Written by Rachel Kohn
Surgical instruments with complex design, shape or construction may trap contaminants that are not removed by conventional thermal disinfection procedures, thereby posing a health risk to medical personnel and patients alike. Medical instrument steam jet cleaners such as Elmasteam, available from Tovatech, have proven effective in Central Sterile Supply Departments (CSSD) for cleaning otherwise inaccessible areas prior to thermal disinfection and sterilization.
Fast, Effective, Selective Steam Cleaning
Using tap or distilled water to deliver dry or wet steam jets at pressures to 8 bar (116 psi) Elmasteam 3000 and Elmasteam 5000 medical steam cleaners allow personnel to pre-clean quickly, effectively and precisely otherwise inaccessible areas such as the interior of surgical reamers or implant tools before they are placed into the thermal disinfector. They deliver uninterrupted steam feeds at approximately 160˚C (320˚F) with minimum pressure loss during continuous operation such as in a hospital’s CCSD. Table mounted, they are available in capacities of 3 and 5 liters (~3 and 5 quarts).
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Written by Rachel Kohn
To protect your equipment investment and to help ensure compliance with FDA, CFR and other standards the procedures for using an analytical balance should be published in the company’s operations manual.
Before Anything
Analytical balance manufacturers such as Kern provide detailed operating instructions for each model offered, and these should be included in your company documentation. This discussion covers general procedures for operating analytical balances.
New balances must be calibrated before they are put into operation, and should be periodically recalibrated based on how they are used. Recalibration procedures can be established in discussions with equipment suppliers such as Tovatech. They are performed either by qualified internal personnel or by outside calibration services.
To help ensure accuracy balances must be level, on a solid weighing table and in a draft-free location away from sources of electromagnetic radiation. If the balance is moved, it may require recalibration so select a “permanent” location if possible. Higher-end analytical balances such as the Kern ABJ, AEJ and ABT models are automatically internally calibrated but this should not be used as an excuse to unnecessarily move them about.
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Written by Rachel Kohn
Here’s a note from a Tovatech customer:
In my shop selecting the correct ultrasonic frequency to employ when operating the ultrasonic cleaner depends on the items being cleaned and what is being removed. Coarse cleaning to remove heavy contaminants is generally best performed at lower frequencies such as 37 kHz because it delivers stronger cavitation action. Fine cleaning requirements use higher frequencies such as 80 kHz to create smaller, relatively gentle cavitation bubbles that more easily penetrate blind holes, threads, tight crevices and tubes.
It’s not unusual for us to get jobs that call for both coarse and fine cleaning on the same part. Sure, there are dual-frequency cleaners out there but for the most part they require manually switching frequencies from one to the other. And there are other variables we need to take into account depending on the objects being cleaned, all of which require close attention on the part of our team.
Then I heard about the Elmasonic P line of ultrasonic cleaners that can be programmed to automatically switch between 37 and 80 kHz at 30-second intervals. What a time saver in terms of monitoring and manually switching the frequencies! We’re able to take on more jobs with complex parts having large surfaces to be cleaned at 37 kHz and small holes, crevices and other tight spots at 80 kHz.
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Written by Bob Sandor
Scientific lab refrigerators and lab freezers are substantial investments necessary to insure compliance with storage regulations for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, enzymes, blood, plasma, cultures and similar products. If these units malfunction due to improper operation and maintenance, your organization is not only subject to being cited for non-compliance by the FDA and/or other regulatory authorities but also the financial loss of the contents in the lab refrigerator or lab freezer.
While lab refrigerator and lab freezer manufacturers such as Norlake Scientific provide detailed instructions on the proper setup and use of these units, operating procedures should be detailed in your company’s operations manual to govern their use and maintenance during their service life. As one example, floor plan reconfigurations in your lab or manufacturing facility may change, resulting in the lab refrigerator or lab freezer being moved. Wherever they are relocated, care must be taken to insure the move is done properly.
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