New Source of Circuit Design Assistance for Medical Electronics Applications; Designing for Optimization and Manufacturability is Key 3M Focus

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Design engineers facing the challenges of next generation electronics can take advantage of the design expertise of the 3M Electronic Solutions Division. 3M, a leading global supplier of flexible custom microinterconnect circuits, helps its customers maximize the electrical performance of their circuit designs through modeling, elimination of excess layers, size reduction and improved routing.

The company currently is working with customers on a variety of medical devices, including ultrasound probes, X-ray detection, diagnostic electrodes, cardiac rhythm management and hearing aids. 3M is working with select customers on point-of-care diagnostic and biotechnology applications. Interconnect solutions integrating microfluidic channels for immunoassays, molecular diagnostics and drug discovery applications currently are in development.

"Today's electronic devices contain highly sophisticated interconnects and these can be difficult for less experienced manufacturers. 3M has a proven track record of analyzing their customers' circuit designs and compressing them to create smaller, more reliable circuits that are designed for manufacturability. By applying 3M's expertise with precision fine-pitch circuits, advanced materials, and via reliability, we can optimize performance goals and speed time to high-volume production," said Casey Nolden, new business development manager, 3M Electronic Solutions Division. "This is particularly important when designs are complex due to the product's physical size constraints, such as an interconnect for an ultrasonic transducer, hearing aid or diagnostic electrode, which must maintain high reliability even if folded."

For detailed information about 3M microinterconnect solutions for medical applications, visit www.3m.com/flex_medical, or visit 3M at an upcoming trade show, MD&M (Medical Design and Manufacturing) East in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City, June 15-17, Booth 2513.

About 3M Electronic Solutions Division

The 3M Electronic Solutions Division, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and a part of 3M Company, has numerous technologies and provides a wide range of products for the electronics market. It provides products and solutions to meet the electronic industry's challenges of protecting sensitive components and precisely delivering them to the assembly point, as well as flexible and multilayer microinterconnect packaging solutions; embedded capacitor laminate materials, copper and fiber interconnect systems; cables and cable assemblies; static control products, and test and burn-in sockets. The business is part of 3M Company, an $18 billion diversified technology company with leading positions in consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; health care; industrial; safety, security and protection services; transportation, and other businesses. More information on 3M flexible and multilayer solutions is available on the Internet at http://www.3M.com/microinterconnect.