to support our
customers’ custom and modified medical needs will enable us to separate
and differentiate within the market.

22 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare

 Interviewer: Okay, so we’ve talked a lot
about medical uses for your products.
Where else are PCS products used?
Mike Deppe: Molex PCS services
various markets, not exclusively the
medical market. These additional “Molex PCS services
markets also include applications within
the automotive, appliance, industrial,
various markets,
and commercial space. Molex PCS not exclusively the
realizes many different opportunities,
such as supporting user interface,
medical market.”
control panels, and flexible printed
circuit assemblies (FPCAs).

Interviewer: If people want to know more about the Molex

Printed Circuit Solutions (PCS) business unit and all the great
products your group creates, where can engineers go for more
information?
Mike Deppe: This eBook was created in cooperation with
Mouser Electronics. Mouser Electronics and Molex are
collaborating to provide engineers with the relevant technical
and product information they need to make informed decisions.
I recommend that engineers look through the following website:
mouser.com/molex n

SlimStack Hybrid
Molex Ultra Wide- Power SMT
band PCB Antennas Connectors

Learn More  Learn More 

Molex 2022 23
 Medical Training
with Immersive
Technology

“”
PAUL GOLATA, MOUSER ELECTRONICS

Medical education does not exist to

provide students with a way of making
a living, but to ensure the health of
the community.
—RUDOLF VIRCHOW (1821–1902)
German physician, father of the modern study of the causes
and effects of disease or injury (pathology) and social medicine
Figure 1:
A nurse
provides
Medical Education: A Nurse in the Making healthcare
for patients.
She comes down the stairs. It is 4°C outside. She is dressed in a hat, a layer of sweaters, and
an overcoat. She is heading out the door. I call out, “Hey, where are you headed.” She responds,
“Off to school.”
My youngest daughter has graduated college with a degree once already. She is now living back
home in a world hit by COVID-19 because her job was no longer needed. Now, she is going back
to school to get a degree in nursing. Only a few weeks after her return, she started classes.
Just this week, she got accepted into the ADN program at her college. An ADN nurse is a
healthcare professional who has an associate-level education. She is on her way. To practice
as a registered nurse (RN), though, she will need to pass the National Council Licensure
Examination (NCLEX-RN). While the exam is rigorous and extensive, it ensures that every
practicing nurse can provide safe and effective care (Figure 1).

