Analog Devices Enables Isolated USB Connections For Medical And Industrial Equipment

When information is needed, USB-compatible medical devices make it simple and efficient for medical professionals to share vital patient files or data at any time and between locations. USB-enabled devices enable healthcare professionals to use a wide range of commercially available, cost-efficient peripherals. The demand for USB-enabled healthcare devices continues to grow as equipment aimed at patient monitoring, disease management, health and wellness, and drug delivery are now essential in maintaining the health of millions of people around the world.

Leveraging ADI’s iCoupler digital isolation technology, the ADuM4160 USB isolator offers 5‑kV rms medical-grade isolation, upstream short-circuit protection, and fully isolated 1.5-Mbps and 12-Mbps data rates (IEC 60601-1 medical safety approvals pending). The USB 2.0-compliant device provides fully isolated USB functionality at a fraction of the cost and complexity of current data isolation methods, and makes it possible for medical and industrial design engineers to cut implementation costs by up to 25 percent, reduce the size of designs by as much as 50 percent, and trim development time from months to weeks.

“ADI’s new USB isolator provides design engineers with a groundbreaking alternative to expensive and time-consuming USB isolation schemes that require complex, space intensive, transceivers to convert USB’s differential, bidirectional signals into signals that are more compatible with traditional, discrete isolators,” said Ronn Kliger, product line director, Isolation Products, Analog Devices. “The ADuM4160 contains all USB signaling and isolation in one small IC.”

Based on Analog Device’s iCoupler technology, which combines high-speed CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) and chip-scale, micro-transformer technology, the ADuM4160 can be implemented easily in low- and full-speed USB-compliant systems. It operates off the 5-V USB supply or system-supplied 3.3-V power using an internal regulator. The ADuM4160 also provides isolated control of the pull-up resistor, allowing the peripheral to control connection timing. The device’s low idle current (2 mA, max) eliminates the need for a suspend state.

“Medical designs have typically used isolated RS-232 or Ethernet connections that limit data transfer rates, do not support plug-and-play functionality, and take up excessive space,” said Patrick O’Doherty, healthcare segment director, Analog Devices. “The ADuM4160 USB isolator’s reinforced, medical-grade isolation makes it possible for engineers to design USB-enabled medical devices that help facilitate better patient care.”