Industrial Eto Sterilizer

Industrial ETO Sterilizers: A Complete Guide to How it Works, Applications, and Benefits

Sterilization is an important process in manufacturing process of several industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food processing, and biotechnology because microbial contamination can have detrimental consequences. There are many sterilization techniques to choose from: steam, radiation, dry heat, etc., but ETO (Ethylene Oxide) Sterilization is one of the most effective and flexible sterilization methods, especially for heat-sensitive and moisture-sensitive materials. For safely performing this sterilization technique, an ETO sterilizer is used.

What is an ETO Sterilizer?

An ETO Sterilizer is a designed chamber that is used to sterilize medical devices, surgical instruments, pharmaceutical products, plastic parts and similar materials that require delicate handling, using ethylene oxide gas. Ethylene oxide is a potent alkylating agent that kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores by binding to their DNA and RNA.

The operation of an ETO sterilizer is different from steam or heat sterilization methods, since ETO sterilization is performed at low temperatures. Because of this, ETO is the sterilization method of choice for items that may be damaged by heat or moisture.

How Does an Industrial ETO Sterilizer Work?

The ETO sterilization steps provide important stages utilized to ensure sterilization. The following is a step-by-step overview.

• Preconditioning: In this first stage, the products designated for sterilization will be held in a warm, humid environment to increase its temperature and moisture content. Preconditioning increases the ei ciency of ethylene oxide gas dii usion. 
• Vacuum and Gas Injection: The sterilizer chamber is sealed and evacuated of air. ETO gas, either pure or mixed with other inert gas (e.g., COa ), is injected into the chamber at an established concentration. 
• Exposure: The products are exposed to ETO gas for a specified amount of time. This exposure time permits the gas to penetrate through the packaging materials and complex geometries of the devices, and ultimately come in contact with all surfaces of the products being sterilized. 
• Aeration: After exposure, the chamber is flushed with fresh air and vacuumed to remove residual ETO gas. The aeration step may take place in a separate chamber, or the sterilizer can be used for this step, to ensure that any residual ETO is safely off-gassed. 

Uses of Industrial ETO Sterilizers

Industrial ETO sterilizers are used in a wide range of applications, in many different industries because of their unique flexibility:

• Medical Devices: Catheters, stents, surgical instruments, dialysis tubes, wound care products. 
• Pharmaceutical Industry: For sterilization of blister packs, syringes, surgical kits/drug delivery systems.
• Healthcare Facilities: Sterilization of surgical gloves, surgical gowns, surgical masks, surgical drapes, diagnostic equipment.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care: Disinfecting cotton swabs, beauty applicators, containers. 
• Veterinary Medicine: Sterilizing tools and equipment used to care for animals. 
• Food Sector: Sterilizing food packaging materials and types of dried foods. 

Types of Industrial ETO Sterilizers 

There are a number of different ETO sterilizers available, each differing by size, configuration, and application but the most common types are: 

• Fully Automatic ETO Sterilizer: Fully automatic ETO sterilizers are controlled by PLC (Programmable Logic Control) systems that can automate each step of the sterilization cycle, reducing operator involvement, and improving consistency throughout the process. 
• Horizontal Rectangular Sterilizer: These are large ETO chambers that are designed as bulk sterilizers. They are found in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing units. 
• Tabletop ETO Sterilizer: These are smaller sterilizers used in clinics, labs, and hospitals for quick and easy sterilization of a small number of items per cycle. 
• Preconditioning and Aeration Chambers: Preconditioning and aeration chambers are utilized with ETO chambers for preconditioning and aeration - particularly valuable in a high-throughput mode of operation (there is a variety of these chambers for a variety of applications). 

Important Considerations/Factors in ETO Sterilizer Purchasing 

When determining the right ETO sterilizer for your business operations and applications a few important factors are need to be considered:

• Cycle Time: ETO sterilization cycles take longer than other sterilization methods. Select a system that will give you the most efficient cycle time possible while still being effective. 
• Sterilization capacity. You should calculate how many items you are in need to sterilize, in a single sterilization cycle and then you can choose an appropriate chamber size.
• Product Type and Packaging: Check that the sterilizer is appropriate for your product's materials and packaging. 
• Automation Level: If you have a large operation, the automation of the sterilizer reduces manual labor and inaccuracies. 
• Regulatory Conformance: Ensure that the equipment conforms to national and international standards (ISO 11135, FDA, CE, etc.).