24 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare

Her medical education is a top priority so she can
get prepared to earn these credentials. She attends
college classes during the week, both in-person and
online. Medical training systems continue to evolve as
more and more things shift towards being online.
But does online offer all the contextual support
of in-person learning? As of today, probably not.
However, the healthcare sector is actively searching
for prompt solutions to help increase efficiency and
optimize the overall system.
Medical education may close any potential gaps by
technological advances coming along due to artificial
intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality
(MR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR).
The future of medical training will be supported by
immersive learning (Figure 2). Training with immersive
technology provides several key benefits.
One way these technologies can reshape and enhance
medical education is by moving knowledge acquisition
beyond other, more static, presentations. Let’s look at
what may drive this adoption.
Safe Environment
The first benefit of medical training using immersive
technology is that it provides a safe environment to
learn. Across the world, people have been pushed
out of the office and the classroom and into their own
homes in the name of safety, a duty of responsible
behavior toward others, and containment. Interactive
methods such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams have
exploded and are used by almost everyone.
But how can one train to be a doctor or a nurse just by
interacting over video? Immersive technology allows
students to practice utilizing simulations on a host of
healthcare issues with different people and teams.
Medical simulations allow this practice to happen
from a distance. It is no longer necessary to be in a
hospital, an operating room, or a classroom. Immersive
technology allows the requisite variety of skills to be
brought to bear in a digital domain. Since practice
through simulations may be easily set up and adjusted,
it offers a risk-free environment to apply learned
theory, making it a safe environment to enhance skills
through repeated practice.
Figure 2: Immersive medical technology will allow medical and nursing
students to practice through surgery simulations, where the assistance to
another medical professional in the medical context feels close to what it
would be in physical reality.
Accessible Technology
Medical equipment is costly and sensitive. What if
medical equipment and the corresponding techniques
to employ it could be done on computers and digital
devices specially equipped for the required tasks?
Headsets with accompanying tactile controls have
been commonplace for gaming. Similarly, they are
moving into the medical field and education. The
costs for this type of equipment are usually less
expensive than the actual physical medical equipment
itself. By learning and practicing in the digital realm,
more people can access and train in the procedures
and processes required. Just as flight simulators
help aircraft pilots train, the medical instructor may
perform a multitude of scenarios conveniently and
cost-effectively in the immersive space. Augmented
reality, for example, is accessible on mobile devices.
It enables users to ‘see’ more by offering three-
dimensional (3D) or 360° views. This allows individuals
to gain new perspectives and insights. Mixed reality
(MR) enables medical training students to interact with
their colleagues and see the same relevant data and
information as if they were in the room itself.
Molex 2022 25
 Personalized Content
Immersive technology may be personalized. It may
be set up to respond both to the users’ personal
manipulations and the medical training instructor to
accentuate learning in areas where the student may
require more attention and focus. It will also provide
instructors with the ability to tailor the
content fed to the student and
respond to their responses,
establishing a personalized
feedback loop which can be
positively positioned and
reinforced over time by
the instructor
or via artificial
intelligence
(AI). Its
convenience
allows for
self-paced
customized
training.
Engaging Experience
It can feel so real. This is how most people using
immersive technology subjectively experience what
is happening. While utilizing immersive technologies,
their physical senses are led to take their experience
as all-encompassing reality, merging the material and
the digital realm. Because the student experiences
the immersion technology as real and their attention
is focused entirely on their environment, they absorb
more of it. Just as no one goes to sleep or daydreams
while scuba diving, because of the real difference in
the contextual experience, the student who learns with
immersive technologies will be more highly engaged.
Through repeatable practice simulations, the student
can develop competency and confidence (Figure 3).
Advancing Immersive Technology
Molex brings decades of experience in advanced
electronics, connectivity, and sensor technologies to
help transform medical and pharmaceutical solutions.
Molex is an innovative leader in designing, developing,
and delivering world-class medical device solutions,
including those that will enable the next generation of
medical training and learning.

Figure 3: Medical professions may employ immersive technologies to both learn and service patient needs.

Gauge Pitch
Family W-W W-B W-P B-B Comments
(AWG) (mm)
The smallest to date, a fully isolated header that meets customers’
Nano-FiT 20–26 2.5 X X    
power needs while protecting the terminals in a small package
Offers premium housing features to prevent mismating, reduce
Micro-FiT 18–30 3.0 X X   X terminal backout, reduce operator fatigue during assembly, and
aid in blind-mating applications
Provides increased current capability compared to other
Micro-FiT+ 16–30 3.0   X    
connectors, as well as reducing the mating force by 40%
A 3.50mm pitch power connector that supports 14.0A and
Ultra-FiT 16–22 3.5   X     reduces terminal backout with low mating force; ideal for high-
circuit application
Mini-FiT
Utilizes traditional Mini-Fit TPA2 terminals and wire gauges while
Sigma 12–24 4.2     X  
protecting from moisture, foam, and dust debris ingress
Sealed
Mini-Fit Jr. and Mini-Fit Plus Power Connectors deliver up to 9.0A
and 13.0A, respectively, while blind-mating, terminal position
Mini-FiT 16–28 4.2 X X   X
assurance, and backshell options offer a versatile connector
system for a wide range of applications
Provides more power per linear and square millimeter than most
Mega-FiT 12–16 5.7 X X    
mid-range power connectors in the industry
Figure 4: The FiT product family.

