10 Finalists Chosen for Supplier Innovation Challenge (TE Connectivity)

Name of Supplier
TE Connectivity

Describe an innovation your company developed between 2012 and the present and its potential application in medical devices. 
The MP 456P Connector System is a high density, interposer based connector designed for use in high end cart based ultrasound systems. The connector system enables high definition ultrasound images for medical diagnostic applications. 

How does the innovation work? Please describe the technology.
The MP 456 connector system consists of plug and receptacle. The plug side connects to a cable and transducer. The receptacle side resides on the ultrasound system and has an integrated safety latching feature which protects the user from exposure to electrical contacts and locks the plug in place during use. The mated connector conducts electrical signals between the ultrasound transducer and ultrasound system.

Describe how your innovation adds value for medical device OEMs. Can it make work processes more efficient, reduce costs, improve quality, or improve patient outcomes?
The MP 456 Connector System provides industry leading contact density and high mate-de-mate reliability (20K cycles) enabling a cost effective solution for high resolution imaging for better patient outcomes.

What distinguishes your product/service from those of competitors and what makes it unique in the market?
The MP 456 has a higher contact count (456 vs 408) than anything currently available in the market. The 20K mate-de-mate cycles exceeds the 10K mate-de-mate cycles of competitor product. The connector system is 1/3 of the cost of the existing connector system it was designed to replace.