Medical robots streamline invasive surgical procedures to aid in the patient's rapid recovery, while medical wearable devices monitor medication and daily activities. Collected data is transmitted to doctors, who use this information to assess the patient's condition in real time.

This is a vision of the future based on advancements in medical technology. With progress in wireless data transmission and component miniaturization technologies, minimally invasive surgery and telemedicine are becoming a reality.



In particular, drug delivery devices are expected to bring about a major change. Last April, Molex and its medical device supplier, Phillips-Medisize, commissioned a survey on the future of digital healthcare and medicine. The survey was conducted among 215 pharmaceutical industry professionals across various positions and regions.

According to the survey results, the adoption of drug delivery devices is accelerating, and one in three respondents stated that their company is already promoting drug delivery devices. 65% believed that this technology would be extremely important for their company's future. 92% of respondents predicted that drug delivery devices would have a positive impact on the medical field. In particular, they anticipated that it would be useful for infectious diseases in the endocrine, respiratory, inflammatory/immunological, and cardiovascular sectors.

Drug delivery devices can enhance patient convenience, encouraging better adherence to medication instructions and ultimately improving treatment efficacy. In this survey, 69% of respondents stated that the ability to increase patient engagement was the primary driving force behind their interest in the devices.

◇ Consumer Wearables & Medical Wearables

To maximize the benefits of telemedicine, engineers need to design wearables that meet the requirements for durability and reliability while increasing patient convenience.

Although consumer wearables and medical wearables differ in the regulations that apply to them, they are similar in that they must be designed to be easy and convenient to use, and to achieve reliability and accuracy.

To make wearable devices lightweight and compact, technologies for automatic injection devices or miniaturization and wireless operation of wearable systems are required. Accordingly, Molex offers compact board-to-board, signal wire-to-board, and flat printed circuit connector products.

The products include the 'Easy-On FFC/FPC Connector' and 'SlimStack Connector' product families, connector PCBs and flexible circuits, and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/NFC/wireless antenna products. Additionally, it offers highly durable and flexible 'Premo-Flex Cable Jumper' assemblies and USB Type-C and Type-BI/O products. This enhances the convenience and reliability of connectivity solutions.

◇ Robot-assisted surgery

The introduction of robots into the operating room has enabled more precise surgeries than in the past. However, equipping a single robot with diverse functions requires complex electronic systems. Design engineers must simultaneously pursue low latency and optimal performance within a micro-package. Adding features that connect the robot to the outside world is even more challenging.

Molex’s Compact Robotic Connectors (CRCs) are compact solutions that meet the durability required for small robots and the environmental requirements of operating rooms. These products are designed to meet the space-saving and shielding needs of various medical and cleanroom applications.

In addition, the 'Versabeam Array MT Cable' assembly provides performance that exceeds the requirements of high-bandwidth medical applications. Based on Molex's existing data communication and telecommunications chassis connection technologies, these interconnect systems are suitable for robot-assisted surgery applications and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) applications.

In cases where space is limited, hybrid design products reduce the number of required connectors and allow for easy installation in most applications. In addition, using hybrid connectivity allows optical fibers and copper wires to be combined in a single connector housing, making switching easy.

◇ Multifunctional cardiovascular device

Physicians are interested in energy and technologies that support diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment monitoring for the effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The use of cryo-energy and microwave lasers can achieve maximum clinical efficacy with minimal invasiveness.

Integrating multiple technological methods into a single catheter increases complexity. Since a large number of wires and cables are required, connectors must have high contact density while still providing optimal performance. The 50–300mm 433MHz 'ISM antenna' offered by Molex measures 90 × 40mm and provides radiation efficiency of 50–56%.

The 868MHz and 915MHz ISM antennas utilize 'MobliquA™' technology to significantly reduce antenna volume and eliminate the need for expensive circuitry and frequency tuning required for the ground plane. Additionally, cardiovascular device applications require both power and signal. Molex's 'Mini-Fit Connector' family delivers power of up to 8.5A with a 3mm pitch.

To ensure the reliability of cardiovascular devices, Molex also offers the 'Micro-Fit TPA Connector' family. It supports Terminal Position Fixation (TPA) functionality to prevent defects in the end application.

Advancements in wireless data transmission and technologies for miniaturizing components and connectors are enabling innovations in the medical field, such as medication delivery devices and minimally invasive robotic surgery. Molex’s diverse interconnect products and compact, high-performance antenna products are accelerating innovation in the medical sector.