26 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare

Making Patients Fit with FiT
Electrical power in the form of various voltage and
current signals are required in every electronic
circuit. This includes everything involving immersive
technology designs for medical training. Molex FiT
Family Power Connectors offer various connectors
with colored, polarized housings with isolated
terminals, terminal position assurance (TPAs), positive
locks, and tangless terminals (Figure 4). Molex FiT
Dual-Row Connectors provide power delivery and
power distribution in wire-to-wire, wire-to-board,
and board-to-board configurations. Molex FiT power
connectors range from the 2.5mm pitch Nano-FiT
to the 5.7mm pitch Mega-FiT connectors (Figure
4). These off-the-shelf connectors can be modified,
customized, or adapted to meet virtually any
application need.
This family’s mechanically keyed feature allows the
same circuit, multiple connector use with virtually no
chance of cross mating while making soldering easy.
Terminals in Molex’s FiT families feature numerous
contact points, so if one part degrades or becomes
blocked by debris, the other contact points continue to
carry the load. As a result, terminals have redundancy
and a higher current-carrying capability. Molex’s FiT
families feature positive locking latches designed
with an audible click to give operators feedback that
the parts have been securely mated. With a scoop-
proof design, contacts are protected until the mating
connectors are correctly aligned. Therefore, damages
related to aggressive unaligned mating and unmating
are virtually eliminated. Molex’s FiT families feature
fully isolated contacts that inhibit arcing between
contacts and provide the use of higher voltages, as
well as better electrical isolation between adjacent
contacts. As a result of isolating the contacts, damage
can be prevented during handling and shorting risks
due to debris are minimized.
Bend But Don’t Break: Flex Cables
In 2011, Temp-Flex Cable was acquired by Molex,
one of the world’s largest global manufacturers of
interconnect products. Temp-Flex manufacturers
specialty wire and cable to provide technological
solutions to the Medical, Aerospace, Military,
Datacom, Test & Measurement, and Industrial markets.
Temp-Flex products are made in a fully equipped,
on-site manufacturing facility to ensure quality and
consistency. An extrusion process is employed using
FiT Family
Connectors
Learn More 
Temp-Flex Foam-Core Ultra-Low-Loss
Coaxial Microwave Cable
Learn More 
fluoropolymer insulation with a concentration on thin
walls for the medical industry and faster speeds in the
electronics industry. Typically designed for extreme
conditions and harsh environments, all Temp-Flex
product lines adhere to RoHS compliance standards.
Temp-Flex Foam-Core Ultra-Low-Loss Coaxial
Microwave Cable combines space-saving with an
effective dielectric. The fluoropolymer insulation
eliminates the “phase knee” effect and delivers
linear electrical length (stable performance) at room
temperature. Fluoropolymer insulation is characterized
by high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases,
making it ideal for medical applications. The cable
achieves 80% velocity of propagation (VOP) loss
characteristics. It also offers shielding greater than
100dB at high frequencies.
Conclusion
In these challenging times, I hope you and your loved
ones are staying healthy. As the COVID-19 pandemic
has clearly shown, the world needs more professionals
to ensure the health of the community. As society
works to meet the collective needs of us all, I hope
we take advantage of the technologies around us to
make life and healthcare learning experiences better.
Immersive technologies are one of the ways we can
produce medical education that’s safer, accessible,
personalized, and engaging. Molex is leading the way
by providing the solutions to keep us fit and flexible for
a long time to come. n
Molex 2022 27
 Connected
Health: Patient
Monitoring
PAUL GOLATA, MOUSER ELECTRONICS
The rapid change from summer to fall has ushered
in the cold and flu season, and I am among its
first victims. I have a constant headache. I can’t
sleep because my nose is leaking like a faucet,
and I get dry mouth or hacking coughs when I fall
asleep. There is a fog in my head, and I have trouble
thinking clearly. To fight off the microbes that drag
me down, I take handfuls of vitamins, supplements,
and other medications throughout the day. I drink
tea concoctions and homemade remedies, such as
chicken soup, to keep hydrated and combat the chills.
Despite these ailments, I have to keep my deadlines.
My medical approach is based upon tradition, folklore,
and readily available products in my home. Maybe
you have experienced similar symptoms or have taken
similar approaches. What if technology provided me
with better tools to increase my ability to finish my
work at home and boost my ability to recover so I
can get back to work? This is precisely the goal of
connected health and digital healthcare. This blog
will look at how connected health will assist in patient
monitoring.
Connected Health to Help Sense Exactly
What’s Going On
Patient monitoring is crucial to understanding how
the body responds to therapies to mitigate or repair
the effects of a disease or other physical ailments
