Dental Autoclave Pouches and Steam Sterilizers
Dental clinics have been using the steam autoclave pouches because it's the oldest and safest sterilization method to date. When looking at infection control for the medical equipment industry, one must also consider the harsh conditions this process imposes on the instruments in the self sealing pouches. Autoclaving exposes them to extreme heat, pressure and humidity until sterility has been achieved.
Typically, the steam inside the sterilizer reaches between 250 and 300°F. At the same time, the pressure chamber should read around 15 P.S.I. Also, the sterilization time is contingent on the temperature and size of load being autoclaved in the machine.
Autoclave pouches are usually set inside configurable cycles that allow the user to customize the sterilization of the different types of contents like surgical instruments, liquids in vented containers, glassware, and more.
Using gravity-displacement, or pre-vacuum cycles tend to be the quickest type of steam sterilization used. Did you know flash sterilization can als be accomplished using either type of method?
Usually this type of sterilization is reserved only for use in surgical operating rooms for urgently needed medical instruments. The process is generally a high-speed steam sterilization of surgical equipments or devices for 3 to 10 minutes in 132°C saturated steam cycle in the autoclave.
The main reason pouches are used in the steam sterilization autoclave process, is because microorganisms and infections diseases are killed by heat. Adding moisture to this cycle only helps to accelerate the process.
However, what is not known by many clinics is that steam by itself will not create a sterile environment. Also, pressure which is higher than atmospheric is required to boost the temperature of steam to kill microbial life and diseases.
In order for steam to work most effectively, it's important to create exposure for a specified time at the required temperature. It is imperative that the steam and heat must penetrate every fiber and reach every surface inside the autoclave pouches being sterilized.
You see, when steam enters the sterilization chamber and pressure is added to the mix:
• It turns to water when coming into contact with cold items.
• This condensation releases the heat, while heating and wetting the medical items in the autoclave pouches. This will trigger the internal and external indicators with signify a sterile environment has been met.
When this occurs, all microorganisms will be destroyed when they become exposed to saturated steam at 250° F for any longer than 15 minutes. As the sterilizer's temperature is increased, then the amount of time needed may be decreased.
However, it's important to note that a minimum temperature-time relationship must be respected in the sterilization cycle. By the end of the load, the re-evaporation of water must happen to make sure the contents of the load keep their sterility.
Good quality steam autoclave pouches are used mostly for dental instruments in clinics everywhere. Please note this sterilization method is not very well suited for equipment and materials which are heat sensitive. In some cases, certain surgical tools are not constructed to withstand prolonged heat and moisture exposure found in the steam sterilization cycle.
Typically, the steam inside the sterilizer reaches between 250 and 300°F. At the same time, the pressure chamber should read around 15 P.S.I. Also, the sterilization time is contingent on the temperature and size of load being autoclaved in the machine.
Autoclave pouches are usually set inside configurable cycles that allow the user to customize the sterilization of the different types of contents like surgical instruments, liquids in vented containers, glassware, and more.
Using gravity-displacement, or pre-vacuum cycles tend to be the quickest type of steam sterilization used. Did you know flash sterilization can als be accomplished using either type of method?
Usually this type of sterilization is reserved only for use in surgical operating rooms for urgently needed medical instruments. The process is generally a high-speed steam sterilization of surgical equipments or devices for 3 to 10 minutes in 132°C saturated steam cycle in the autoclave.
The main reason pouches are used in the steam sterilization autoclave process, is because microorganisms and infections diseases are killed by heat. Adding moisture to this cycle only helps to accelerate the process.
However, what is not known by many clinics is that steam by itself will not create a sterile environment. Also, pressure which is higher than atmospheric is required to boost the temperature of steam to kill microbial life and diseases.
In order for steam to work most effectively, it's important to create exposure for a specified time at the required temperature. It is imperative that the steam and heat must penetrate every fiber and reach every surface inside the autoclave pouches being sterilized.
You see, when steam enters the sterilization chamber and pressure is added to the mix:
• It turns to water when coming into contact with cold items.
• This condensation releases the heat, while heating and wetting the medical items in the autoclave pouches. This will trigger the internal and external indicators with signify a sterile environment has been met.
When this occurs, all microorganisms will be destroyed when they become exposed to saturated steam at 250° F for any longer than 15 minutes. As the sterilizer's temperature is increased, then the amount of time needed may be decreased.
However, it's important to note that a minimum temperature-time relationship must be respected in the sterilization cycle. By the end of the load, the re-evaporation of water must happen to make sure the contents of the load keep their sterility.
Good quality steam autoclave pouches are used mostly for dental instruments in clinics everywhere. Please note this sterilization method is not very well suited for equipment and materials which are heat sensitive. In some cases, certain surgical tools are not constructed to withstand prolonged heat and moisture exposure found in the steam sterilization cycle.