Instruments Care
Prowa Medical Instruments | Instruments Care
Procedure Recommended for Cleaning, Sterilization and Maintenance of Instruments
Surgical and Dental Instruments are designed and manufactured with utmost care. They are made for careful handling during use and sterilization. To achieve the goal of long and satisfactory service, ensure that an instrument is used to perform the function for which it is designed. During surgery and sterilization all the medical instruments must be handled correctly. They should not be piled up. The weight and entaglement can cause damage to the instrument.
Cleaning
All the instruments should be cleaned after use. Blood, tissue should not be allowed to dry on the instruments, these shall be submerged in a solution of water and neutral pH(7) detergent.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
- The instruments should be processed in ultrasonic cleaner for 5-10 minutes.
- The removable parts should be disassembled.
- All box lock instruments should not be cleaned with instruments of other metal in the same cleaning cycle.
- Change solution frequently, according to the recommendation of the manufacturer.
Manual Cleaning
If Ultrasonic cleaning is not available, observe the following steps:
- Use a stiff nylon cleaning brush.
- Do not use an abrasice brush.
- Use a cleaning pad or cleaner to clear the instruments.
- Make sure entire instrument surface is perfectly cleaned.
Lubrication
- Immediately after cleaning the instruments, these should be carefully dried.
- All the instruments with higes, locks and other moving parts such as scissors, hemostatic needle holders etc. should be lubricated.
Autoclaving
After cleaning, drying, and lubrication, the instruments are ready for autoclaving. They can be put individually or in sets.
- For individual instruments, make sure that you use a wide enough pouch for instruments with ratchet lock so the instruments can be sterilized in unlocked position.
- In case of sets, place the instruments in a stainless steel instruments tray. Place heavy instruments at the bottom. The autoclaving chamber should not be overloaded.
Cold Sterilization
- Always use the proper sterilization/cleaning technique to render the instruments in the required condition for use.
- Sterilization of instruments does not replace cleaning. Instruments must be cleaned first and then sterilized.