Medical Design Briefs - December 2021 - 29

many OEMs and distributors were left
holding surplus inventory. As a result,
these same OEMs and distributors
were hesitant to order additional
inventory in 2020. Now, as the market
ramps up, so does the demand for
MLCCs despite very low capacitor
inventory. This further exacerbates
the shortage of larger high-voltage,
high Q MLCCs, since some manufacturers
have focused production on
smaller/lower voltage MLCCs during
this time.
Now both ends of the market are
scrambling to restock including the large
electronics distributors. It is also largely
Asian MLCC manufacturing supporting
telecom and mobile device operations
that are also based in Asia making fulfillment
of MLCC supply needs in
Western markets even more acute.
" There is a ripple effect to the medical
equipment manufacturing sector
that is not really fully understood, " says
Horton. " Although a shortage of electronic
products used to manufacture
consumer products like smartphones
and automobiles would be national
news, the lack of supply of larger, higher
voltage MLCCs for medical applications
are typically under-reported. However,
it will continue to squeeze business customers
and eventually end users until it
is resolved. "
■ Multi-Layer Ceramic Components
MLCCs consist of laminated layers of
specially formulated, ceramic dielectric
materials interspersed with a metal electrode
system. The layered formation is
then fired at high temperature to produce
a sintered and volumetrically efficient
capacitance device. A conductive
termination barrier system is integrated
on the exposed ends of the chip to complete
the connection.
Capacitance is primarily determined
by three factors: the k of the ceramic
materials, the thickness of the dielectric
layers, the overlap area, and the number
of the electrodes. A capacitor with a
given dielectric constant can have more
layers and wider spacing between electrodes
or fewer layers and closer spacing
to achieve the same capacitance.
Medical OEMs depend on highvoltage
and high-Q capacitors for power
supplies, amplifiers, MRI coils, lasers,
and many other specialized applications.
In circuits with higher currents,
higher-Q MLCCs are
reduce self-heating.
preferred
to
Ultra-Miniature - High Reliability
Quartz Crystals, Oscillators
and Sensors
UNSURPASSED QUALITY
THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY
COUNTS ON
UNSURPASSED QUALITY
THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY
COUNTS ON
Medical Grade Crystals,
Oscillators and Sensors
* High stability and precision
* Used in implantable devices
* Excellent long term aging
* Low power consumption
STATEK CORPORATION
ISO 9001
AS9100
512 N. Main St., Orange, CA 92868
Tel. 714-639-7810
MLCCs consist of laminated layers of specially formulated, ceramic dielectric materials interspersed
with a metal electrode system.
Medical Design Briefs, December 2021
Cov
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
ToC
Fax 714-997-1256
www.STATEK.com
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/79420-765

http://info.hotims.com/79420-765 http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com

Medical Design Briefs - December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Medical Design Briefs - December 2021