Inductors are a fundamental component in electronic circuits, but not all inductors perform equally across different frequency ranges. At high frequencies, standard power inductors suffer from increased losses, reduced efficiency, and undesirable parasitic effects. RF inductors, specifically designed for radio frequency and microwave applications, address these challenges by minimizing resistive losses, optimizing self-resonant frequency, and maintaining signal integrity.

Here, we examine the distinguishing characteristics of RF inductors, highlighting how they differ from other inductor types and why they are essential in high-frequency applications.

From high-power radar to advanced medical imaging, many cutting-edge technologies rely on precisely controlled high-energy pulses. However, generating a pulse that delivers consistent power without distortion isn’t as simple as discharging a capacitor. These systems rely on Pulse Forming Networks (PFNs) to shape and control high-energy pulses. 

From the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California to the High Magnetic Field Facility in Dresden, high-energy capacitor banks are at the heart of high-power pulsed energy experiments worldwide. These systems provide a massive amount of fast-discharge energy for experiments that push the boundaries of science and technology. 

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful diagnostic tool for generating detailed images of the body using advanced physics and engineering. Here, we’ll cover the interplay between the two fields and the RF innovations driving MRI advancements. 

In the first installment of our healthcare technology series, we discussed areas where health outcomes are improving as technology shifts closer to patients. Here, we’ll scratch the surface on three trends that are improving medical imaging technologies, and by extension, diagnostics, patient outcomes and access to care. We’ll usemagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which leverages radio frequency (RF) signals, to contextualize these trends. 

Digital and connected healthcare methods are getting better and better at harnessing the full potential of today’s advanced medical technologies and popular consumer devices. This combination is evolving standard healthcare delivery for the digital age. While these technologies still pose privacy, security and access challenges, they’ve made significant strides. The vision of a less hospital-centric, and more patient-centric, system is starting to crystallize.

With the rising prevalence of cardiovascular, orthopedic, and other chronic conditions, and an increase in the number of patients needing care, the demand for implantable medical devices continues to increase. 

MRI systems are so robust and require so much infrastructure that they need their own dedicated room—until recently.

A portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, or point of care (POC) MRI machine, is a compact, traveling device that’s designed for patient imaging outside of the traditional MRI suite (e.g., emergency rooms, ambulances, rural clinics, field hospitals, etc.)

A medical device is considered “implantable” if it’s partly or totally introduced into the human body via surgery or another medical intervention, and it’s intended to stay there for a long period of time. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), approximately 10 percent of Americans will receive an implantable device during their lifetimes. To serve consistent, often life-sustaining functions, implantables require high-reliability components that guarantee long-term performance.

A deep brain stimulator (DBS), also known as a neuro-stimulator, is a medical device that uses electrical stimulation to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The DBS is typically implanted under the skin near the collarbone or in the abdomen, and connected to a thin wire, or lead, that runs under the skin to the targeted area of the brain as shown in Figure 1.