Is ethylene oxide used to sterilize medical equipment?

Is ethylene oxide used to sterilize medical equipment?

Ethylene oxide sterilization is an important sterilization method that manufacturers widely use to keep medical devices safe.

How long has ethylene oxide been used to sterilize medical?

40 years
Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilizers have been used by hospitals for over 40 years to sterilize surgical equipment and supplies that are heat sensitive or that cannot tolerate excessive moisture.

What is EtO sterilization used for?

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) sterilization is mainly used to sterilize medical and pharmaceutical products that cannot support conventional high temperature steam sterilization – such as devices that incorporate electronic components, plastic packaging or plastic containers.

How does EtO machine work?

The EtO enters the chamber via evaporation with a certain amount of steam to keep the humidity level up as well as to make sure the EtO is reaching all parts of the load. When the required concentration in the chamber and load is achieved the actual sterilization stage starts.

How do you sterilize medical equipment?

Medical devices are sterilized in a variety of ways including using moist heat (steam), dry heat, radiation, ethylene oxide gas, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and other sterilization methods (for example, chlorine dioxide gas, vaporized peracetic acid, and nitrogen dioxide).

What are five types of sterilization used in clinical settings?

Steam under pressure, dry heat, ethylene oxide (ETO) gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and liquid chemicals are the principal sterilizing agents used in health care facilities.

What is ETO sterilization?

EtO Sterilization is a low-temperature process (typically between 37 and 63°C) that uses Ethylene Oxide gas to reduce the level of infectious agents. EtO is used in gas form and is usually mixed with other substances, such as CO2 or steam.

What medical equipment uses ethylene oxide?

Currently, ethylene oxide gas is used to sterilize 50% of all medical supplies that require that high level of disinfection — everything from plastic surgical gowns to syringes, catheters, bandages, gauze, and pacemakers.