Autoclave sterilizer
In medicine, sterilization of instruments is known to be commonly required before they can be safely allowed to come into contact with patients. The same is true of other tools and even drugs and linens. In hospitals, clinics and the like, it is standard practice to sterilize various products such as gowns, drapes, sheets, dressings, and other articles, prior to use by placing them in an autoclave where they are subjected to steam sterilization. This practice is necessary to avoid infection and prevent contamination from the use of such articles where the same are not in a sterile condition and it is particularly important where the articles have previously been used in the care of other patients. Sterilization is also required in other fields such as biology, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine. Autoclave sterilizers are widely used for the sterilization of instruments used in the medical, dental and veterinary disciplines. When used under the proper conditions, autoclaves sterilize the instruments by destroying all spores, microorganisms, and viruses present on such instruments. The contents of the autoclave chamber are also sterilized. Autoclave sterilizers are typically of cabinet size and operate by vapourizing during each use cycle a small amount of purified water to well above boiling temperature. Non-toxic distilled or de-ionized water has traditionally been used in sterilizing autoclaves. Autoclave sterilizer are used for sterilization or other treatment of articles at elevated temperature in the presence of liquid vapor at elevated pressure. The articles to be treated are placed in a pressure vessel which includes a heater and a reservoir of liquid such as distilled water. In operation, the vessel is closed and the heater turned on so that the water is heated. The steam produced is allowed to vent from the vessel for a short time so as to flush air from the apparatus. The air vent is then closed so that pressure and temperature within the vessel increase to predefined levels. The atmosphere of high humidity and temperature in the vessel is sufficient to sterilize the articles after a predetermined time. When the sterilization cycle is complete, the heater is turned off and the vessel is allowed to cool, or is actively cooled such as by a fan. When the pressure in the vessel has dropped to a safe level, the door of the vessel is unlocked allowing the articles to be removed and other articles to be sterilized. Autoclaves are often provided with an ability to control an atmosphere to be the same as or approximate a working environment around a particular material, device or system that is to be terilized.
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