Advantages of Membranes Switches for Medical Equipment
Usually, every new technology gets outdated after a decade or two. However, some technologies are still valuable after even many decades. A membrane switch is one of such technologies that are almost three decades old but still are in use. Membrane switch technology has entered the market in the 1980s. After that, it kept rising in popularity in several industries, such as medical device contract manufacturing. Since then, converting processes and materials have exceptionally improved which made these switches more cost-effective and functional. Today, we will highlight the top 6 benefits of these switched for the medical equipment manufacturing industry. It will help you decide whether or not you should use this technology for your products.
Membrane Switches and Medical Device Contract Manufacturing
One may believe that a three years old technology is nothing more than just crap in this modern age. This is true in many cases, but not when it comes to membrane switches. These switches are still a go-to option for several medical devices. This technology is a must for medical device contract manufacturing, especially in hospital beds, surgical equipment, and patient monitoring programs. 
This technology is upgraded with time with some improvements, but there is still no better alternative to it. The reason behind this is the many benefits that membrane switches offer. Let’s go through some of the top benefits for which membrane switches are still a must for many industries, including the medical equipment industry.
Membrane Switches Benefits
Membrane switches are beneficial for medical device manufacturing for many reasons. They are easy-to-use, reliable, and fulfill certain requirements of the healthcare industry. Here are some of the top advantages of membrane switches in medical device contract manufacturing:
Enhanced Graphics Visibility
The first layer of membrane switches is a high-quality graphic overlay, also recognized as a faceplate. This layer can include unlimited colors and customized designs. In the medical equipment industry, such graphics usually work in combination with important indicators light or interface functions. The best thing about it is that you can view a graphic overlay in a radius of 180-degree. However, achieving this is impossible with touchscreens.
Sanitization and Cleanliness
It is essential to keep medical equipment as sterile and clean as possible to maintain basic hygiene. Proper sanitization and cleanliness are also important to prevent infections. Due to a smooth, sealed surface of a membrane switch, they are straightforward to clean. On the other hand, a mechanical switch comes with buttons above the surface, making them difficult to clean. Modern-day membrane switches have an anti-microbial film design that ensures germs protection while cleaning medical equipment.
Improved User Experience
Another benefit of using membrane switches in medical device contract manufacturing is that they ensure an improved overall user experience. If a membrane switch has a perfect design, it will simplify the medical equipment operation and enhances the input accuracy by the health professional. There are some special features, such as backlighting and tactile feedback that can make the user experience to the next level. In short, membrane switches offer a far better user experience than mechanical switches.
Highly Durable
A membrane switch is highly durable because of protective coverings and few or no moving parts. It makes the membrane switch the most long-lasting and reliable interface. Another advantage of these switches is that they are resistant to several elements. A fully-sealed and high-quality membrane switch resists exposure to different elements, including chemicals, dust, bodily floods, and water, etc. These are the elements that can harm electronics.
Shielding
It is also possible to design membrane switches to add shielding elements. The purpose of adding shielding elements is to block ESD (electrostatic discharge) without making any compromise on the overall performance. Therefore, shielding is another benefit of these switches in medical device contract manufacturing. Apart from the above-listed benefits, there are also several other benefits of using membrane switches. Membrane switches are compact devices, offering top-of-the-line, and high-performance functionality. Therefore, they help in ensuring easy-to-use, portable medical devices that include in-home diagnostic tools and equipment. Another best thing about these switches is that you can customize them completely according to specific requirements and specifications. The design flexibility is a big benefit that is not available with mechanical switches.
Finding the Right Membrane Switch Manufacturer for Medical Equipment
After deciding that these switches are perfect for your specific products, you need to find a reliable manufacturing partner. Make sure that the manufacturer you choose follows the medical manufacturing strict standards. Therefore, you should look for a manufacturer with vast experience in the production of medical equipment membrane switches. Apart from that, also make sure that the facility is FDA registered and ISO-13485 certified. Remember that the membrane switches manufacturer you choose is the most critical factor that can make or break a project. To make sure that you are choosing the right membrane switch medical device contract manufacturing source, pay attention to the following considerations:
- Did they have any working experience with a similar application like yours?
- Are they a certified membrane switch manufacturer for the medical equipment industry?
- What is the approach of the manufacturer towards prototyping?
- Does the manufacturer have a team of in-house design professionals?
- How they optimize their process to ensure greater efficiency?
- Do they have the capabilities of managing color consistency?
You can ask the above-listed queries to the manufacturer before you hire. It is also a good idea to ask them about what other, relevant services do they provide. Never hire any manufacturer unless you are 100% sure about their quality standards, reliability, and overall reputation.
Conclusion
Membrane switches are still an integral part of many medical device contract manufacturing processes, even after three decades since their inception. These switches are popular even after many decades for several advantages that no other interface offers. The membrane switch benefits, such as ease of use, reliability, shielding, durability, and improved user experience make them an unparalleled technology. However, it is important to hire an experienced membrane switch manufacturer who must have experience in developing membrane switches according to your application type. You can find a variety of high-quality membrane switches here for different applications.