EMI / RFI Shielding For Medical Device Applications

Take any average-sized hospital in the U.S. and count the number of electronic devices in use. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), that number averages over 10,000. Imagine all those separate life-saving devices – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT or CAT), Electromyography (EMG) and others working side-by-side without interference.

Unfortunately, many of these devices have non-conductive, plastic components that don’t shield Electromagnetic Interference/Radio Frequency Interference (EMI/RFI) from being emitted from or penetrating to other devices. They require shielding systems incorporated into the design and manufacture, ensuring reliable performance. According to medical device engineers, due to their design and functionality, they’ve historically been difficult to shield from EMI/RFI. Yet, they must satisfy FDA and FCC regulations along with their life-saving components.  

MAJR Products has designed a portfolio of EMI/RFI shielding applications for medical devices that work efficiently in complex environments like operating rooms and labs.

EMI/RFI Shielded Medical Device Basics

Traditionally, EMI/RFI shielding products have been fabricated from metal sheets and formed into shapes that fit electronic housings or enclosures. Aluminum, copper, and steel are strong and rigid, but thin metal sheets can deform under the pressures that are required for sealing. Once metal EMI shields are deformed, they tend to remain in that shape and may allow leakage to and from electronic circuits.      

Today, EMI shielding materials include flexible metal screens, metal wires, and metalized foams. Coatings made of metallic paints are also applied to the interiors of electronic enclosures to provide EMI shielding. Each of these shielding methods has its advantages, but particle-filled silicones combine the electrical properties of metals with the material properties of silicone rubber. For product designers who need to meet a variety of sealing and insulation challenges, silicones filled with metal or metal-coated particles are an excellent choice.

EMI/RFI Shielding Solutions from MAJR Products

MAJR Products provides EMI shielding solutions to our medical customers, ensuring their products work as intended. Suppressing EMI can make all the difference when requiring the repeatability needed for modern instrumentation. Using MAJR’s EMI/RFI gasketing allows our customers to have confidence that their device’s operation and results will not be affected by unwanted or spurious emissions.

Our products for use in medical devices include:

• Custom Board Level Shielding
• Fabric Over Foam
• Conductive Silicone
• EMI Grounding & Shielded Washers
• Conductive Coatings

Working With MAJR Products

ISO registered since 2005, MAJR Products has been designing and manufacturing EMI/RFI shielding products to hundreds of medical device manufacturers across the world. Using products such as EMI Shielding Gaskets & Tapes, Ventilation Panels, Windows and Conductive Coatings, and RF Absorber & Ferrite Materials, MAJR has an EMI/RFI Shielding product for medical electronics industries, and also military, telecommunications, IT/computing and consumer, industrial, and instrumentation industries.

Contacting MAJR for EMC Consulting

MAJR Products, located in Saegertown, Pennsylvania, is one of the leading manufacturers of EMI/RFI gaskets, shielding and ventilation panel products. We’ve been designing and developing solutions for over 25 years. Contact MAJR to connect with a specialist or receive a quote from our experienced EMI/RFI team of professionals.