new additions (OT) Autoclaves

From: McFadden, Mike <mmcfadden_at_cmh.edu>
Date: Wed Nov 10 14:46:09 1999

A pressure cooker is basically an autoclave. When canning vegetables the
heat and pressure destroy any pathogens.

Autoclaving is used to sterilize instruments and medical devices. The
instruments are usually enclosed in a porous package that allows the
moisture into the package and keeps any contaminants out. The high pressure
with moisture is designed to activate and destroy any bacterial spores that
may be in the package. There is usually a heat activated strip in the tape
on the package that changes from invisible to brown and says "sterile". Any
device that could be damaged by heat such as a plastic catheter can be "cold
sterilized" by ethylene oxide gas. This is not as effective as the
heat/moisture method. Also used on medical waste to reduce the chances of
spread of disease.

Many medical devices are now sterilized by ionizing radiation, gamma
particles, a radiation source is exposed next to cases of the products and
hopefully "zaps" the DNA in any contaminants.

Another use of autoclaves is to laminate layers of carbon fiber cloth to
create composite aircraft and machine parts. The heat and pressure cause
the bonding agents, such as epoxy, to bind the layers together. I think the
B2 and F117 skins are created by this process.

More than anyone wants to know about autoclaves.
Mike McFadden


  
Received on Wed Nov 10 1999 - 14:46:09 GMT