Steam sterilization

Market overview autoclaves Basics Waste sterilization in destruction bags

Autoclave market segmentation

laboratory

industrial production

medical

Industrial autoclaves

Medical autoclaves

Laboratory autoclaves

Sizes up to 300 liters Have flexible programs Stronger heating capacities and cooling options for liquid sterilization.

Air is heavier than steam.

Precondition for an accurate sterilization

Is a perfect and total air release from the sterilization chamber. The air needs to be totally replaced by steam to create a 100% steam atmosphere. Only this ensures an efficient steam sterilization and a homogenous temperature distribution. Remaining air in the chamber results even at sterilization temperature in a few thousand fold less sterilization efficiency.

Conventional autoclaves - cold status

Valve

Air

Water reservoir with heating element for steam generation. Air must be replaced by steam. Air release valve.

Water Heating element

Air release conventional laboratory autoclaves

valve open

air

Air removal by suppression against the natural gravitation of the air. Not an optimal process, as air is heavier than steam. Steam rises up and air tries to gravitate down.
heating of water heating element

steam

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Inefficient air release

valve closed

steam sterilizing effect if temperature is reached

air

no sterilizing effect

heating element

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Efficient air release

Steam created by steam generator Steam inlet from top. Air release with the natural gravitation of the air.

SteamSteamgenerator

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Sterilization phase
100% steam atmosphere. Temperature equals exactly the pressure depending boiling point. The temperature depends only on the steam pressure.

SteamSteamgenerator

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Sterilization of waste in Bags

Important factors - Temperature. - Time. - Most important: Sterilization agent (water / steam).

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Steam contains 3600 times more heat energy than dry air at the same temperature.

Steam penetration: Waste destruction bags

Steam

Air

Air is heavier than steam. Air is not vented out of the destruction bag.

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Waste sterilization in destruction bags

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Bio-indicators
For steam sterilization based Bacillus Stearothermophilus spores.

Test strips only for hollow items.

Ampoules only for liquids.

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Waste sterilization in destruction bags

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Waste without pre-vacuum temperature mapping

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Waste without pre-vacuum bio-indicator results

Bioindicator No. Location of Bio-indicators Chamber Waste bag upper part Waste bag middle Waste bag lower part Test result

9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4

No growth Growth Growth Growth

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Solution: Air removal by pulsed- / fractionated pre-vacuum

Air will be diluted out of hollow goods and replaced by steam. 100% steam penetration can be reached.
sterilization

steam

Vacuum 5-10 kPa

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Waste sterilization in destruction bags

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Waste with 3x pre-vacuum temperature mapping

(and post vacuum to reduce bad smell)

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Waste with 3x pre-vacuum bio-indicator results

Bio-indicator No. Location of Bio-indicators Chamber Waste bag upper part Waste bag middle Waste bag lower part Test result

13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4

No growth No growth No growth No growth

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Air exhaust filtration during heat up and air exhaust

PTFE-Filter

steam

air

Air leaving the autoclave is filtered

valve open

valve closed

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Air exhaust filtration during sterilization phase

PT-100 temperature sensor PTFE-filter

Filter is sterilized by steam. Temperature controlled in the filter. Condense is kept in the chamber and also sterilized by extra steam injection.

valve open valve closed

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Summary

Steam generator is needed Vacuum system is recommended for BSL 2 4 Air exhaust filtration is requested for BSL 3 and 4 (recommended for BSL 2)

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Summary
Optimized laboratory autoclaves enable

Safe accurate Reproducible and validatable steam sterilization processes

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Thank you for your attention!

Rolf Dittli
General Manager Systec Switzerland