Durable Medical Custom Membrane Switch

A medical device manufacturer was experiencing durability issues and failures with an important custom membrane switch in the controller of a sophisticated surgical device. The product needed to function reliably in a hospital and, in order to do so, it needed to withstand harsh environmental elements.  In addition, the design needed to allow for better visibility in all light environments and feature a larger display window. The JN White®team applied their extensive experience in medical devices to engineer a custom membrane keypad that met all necessary requirements. The membrane keypads worked perfectly and expedited the prototyping phase of the project.

How JN White® Helped

JN White® assembled a team of engineering and manufacturing experts to tackle the challenges faced by the manufacturer.

  • Copperflex – In order to address the durability issues, the team replaced the current silver-printed circuit with a copperflex solution. The larger display window in the new design dramatically decreased the available real estate around the perimeter for the traces so utilizing copper was an optimal solution. Copper traces are much finer than silver traces since copper has considerably less resistance.
  • Electromagnetic Shielding (ESD) – The JN White team incorporated electromagnetic shielding into the new membrane switch design. This decision allowed the redesigned membrane switch to withstand both heat and chemical environmental challenges.
  • Flat Flex Polyimide – The team chose a flat flex polyimide material for the interface to solder the LED’s to it and address the visibility challenges.

The Result

The JN White® team applied their extensive experience in medical membrane switches and electromechanical manufacturing to develop a custom membrane keypad that met all the customer’s requirements. Featuring the necessary enhanced visibility for low-light environments, the new membrane switch is extremely reliable and durable in sterile hospital environments. The manufacturer was excited to see that the component prototypes worked right out of the box in testing, eliminating a great deal of wasted time prior to full-scale production.

"Very pleased with your team's response to our need during the COVID-19 crisis."
Lisa L., Medical Device
"JN White has been exceptional in working with our company in order to develop the look and feel of our new MRI patient worn transmitter. We had originally worked with a prior manufacturer for an earlier version of this product with much less desirable results. JN White delivered a clean professional product at a very reasonable price on time!"
Gary P., Medical
"We had very little information to work with and Jessica James made it nearly effortless on our end to get us exactly what we needed in a timely manner."
Lexi W., Industrial Equipment
"Getting any after-market graphic overlays done always has a certain risk factor in getting it all right. You guys were helpful, patient, & knowledgeable to achieve the best end result. Even pointing out some things that might be [an] oversight or [areas for] improvements. The outcome was perfect."
John S., Technology
"The print task was between the USA and Australia and everything went so smooth. I submitted a drawing, got a return email for me to confirm what I wanted. Even though this was over the Christmas period the print was waiting for me when I got back to work after the holidays. Great job and thanks."
Matt C., Military
"All of the folks there at JN White that I have talked to and dealt with have been very nice and professional."
Vern L., Industrial
"Customer service is wonderful. Receive confirmations and responses in a timely manner. Product has great quality."
Sara H., Medical
"It has been a pleasure working with JN White. We switched suppliers for some of our products to your company and you have given us higher quality. Excellent work!"
Roger W., Education
"I feel confident that JN White will do my order correctly."
Marie P., Government
"I found working with Sara to be a pleasant experience. We were trying to dial in the color to get just the right look on the printed substrate...Sara sent us a sample print sheet that had several variations, up and down, from the colors we specified, which allowed me to pick exactly the color we wanted. The end result product is perfect!"
Don M., Safety
"Our department has used JN White for a number of years for our inspection labels. They always respond very quickly when we contact them to place an order and communication is great with any questions we have. Highly recommend them."
Jim R., Government
"Easy process and great people to work with."
Richard Z., Military
"I'm very satisfied with your service. Always looking forward to bring the best!"
Ramses Z., Medical Devices
"JN White is very responsive to their customers. Product is delivered as expected...and they provide quality products. They have a clear understanding of the obstacles facing US based customers regarding the entire supply chain."
Bob M., Point of Sale
"We always deal with Steve Matacz. He is the best at making sure all details are perfect. Timely communication with any questions we have."
Paul A., Recreational
"Customer response time is one of the best; always prompt and helpful. On-time performance the last 12 months is 100%."
RoseMarie C., Utilities
"Customer service, quality and lead time are great! No complaints."
Sara H., Medical Devices

JN White is an ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR-certified manufacturer of membrane switches, graphic overlays, and custom labels. All of our products are Made In The U.S.A. We specialize in the design and manufacture of complex graphic overlays, complex membrane switch keyboards, assembly and membrane switch testing. Our supporting products and services include: rapid prototyping; electronic shielding (ESD); backlighting (including addressable LEDs); design & development; vendor managed inventory (VMI); and medical device, UDI and UL label constructions. JN White works with global brands in the aerospace, medical device, medical instruments, industrial electronics, consumer appliance and defense (or military/DoD) industries. Made in America. Made in the U.S.