Murata Goes Flexible with Its Stretchable Printed Circuit Platform

Murata is branching out from its usual ceramic components with the launch of flexible, stretchable electronics — a Stretchable Printed Circuit (SPC) platform it says is ideally positioned for wearable and medical devices.

"In recent years, in the medical field, to make more accurate diagnoses, the importance of sophisticated tests performed in hospitals and biometric information collected continuously in daily life has increased," the company explains by way of background. "Daily vital sign monitoring is important to prevent lifestyle-related diseases, therefore wearable medical devices are now ubiquitous. However, existing devices are often too stiff for many applications, creating issues like patient discomfort, poor surface contact, or unstable data acquisition."

That's where Murata's SPC platform comes in. Based on a flexible skin-friendly substrate, SPC boards can curve to confirm to various surfaces and be stretched to a surprising degree — ideal, the company says, for wearable electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG), and electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors for monitor the brain, muscles, and heart respectively.

The multi-layer board design uses, Murata says, a "unique shield layer" that blocks electromagnetic noise and ensures strong signals, "telescopic component mounting" and "hybrid bonding technology," and a high resistance to moisture — all of which deliver a more reliable and robust design, the company claims. Each SPC sheet can house various components including filters, amplifiers, and sensors, with Murata offering custom design, prototyping, and verification services, plus the ability to scale to mass production.

More information on the Murata SPC is available on the company's website, along with a video showing just how stretchy the SPC platform is; samples are available upon application, the company has confirmed.