ALL ABOUT STERILIZERS

All Autoclaves are sterilizers but not all sterilizers are autoclaves

Sterilizers and autoclaves are devices used to make reusable instruments sterile again between uses.

An Autoclave uses the principals of time temperature and pressure to accomplish sterilization.

To do this the devise must have a chamber that can be pressurized to at least 15 PSI.

It must also have a heater to turn water into steam and create pressure to a minimum of 250F.

Lastly there must be a time control to insure a cycle that allows for heating of steam, sterilization time, and cool down and venting time.

All autoclaves must be FDA approved for Use in any marketplace where the instruments are used on humans

Chemical Vapor Sterilizers, are no longer made new in the US. Instead of water they used a special liquid chemical solution, and used the same principals as an autoclave. The benefit was by using the solution instead of water there was no dulling or corroding of instruments that is cause in all autoclaves.

Dry Heat Sterilizers use the principals of heat and time to accomplish sterilization

By putting instruments in a confined chamber and controlling the heat to a minimum of 340F and  the time for 60-90 minutes sterilization of instruments occurs.

There is also a Rapid Dry Heat Sterilizer that by adding the principal of random air turbulence and increasing the heat level to 375F is FDA approved to do complete cycles in as little as 6 minutes.

So when you choose a devise make sure you get one that fits your needs