Why Medical Manufacturers Are Using Ultrasonic Cleaners

New technologies have made medical devices and equipment harder to clean, that’s why medical manufacturers must explore better ways to clean and sterilize them. 

Certain cleaning methods may compromise the functionality of medical devices, and even damage them. High-pressure cleaning and autoclave sterilizing can’t be used for devices with electronics or other temperature-sensitive components. Manual scrubbing may remove heavy contamination but may also scratch fragile optical parts and surfaces with delicate coatings.

Medical manufacturers need effective but gentle and low-temperature cleaning methods that can sterilize as well. And this is where medical ultrasonic cleaners become the better alternative to traditional cleaning methods.

They operate at room temperature and can easily clean medical devices with complex shapes or hard-to-reach areas.

Ultrasonic cleaners work by generating microscopic cavitation bubbles in the cleaning solution. The bubbles form and burst in time with the ultrasonic frequency being applied. When they burst, they create tiny, intense jets of liquid that impact the surfaces of the parts to be cleaned and dislodge contaminants.

Since the cavitation bubbles are present wherever the cleaning solution can penetrate, medical ultrasonic cleaners can clean devices with complex shapes, openings, dead-end holes, rough areas, and interior spaces that are normally hard to clean with manual scrubbing. Devices with light contamination can be cleaned as little as ten minutes.

The choice of frequency is a key element for achieving optimal cleaning performance. Low frequency ultrasonic cleaners produce comparatively large cavitation bubbles that deliver an intense cleaning action. Higher frequencies, on the other hand, produce smaller bubbles and cleaning action is gentler. The cleaning intensity of ultrasonic cleaners can be adjusted from robust cleaning for certain devices, such as implants, to gentle cleaning action for delicate instruments. When a disinfectant is added to the cleaning solution, it renders the clean parts sterile.

To achieve a successful ultrasonic cleaning, an experienced ultrasonic cleaner manufacturer can advise customers on the right frequency for their cleaning application while also addressing cleaning tank size and system power. When the medical ultrasonic cleaner is matched correctly to the cleaning application, the cleaning performance is excellent.

Read Kaijo’s complete article, “Why Medical Manufacturers are Using Ultrasonic Cleaners”, for further information. If you have questions or would like to set up a free consultation to discuss your ultrasonic cleaning needs, contact Kaijo by email at info@kaijo-shibuya.com or by calling 408-675-5575.