How Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Used to Provide Effective Infection Control

Invasive surgical techniques are being used more frequently, and the tools and instruments used in these procedures can't be easily cleaned or sterilized with high temperatures. Many of these tools and instruments are hard to clean and many are temperature sensitive. They also have complex shapes and features that can harbor contamination and pathogens.

Manual ultrasonic cleaners are used to clean these kinds of tools and instruments. Ultrasonic cleaning performance is excellent but does not, by itself, guarantee that an instrument or tool is sterile. However when the appropriate amount of disinfectant is added to the cleaning solution, the action of the ultrasonic cleaning forces the liquid into crevices and holes where it can kill microbes on contact. The sound waves clean the surfaces of tools and instruments and the dislodged matter is removed, leaving the disinfected parts. Together with a disinfecting cleaning solution, an ultrasonic cleaner is a better alternative to steam sterilization.

Ultrasonic cleaners work by using an ultrasonic transducer to convert a high-frequency electrical signal to ultrasonic sound waves in the cleaning solution. The transducer (mounted in the tank) vibrates in tune with the electrical signal to create sound waves throughout the cleaning bath. Microscopic cavitation bubbles are created in the low-pressure troughs of the ultrasonic waves and collapse in the high-pressure peaks.

As each of the cavitation bubbles collapses, it creates a powerful suction effect that dislodges microbes and contaminates particles from the parts' surfaces to be cleaned. Once dislodged, the microbes are fully in contact with the cleaning solution's disinfectant and are killed. You can find details of the type of disinfectant that works best for ultrasonic cleaning by referring to the website "Infection Control Today".

Here are the key factors to consider when using medical ultrasonic cleaners to clean surgical tools and instruments:

• Size of the cleaning tank – It should be sized with the largest dimension longer than the length of the largest part. Often, a basket is used to hold the smaller components and keep them from vibrating against the tank's sides.
• Power required – The ultrasonic cleaning system should have enough power to fill the cleaning tank with the ultrasonic waves.
• Frequency – Choosing the wrong frequency can lead to damage to these surgical tools and instruments, many of which contain soft, delicate, or fragile parts and components. Low frequencies produce comparatively bigger cavitation bubbles and a robust cleaning action, which can damage fragile parts.

For more details, read the complete article, “How Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Used to Provide Effective Infection Control.” You may contact Kaijo Shibuya if you would like to set up a free consultation by calling them at 408-676-5575 or sending an email to info@kaijo-shibuya.com.