Complete HMI solution for medico

In this blog post, we will focus on a product that we have been producing for a long time in Mekoprint Seritronics facilities. The product is used in the medico industry and must be easily disinfected and cleaned. It consists of a membrane keyboard, with an integrated display and a plastic enclosure.

Membrane keyboards can be combined with a display that can display visual information that complements the tactile feedback from the buttons. This can have several benefits for medico products, such as:

• Ease of use: Membrane keyboards can make it easier to operate the buttons without having to look at the display or control panel, which can save time and reduce errors. Membrane keyboards can also provide the user with confirmation of a command when pressing the button. 
• Safety: Membrane keyboards can be designed to comply with strict IP requirements and CE marking, which are important for medical products. Membrane keyboards can also be produced with an anti-bacterial material that is useful for medical technical products. The display can show important information about the patient's condition, treatment, or alarm.
• Design: Membrane keyboards can offer great design freedom, both in colors and shapes. Membrane keyboards can also include backlight if the keys are required to be illuminated. The display can create a modern and stylish expression that fits the aesthetics of the product.

When using displays integrated into your product, it is a good idea to consider how it should be integrated in relation to the need it will solve. In the product in this blog post, the display is OCA-bonded on a membrane keyboard.

OCA is the acronym for Optically Clear Adhesive. With an OCA bonding, the display attaches tightly to the membrane keyboard and closes tightly so that air and moisture cannot penetrate. In this way, the quality of the display is ensured so that no disturbing elements, such as water, dust, or air, get in between the display and the membrane keyboard.

The buttons in the membrane keyboard provide clear feedback to the user when the button is pressed, which strengthens the user experience, as the need for a clear click when pressing is important.
Tactile feedback in buttons in medical products can increase user experience and safety for both patients and staff. At the same time, it can make it easier to operate the buttons, which will not only save time and reduce errors, but also give the user confirmation that a command has been done.

The ease of use and safety of tactile buttons in combination with a display are important aspects of medical products because they can affect the efficiency and accuracy of tasks. Some of the benefits are:

• Tactile buttons give the user physical feedback when they press them, which can help avoid accidental taps.
• Tactile buttons give the user confirmation that a button has been activated, which increases the user’s confidence and satisfaction with the product.
• The display can show information that complements the tactile feedback, such as text, icons, graphs, or images. This can make it easier for the user to understand and interact with the product.
• The display can adapt to the user's needs and preferences, such as changing colors, font sizes, contrast, or language. This can improve the user's comfort and accessibility.
• The combination of tactile buttons and display can create a user experience that utilizes multiple senses, such as touch, sight, and sound. This can improve the user's attention, memory, and learning.

Membrane keyboards with tactile buttons and display are thus an efficient and safe way to design medical products because they can offer the user an intuitive and satisfying interaction. Membrane keyboards in combination with a display are thus an efficient and safe way to design medical products because they can offer the user an intuitive and satisfying interaction.

When a product is used in medico contexts, it is an advantage to use an anti-bacterial foil. An antibacterial surface of the membrane keyboard is a surface that can kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria that it encounters. An antibacterial surface can have several benefits for medical products, such as:

• Preventing infections: An antibacterial surface can reduce the risk of bacteria being transferred from the membrane keyboard to patients or staff, which can cause infections or illnesses.
• Easy to clean: An antibacterial surface can make it easier to clean and disinfect the membrane keyboard, as it can eliminate or reduce the need for chemical cleaners.
• Durability: An antibacterial surface can extend the life of the membrane keyboard as it can protect it from corrosion, wear or discoloration that can be caused by bacteria.

A finished product with display, enclosure, and keyboard, where several elements are put together, can easily be included in a serial production.
Below is a video, of the assembly of the product, where it is attached to the case and subsequently glued tightly with silicone.