PCBs for medical applications

NCAB supports medical PCB programs from early design to series production, helping customers optimize performance, manufacturability, and cost. Our engineering teams provide Design for Manufacturability (DfM) support, design verification, and production guidance. They work closely with customers to meet the specific technical requirements of each application. With dedicated quality engineers on-site at our partner factories, we ensure a controlled and traceable production environment, fully compliant with ISO 13485 frameworks.

Standards, certification and compliance

ISO 13485:2016 is implemented across our global network of medically approved factories. PCBs are produced in line with IPC Class 2 or Class 3 as a minimum baseline. Additionally, they are governed by our own PCB specification, which enforces stricter criteria for enhanced reliability, consistency, and traceability.

Key areas for medical PCBs

Reliability

A reliable PCB start with the right design, so we always begin with verifying the customer’s Gerber data to ensure they are complete, perform DRC (Design Rules Check) and DfM reviews, and check build-ups and impedance calculations. Our own PCB specification, acceptance criteria, and quality control processes at partner factories ensure that the product delivers on its promises.

Supply chain continuity

Medical products often have long regulatory lifecycles, where even minor PCB changes can trigger re-validation. We maintain long-term manufacturing partnerships, control material selection, and support consistent production processes to ensure stability over the full product lifetime.

Selection of applications we serve

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Technical capabilities for medical PCBs

Medical devices require compact, high-density designs alongside stable high-frequency performance and thermal reliability. Our technologies support these requirements across a wide range of applications. Projects are placed in partner factories selected and verified for the required capability through NCAB’s extensive sourcing process and continuous quality audits.

• HDI (High Density Interconnect): Supports compact designs in wearables and portable diagnostic devices.
• Microvias: Enable high routing density in space-constrained designs.
• Multilayer PCBs: Support complex designs and controlled signal behavior.
• Rigid-Flex PCBs: Reduce connectors and improve reliability in compact designs.
• Flexible PCBs: Enable compact and mechanically demanding medical designs, supporting miniaturization in applications such as wearables and portable devices. Our engineering teams support key design parameters including bend radius, material selection, and track and gap, with capabilities in multilayer flex, HDI integration, and advanced constructions to ensure manufacturability and long-term reliability.
• Controlled impedance: Ensures stable signal transmission in high-speed applications.
  Download our design guidelines about Stack-ups and impedances >
• RF PCBs: Support designs requiring low-loss materials and controlled signal behavior. Materials specified by our technical team at the design stage, with partner factories selected based on verified RF capability.
• High-Tg materials: Laminate selection advised by our technical team during design review based on your operating environment and regulatory constraints.
• Thermal management (IMS): Used in high-power applications like surgical lighting and imaging systems.
• Halogen-free materials: Specified by our technical team for applications where material selection is a consideration

Quality assurance for medical PCBs

NCAB’s dedicated engineering and quality teams are on-site at our partner factories, overseeing a structured quality process applied to every PCB we supply. The following processes are applied as standard or specified per application:

• 100% Electrical Testing: Every board is tested against the netlist before shipment, in line with NCAB´s quality requirements.
  Watch the process here >
• Flying probe testing: Used for prototypes and low-volume builds, where dedicated test fixtures are not required, ensuring full electrical verification during early-stage and low-volume production.
• Automated Optical Inspection (AOI): Conducted at multiple production stages (inner layer AOI and outer layer AOI).
  Watch the process here (inner layer AOI) >
• X-Ray inspection: Verifies internal structures such as layer integrity and via quality, particularly for complex constructions and IPC Class 3 builds.
• Microsection analysis: Used to verify hole wall copper plating thickness and internal layer construction against IPC Class 2 and Class 3 requirements.
• Cleanliness testing (IPC-TM-650): Applied where required for applications sensitive to residual contamination.
• Material traceability: Maintained from base laminate to finished board supported by lot records, documentation, and NCAB’s factory audit programme to ensure full supply chain visibility.

FAQ about medical PCBs

Is there such a thing as a “medical-grade” PCB?

Not exactly. Medical products have varying demands on PCBs depending on their use, risk profile, and clinical application. Requirements can differ significantly in areas such as traceability, ISO 13485 compliance, IPC class, materials, and testing.

What quality standards do I need for medical PCBs?

Quality requirements depend on the application but commonly include ISO 13485, controlled traceability, and IPC Class II or III manufacturing. Critical applications may require additional testing, validation, and process controls.

What is IPC Class 3 and when is it required for medical PCBs?

IPC Class 3 is the highest reliability standard for PCBs, defining strict requirements for design, manufacturing, and inspection to ensure long-term performance. In medical applications, it is typically required for life-critical devices, such as implantable or patient-support systems.

What PCB types are most commonly used in medical devices?

Common types include:

• Rigid PCBs for larger, stationary equipment.
• Flexible PCBs for compact or wearable devices.
• Rigid-Flex PCBs for designs requiring both stability and flexibility.
• HDI PCBs for high component density.
• Multilayer PCBs for complex circuitry and signal performance.

These technologies are often combined to meet requirements for miniaturization, performance, and reliability.

Read more about our PCB portfolio >

How do you achieve miniaturization in medical PCB design?

Through HDI and rigid-flex designs, which allow higher component density and three-dimensional configurations. Engaging at the design stage is critical, as decisions on stack-up, layer count, and form factor greatly impact manufacturability at scale.

How do you manage risk in medical PCB supply chains?

We mitigate risk through factory qualification, process control, traceability, and long-term supplier partnerships, ensuring consistent quality, stable pricing, and reliable availability over the product lifetime.

What does a Design for Manufacturability (DFM) review cover for medical PCBs?

A DfM review covers stack-up design, controlled impedance, via reliability, material selection, surface finish, and tolerance analysis. For medical projects, we also consider long-term manufacturability to ensure the design can be produced consistently at the required volume over a 10-year-plus product lifetime.

Have questions or want to discuss your medical PCB application?

Contact your local company or our medical specialists.

Our medical specialist