or to monitor patients to diagnose the disease or
ailment creating symptoms. Devices such as wearable
biosensors can monitor a wide variety of data points,
including vital signs, step counts, and body posture—
all in a low-cost, easy-to-use, disposable form.
28 Improving Lives with Digital Healthcare
Figure 1: A smart-
watch may provide
medical information in a
wearable format.
DESIGNING WEARABLES IN STEP TO IMPROVING
HUMAN WELLNESS
Molex is prepared to tackle the most challenging
design challenges by combining knowledge and
expertise from the medical and consumer fields.
As wearable devices become even more popular,
technologies will be needed to miniaturize and
modernize these devices (Figure 1). Through their
flexible circuit expertise and experiences with
hydrogels and other adhesives, Molex can aid in the
device’s development and complete its manufacturing.
As wearables accelerate in their processing power,
miniaturization of the circuitry will be needed to keep
devices small and comfortable.
Finger on the Pulse of Multi-Parameter
Monitoring
With extensive knowledge and capabilities in the multi-
parameter monitoring segment, Molex is poised to help
enable the next generation of monitors. Their flexible
solutions team focuses on both disposable flexible
sensors and user interfaces. As a result, Molex delivers
complete and end-to-end solutions. Their experience
utilizing hydrogels and other patient adhesives, and
their clean-room manufacturing, allow full product
development, production, and packaging. As multi-
parameter devices continue developing new ways
of monitoring patients and notifying care providers,
Molex can and will likely continue to support the same
technology.
Right at the Heart of It
Electrocardiography (ECG) has begun to blur the
lines between wearable devices and the traditional
“on cart” machines (Figure 2). In recent years, device
technologies and software algorithms have allowed
the development of on-patient ECG devices that
continuously monitor the patient’s heart condition and
scan for and often predict heart issues before they
become fatal. As these devices continue to advance
in the wearables area, patient comfort will increase.
ECG is poised to take advantage of AI advancements,
allowing for faster decision making and more detailed
data for the care provider.
Molex has supported the ECG market for many years,
providing complete ECG electrodes and enhanced
user interface solutions. With these capabilities, Molex
delivers deep and cohesive solutions for ECG devices.
With extensive experience utilizing hydrogels, Molex
understands the design considerations around patient
comfort and simplicity of use. Their innovations in
disposable circuitry create opportunities for wireless
electrodes and other industry advancements.
Sweet Body Energy Levels—No Finger
Pricks Required
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has freed
diabetic patients from endless post-meal finger pricks.
CGMs have made the patient more comfortable
(Figure 3). and have led to better and more predictable
blood sugar levels. As CGMs continuously monitor
patients’ levels, they can interact with insulin pumps
to deliver the proper amount of insulin on the spot.
CGMs evolve alongside the latest technologies as
device developers strive for smaller, sleeker, and more
convenient products. As is happening in the wearables
Figure 2: ECG LCD screen monitors a patient’s vital signs.
market, CGMs contribute to the global macro issue
of data interoperability and will benefit from software
and hardware technologies that effectively protect the
data communicated between the patient and the care
provider.
Molex has collaborated with some of the top device
manufacturers, bringing cutting-edge CGMs to
the market. Molex can develop, manufacture, and
package entire devices with their capillary tubing
and plastics manufacturing capabilities. With robust
knowledge in microelectronics and miniaturization,
Molex continues to help clients make their devices
smaller, all while packing in more chip power. Molex’s
knowledge of hydrogels and patient adhesives allows
them to develop CGM solutions from the outside in.
Enabling technologies in plastic circuitry and circuit
miniaturization will help the CGM market gain patient
comfort and device efficacy.
Healthy Dosage of Resources for
Engineers
Molex, in concert with Mouser Electronics, has created
technical content hubs for engineering content. A
technical content hub is similar to how bicycle hubs
help propel a bike, because both are at the core
of advancement and performance. Bicycle hubs
connect both wheels to the bike’s frame, allowing
it to move forward with minimal friction, optimizing
its performance. Similarly, a technical content hub
provides the latest relevant technical application and
technology information to help design engineers
optimize their designs in less time and requiring
less effort. Molex is wholly dedicated to supporting
the medical industry. To that end, they have a
technical content hub at Mouser focused on Medical
applications. n 
Figure 3: Man using glucose monitor.
Molex 2022 29
Mouser stocks the widest
selection of the newest products

mouser.com/molex
Worldwide leading authorized distributor of
semiconductors and electronic components

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