The composition of Cidex can be extremely harmful to connectors, and an autoclave is a rather nasty environment to put anything in. Moreover, many EU manufacturers are just now becoming aware of newer options such as Steris and Sterrad, and they are evaluating the impact these products may have on their devices, particularly those that are destined for the US market. EMC is also critical. A connector that carries signals from an endoscope to a TV monitor, for example, has to maintain extremely high resolution. The surgeon has to watch what he or she is doing by seeing it on the monitor, rather than by looking at the patient, so signal integrity is important.
Cost can also play a significant role in connector selection.
Designers looking for an appropriate connector might begin by contacting one of the suppliers profiled in this section. All of them share a strong commitment to the medical marketplace. The plugs have latching fingers that hook into a groove inside the receptacle, making unintentional separation nearly impossible. Available in four sizes down to 10 mm in diameter, the connectors can be specified with solder contacts, crimp contacts, or PCB pins. ODU connectors can be supplied in standard and autoclavable versions designed to survive 1500 autoclave cycles, according to Eberlein.