The Importance of Ultrasonic Cleaning in Labortory Applications
The significance of instrument Cleaning before sterilization has assumed critical proportions with the alarming increase in the incidence of cross- infections in clinics and hospitals. The traditional method of cleaning hospital, laboratory and clinical instruments has been the hand scrubbing method which has been found to be potentially dangerous for the persons involved in cleaning as well as ineffective. Hence, the world over, there has been a definite shift towards more precise and safe, automatic cleaning systems where in Ultrasonic Cleaning has assumed a leading position.
Dangers of Improper Cleaning
Instrument cleaning involves dissolving and removing proteinaceous matter such as blood, tissue, mucous or other fluids that are commonly found on critical and semicritical instruments. If the instruments have not been cleaned to the precise level necessary or hand scrubbed, it may lead to gradual protein buildup. This can cause the delicate and expensive instruments to become clogged and mechanically impaired and therefore reduce their life drastically.
Contaminated organic debris including blood, mucous and soil left on instruments may protect spores at sterilization temperatures. Traces of blood may provide some protection for heat sensitive pathogens. International concern has grown over the need to minimize debris that may horbour heat-sensitive micro-organisms and help protect against lower – than – optimal sterilization temperatures. Blood clots getting into the delicate hinges of many surgery instruments may hamper the smooth movement of these instruments. The jammed delicate instruments in surgeries including ophthalmic, neuro, vascular surgery etc. may break if stress applicable to them exceeds the prescribed limit. Also, the blood & the mucous seeping into the shaft of the instruments (particularly in Laproscopic / Cosmetic instruments) may cause the malfunctioning of the instruments and reduce the life.
For these reason, thorough instrument cleaning using Ultrasonic Cleaners is considered critical to compensate for any undetected problems with sterilization as well as to help protect personnel in charge of packing the instruments. Ultrasonic eliminates any chance of production puncture wounds.
Principle Of Ultrasonic Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaning involves the bombardment of high pressure vaccum bubbles on the instruments to be cleaned. Millions of these bubbles are generated in a liquid media using high frequency power supplied to ensure thorough cleaning from the minutes nooks and corners of the instrument. Frequency of the Ultrasonic waves also plays a crucial role in the effectiveness af the cleaning action. High frequencies of more than 40 Khz, are recommended for reaching the smallest crevices. Internationally and more precisely in the western countries, Ultrasonic cleaning prior to sterilization has become mandatory for an efficient clean and hospital.
The above reasons clearly imply that the Fast – Clean range of cleaners are technologically much advanced compared to the system generally. Also at the same time, they have been competitive priced.
The various problems faced other manufactures like due to input power conditions will be minimised in Fast – clean. Hence downtimes, if any, will be substantially reduced. Due to the modularity of the power sources servicing is much easier and faster. High efficiency of these power sources will mean that the cleaning action will be much faster and uniform. This will result into time and energy saving for the user. Finally the products come from LIFE-CARE, a leader in Power Electronics products since the last 16 years. We have been manufacturing industrial grade special power supplies; DC – DC converters and S.M.P.S. based battery chargers. We have the technical expertise and have products running under very demanding conditions successfully.
Technological Advantages Of Life-Care Equipments
“Fast – Clean” Range
Of Ultrasonic Cleaners Over Other Systems
| Characteristic | Conventional Systems | Fast – Clean |
| Source | Linear Source | High Frequency S.M.P.S. |
| Weight | Very bulky. | 50% less compared to conventional systems. |
| Efficiency | @ 60% | @ 90% meaning energy savings and faster cleaning action. |
| Effect of fluctations in input supply conditions | Unpredictable performance. | Drive source largely unaffected meanings very stable performance. |
| Frequency Matching | Very difficult hence non- optimum performance. | Done easily hence optimum performance. |
| Heat Generation | High heat generation implies low reliability. | Low heat generation implies much higher reliability. |
| Modularity | Difficult. | Available. |
| Power Addition | Difficult. | Simple. |
| Timer | Mechanical Timer without Display. | Digital Timer, presettable upto 99.9 minutes with on line Digital Display. |
| Input Voltage Range | ——– | 170VAC to 270VAC |
| Price | ——– | Competitive |
