Printed circuit board assembly for electrostatic discharge protection

A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, comprising:

• a top layer comprising at least one signal track and configured to support at least a portion of a plurality of electronic components mounted thereon;
• a middle layer disposed beneath the top layer, wherein the middle layer comprises at least one ground track configured to receive electrostatic discharge currents from adjacent layers;
• a bottom layer disposed beneath the middle layer, wherein the bottom layer comprises at least one power track and configured to support another portion of the plurality of electronic components;
• a plurality of metal discharge elements disposed on at least one of the top layer or the bottom layer,
• wherein each of the metal discharge elements is electrically connected to the at least one ground track of the middle layer, and
• wherein each of the metal discharge elements is configured to capture and divert ESD away from the plurality of electronic components by providing an alternative conductive path to the at least one ground track of the middle layer.