Guidelines for Using Ultrasonic Cleaners to Clean Surgical Instruments

Ultrasonic cleaners can deliver excellent cleaning and sterilizing to all types of surgical tools and instruments, which are normally difficult to clean using traditional cleaning methods.

Some instruments, such as laparoscopes used in minimally invasive surgery, may have heat-sensitive components, and can’t be sterilized in an autoclave. Some instruments have complex shapes with areas impossible to reach within manual cleaning. Using ultrasonic cleaners also reduces the risk to medical personnel of handling sharp tools.

Ultrasonic cleaners for medical instruments are deemed effective for cleaning, and as a result, a growing number of medical facilities have begun using them. Despite that, specific guidelines should be followed to ensure a safe and effective operation.

1) Although ultrasonic cleaners are highly effective in cleaning and sterilizing surgical tools, regular medical procedures should still be followed. For example, the tools should be rinsed right after use or kept moist to prevent blood, other bodily fluids, or other material from drying out, as dried contaminants are harder to clean out.

2) The manufacturer’s recommendations and the IFU should always be followed.

3) Effective cleaning depends on using the correct ultrasonic frequency. Cleaners used with only one type of instrument or application may have fixed frequency, while general-purpose cleaners can typically be operated at several frequencies, depending on what’s being cleaned.

4) Sterilization depends on using the right disinfectant and the right quantity. The IFU sometimes specify disinfectants to be used and the applicable research may be available for specific cases. Medical personnel should verify the type and concentration of the cleaning solution.

5) When operating properly, medical ultrasonic cleaners deliver stainless steel instruments that are shiny and completely clean while other parts will be visibly free of contaminants.

6) Besides the general instructions for the use of ultrasonic cleaners for surgical instruments, medical facilities should prepare specific use-based policies and procedures for cleaning different types of instruments with ultrasonic technology.

Kaijo works closely with all of the customers to ensure their ultrasonic cleaner requirements are met. You can learn more by reading the complete article, Guidelines for Using Ultrasonic Cleaners to Clean Surgical Instruments, and then by contacting Kaijo to ask questions or to set up a free consultation. You can reach Kaijo Shibuya by either calling 408-675-5575 or by emailing them at info@kaijo-shibuya.com.

Using Ultrasonic Cleaners to Provide an Effective Sterilization Process

Medical devices, instruments, and equipment designed for repeated use have to be cleaned and sterilized after each patient.

Traditional cleaning usually consists of manual scrubbing and wiping together with steam cleaning. Sterilization then takes place at high temperatures in an autoclave. However, more modern medical devices and tools usually include electronics and other temperature-sensitive components. They may also have interior crevices and complex shapes that are hard to clean. Some devices are fragile and may be damaged by manual cleaning or have delicate coatings that are easily scratched when scrubbed.

Ultrasonic cleaners for medical instruments are the better alternative to traditional cleaning methods. Read the article “Why the Sterilization Process Requires an Ultrasonic Cleaner” by Medicanix. They explain how ultrasonic cleaners clean these instruments effectively while avoiding issues with heat and handling.

But ultrasonic cleaners for medical instruments, by themselves, do not sterilize the parts to be cleaned. Adding disinfectant to the cleaning solution can result in sterile parts. The key to a successful cleaning is using the right ultrasonic cleaner for a specific cleaning application and the right amount of disinfectant for parts that are sterile and completely clean.

Ultrasonic cleaners can gently remove contamination without using heat (depending on the parts to be cleaned). They work by using microscopic cavitation bubbles in the cleaning solution to dislodge contaminants from the underlying surfaces. Ultrasonic waves in the cleaning solution generate the bubbles, which form and collapse in time with the ultrasonic frequency. When they collapse, the bubbles release tiny jets of cleaning solution that hit the parts to be cleaned and wash away the contaminants.

This process takes place wherever cleaning solution is present, even on complex shapes and inside interior crevices, inside tubes, along hinges, and in dead-end holes.

One of the great things about ultrasonic cleaners for medical applications and tools is they can clean gently at room temperature. The cleaning intensity can also be adjusted to match the fragility of the medical parts to be cleaned and temperature-sensitive electronics don’t suffer heat damage.

With ultrasonic cleaners, there’s no need for scrubbing or heating, both of which would otherwise damage fragile and heat-sensitive medical tools and devices. Kaijo’s experience building ultrasonic cleaners, along with their in-house expertise, makes them the best choice for working with medical facilities for their ultrasonic cleaner needs.

Our complete article, Using Ultrasonic Cleaners to Provide an Effective Sterilization Process, explains further. After reading the article, contact Kaijo by email at info@kaijo-shibuya.com or by calling 408-675-5575 if you have questions or would like to set up a free consultation to discuss your ultrasonic cleaner requirements.