 Anthony Kalaijakis Hypertronics Corp. Global Industry Director Visit Website |
Global Industry Director at Hypertronics Corp. since October 2006, Anthony Kalaijakis is responsible for Hypertronics’ global business development for the medical market. With more than 20 years’ experience in the interconnect industry, Kalaijakis has led numerous new medical interconnect product designs, some of which are patented, and he has been instrumental in the development of the new ImplanTac implantable connectors, ClearImage nonmagnetic interconnects and a line of medical-grade miniature connectors.
Kalaijakis earned a BS in mechanical engineering technology at Northeastern University, and has held several positions in engineering, marketing, sales and business development. Prior to joining Hypertronics, he was a key account manager in the sales and marketing team at Volex Group plc, where he was focused on custom medical interconnects on a global basis. Hypertronics is certified to ISO 13485 and holds many patents on interconnect technologies for the medical, military and aerospace markets. Based in Hudson, MA, Hypertronics is part of Smiths Group plc. Specialised in the design, manufacture and distribution of specialty connectors for the electronics industry since 1970, Hypertronics’ interconnect solutions are based on Hypertac hyperboloid technology, which delivers unfailing performance in life-critical applications. The company offers a range of standard catalogue products as well as custom-designed interconnect solutions for specific application needs and performance requirements. |
Connectors Q&A
-
With the trend towards smaller, portable devices, what are some of the key factors to keep in mind when choosing a connector for use in a medical device?Answered August 31st, 2009 by Expert:Improvements in portability and patient comfort cannot translate into trade-offs in accuracy and reliability. Accuracy and reliability often need to surpass that of the larger devices they replace. Because of space and weight constraints in these devices, embedded components need to be smaller and weigh less. A more efficient use of the system footprint can be realised with a smaller form factor contact/connector system that allows more space for critical functions.
Components are scaled-down or “miniaturised” but still need to perform with the best quality and highest reliability. New challenges in manufacturing arise with this trend. The connectors used in medical devices need to be more dense and more compact, and be made from materials that are best suited for smaller spaces.
Manufacturing hurdles result from:
- The connector’s mechanical geometry–moulding, machining and handling small parts with small features
- The electrical requirements–smaller distances between electrically charged parts can create challenges in voltage transmission and have an impact on the connector’s current carrying capability, driving the potential for compromises in accuracy and reliability.
These manufacturing challenges can be overcome by considering new materials, more extensive testing, and more accurate moulding and machining processes. Connectors featuring smaller components with 0.3-mm contacts, for example, meet the density, size and weight requirements of new medical devices coming on the market.