Below are some of the decontamination machine types that we deal with on a regular basis. If you have a specific machine in mind but can’t find it here, please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help and provide some advice.
Washer Disinfectors
Washer disinfectors are typically used in the medical and pharmaceutical profession to either prepare reusable items (surgical instruments for example) for further sterilisation, or to disinfect other items for future use. The purpose of this type of machine is typically to remove debris and residues such as blood from the equipment prior to packaging and sterilisation.
Where steam sterilisation is the next step, it is important that the items are clean and have a debris-free surface to allow the sterilant to contact all instrument surfaces.
Porous Load Sterilisers
These machines use steam to sterilise instruments are designed to be loaded with items wrapped in a porous material. This enables the steam generated by the machine to be held in direct contact (saturated steam) with the items for a period of time.
This type of equipment provides full sterilisation rather than high-level diisinfection, a term that is sometimes attributed to the action of washers.
In order for the steam to penetrate to all surfaces of any items that have holes or internal spaces, these types of steriliser require a vacuum.
Endoscope Washer Disinfectors
These are specialised washer disinfectors (see above) that are designed to process endoscopes. The set up of these machines ensure that the lumens of the endoscope are cleaned by allowing clear access to the endoscope channels.
Laboratory Sterilisers
Like porous load sterilisers, these machines are, in effect, a type of autoclave that use steam (heat) to sterilise the contents. Often used to sterilise items such as petri dishes or samples prior to safe disposal.
Non Vacuum Benchtop Sterilisers
Benchtop sterilisers tend to be smaller sterilisation devices and are similar in action to porous load and laboratory sterilisers. These devices are often used where the volume of sterilisation equipment to be processed is smaller than a hospital for example. These are often used by veterinary centres, dentists and walk-in centres.
Non vacuum types (as the name suggests) do not use a vacuum within the machine and are used for unwrapped, solid type instruments.
Vacuum Benchtop Sterilisers
Another type of benchtop steriliser often (but not always) used by smaller outfits. These sterilisers create a vacuum and are therefore able to sterilise more complex instruments/equipment wrapped in porous material. This is because the vacuum displaces air and allows steam to reach down into holes or internal workings.
Endoscope Drying Cabinets
These machines are not disinfectors/sterilisers, but are an essential part of the endoscope decontamination process. These cabinets store endoscopes post sterilisation and allow them to dry out in a clean, sterile environment.
Human Waste Washer Disinfectors
These machines are basically used to disinfect bedpans ready for re-use on the ward or other locations. Bedpans do not require sterilisation so these machines are not classed as sterilisers. Like other washers mentioned, these machines use detergents rather than steam to provide the cleaning mechanism.
If you would like to know more about the decontamination machines that we validate, authorise and service, please Contact Us.
