Modern medicine involves many strict standards of sanitation and safety, and this goes beyond washing medical instruments to keep them clean. Sanitation is the act of using heat to kill all pathogens found on the surface of metal implements, and this includes using automated machines known as autoclaves to get the job done. No needle or scalpel is safe to re-use until an autoclave has been used, and businesses will be sure to find an autoclave for sale before they begin operations. A hospital, a tattoo parlor, or a veterinarian office may make use of them, such as a Statim 2000 autoclave, and autoclave repair services may be called upon as well. What is a Statim 2000 autoclave capable of, and when is it time to repair one or order a replacement?
The Act of Sterilization
As explained above, a piece of medical equipment may be washed free of blood and other debris, but there will still be harmful pathogens on its surface, such as bacteria, viruses, and microscopic parasites. In centuries past, before germ theory, many people died as a result of infections during surgery, but that changed with the discovery of germ theory and the innovation of sterilization. Even before modern autoclave models such as a Statim 2000 autoclave, this concept was put to good use since the 1800s. In 19th century France, a chemist named Louis Pasteur developed what he called the sterilization technique, and he did this by boiling or heating a metal instrument to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Whenever he did this, all pathogens on the surface were killed, and he could boil water to achieve this effect as needed. A heated blade is much less likely to spread an infection than a non-sanitized cutting edge. This idea persisted, and led to modern autoclave models such as the Statim 2000 autoclave and others.
Modern autoclaves can offer more than simple boiled water. Instead, these machines, shaped somewhat like toaster ovens, will use pressurized steam to kill any and all pathogens found on the items placed inside. These autoclaves will pressurize the steam to 30 psi, and the steam may be as hot as 250-270 degrees Fahrenheit or so, to ensure a thorough job of sterilizing metal items inside. Despite this power, it is possible for an autoclave to wear out or malfunction over time, so users must be careful to regularly inspect them for any damage and wear and tear. A worn-out autoclave may fail to kill all pathogens on the items placed inside, and that may violate various health code guidelines. The CDC, for one, has recommended that autoclave users subject their autoclaves to spore tests once per week to check for any problems. If pathogens survive the test, then the autoclave needs work.
Buying and Caring for Autoclaves
Before a new hospital, animal clinic, or tattoo parlor can be open for business, it must have at least one functioning autoclave on the premises, and the staff may look for wholesale ones online. The business’ staff may look online for local suppliers who have autoclaves, along with other medical supplies such as vaccine freezers, and find a model that suits their needs. Autoclaves may vary by brand, size, and features, and some large hospitals may need bigger models of autoclaves, or even order more than one. A modest tattoo parlor, though, may need only a small one to suit its needs. And should that autoclave wear out or malfunction, the business’s operations might be halted until a repair expert may be called upon and visit the premises. Autoclave repair may then be done, but in some cases, the machine is totally worn out, and the business may look for a new one. An online search such as “autoclave repair companies nearby” may be used, or the business may look for brand-specific services such as “Statim 2000 autoclave repair services near me.” And if need be, the company can even find refurbished autoclaves on websites such as eBay, and find a model that suits their needs.