|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – According to Celitron, the popularity of autoclaves can be seen among many industries. This all thanks to the extremely high level of sterilization that can easily be reached with the basic functions of steam sterilizers. Read on to find out more about the uses and functions of autoclaves, and why they remain the most popular choice for many businesses!
Steam sterilization: the greatest weapon of an autoclave
Autoclaves look and work a lot like pressure cookers. They work on the principle of sterilization with moist heat: by using high pressure steam, they can remove all potentially harmful organisms from the surface of the load that is put inside the chamber of the machine.
The reason this process is so effective, is that the functions of an autoclave allow it to increase the boiling point of water. Under normal atmospheric pressure, it is a well-known fact that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. However, by using a powerful vacuum system, steam sterilizers can remove the air inside their vessel and raise the pressure within, which in turn also raises the boiling point of water.
This is what makes steam sterilization the greatest weapon of an autoclave: with temperatures ranging between 121 and 134 degrees Celsius, even heat resistant microorganisms are completely destroyed. The high pressure also enables the heat to penetrate and sterilize even the smallest part of the tools inside, and the moisture of the steam completely stops the activities of bacteria and spores. Not to mention that by removing all the air inside the chamber, autoclaves achieve a vacuum that is a perfect medium to achieve effective, and fast sterilization: the complete process can be completed in approximately 20 minutes, but be mindful that this also depends on the quantity of the load inside, and the model of the autoclave used.
The functions and uses of medium and large autoclaves
Autoclaves are present in a wide variety of industries, such as microbiology, prosthetics, and even tattoo and piercing parlors. Of course, one of their most prominent use is ensuring the safe reuse of medical tools or ensuring the first steps of safe medical waste disposal, which is why many dentistries, clinics, pharmacies, medical centers, operating theaters, CSSDs, and hospitals make use of them in their day to day duties.
Thankfully, the most prominent autoclave manufacturers offer a multitude of customization options, accessories, and different model sizes with varying capacities. Large autoclaves, for example, are definitely the most appropriate choice for the biggest medical facilities that need to be able to treat great loads of medical instruments and surgical tools within one steam sterilization cycle: depending on the model chosen, their capacity can range from 110 up to 880 liters!
On the other hand medium steam sterilizers are perfect for medical facilities who have less space and don’t work with as much patients within a day, such as veterinary and dentist clinics, or pharmacies. With the right manufacturer, this loss in size does in no way affect quality, and even these smaller autoclaves can handle loads ranging from 75 to 200 liters!