Proper instrument care is key to preserving the life of your instruments. Below are three key elements to avoid many of the common mistakes that lead to instrument failure.
Fine surgical instruments should be cleaned immediately after use. Blood or saline solutions left on instruments for any length of time can quickly start corrosive action.
Instruments can be cleaned manually or ultrasonically, but always:
- use a neutral PH balanced cleaning solution
- clean instruments in the open position
- use soft textile or paper cloths, soft plastic brushes or water spray guns (wire brushes and scouring pads are not recommended)
Manual Cleaning
- Wipe instruments carefully to remove all blood and tissue matter.
- Thoroughly rinse instruments with distilled water
Ultrasonic Cleaning
- Not recommended for micro and delicate instruments
- Follow the manufacturers guidelines for specific instructions and cleaning cycle times.
Immediately after either manual or ultrasonic cleaning, dry instruments thoroughly - a pneumatic air gun or hairdryer is ideal.
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It is important that instruments are free of all traces of organic or other matter prior to sterilisation.
Steam Sterilisation
- The steam used must be from distilled water and free of all impurities.
- Do not mix instruments of inferior quality or unknown alloys in the autoclave with your higher quality instruments.
- Follow the manufacturers guidelines for specific instructions as well as cleaning cycle and drying times.
- Remove and thoroughly dry instruments immediately after autoclaving.
Hot Bead Sterilisation
Recommended for speed and convenience when instrument tip or blade sterilisation si required.
- Bead temperature of 250 deg C
- Only 20 second contact required
- Bench top setup
- Can be left on all day
Please go to our surgical accessories section for our range of hot bead sterilisers.
Ethylene Oxide (ETO) sterilisation
Ethylene Oxide is recommended for instruments that will not tolerate high temperatures or moisture (eg catheters, cannula etc)
We offer a range of sterilisation pouches. See our surgical accesories section.
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Instruments should be stored so as to not touch one another and should be kept as clean and free of dust as possible.
We have a range of instrument cases available.
All FST stainless steel surgical instruments are manufactured from medical grade stainless steel under strict European standards.
Stainless steel instruments are immune from corrosion. Under unfavorable conditions isntruments may oxidize because stainless steel that is exposed to physical, thermal or chemical manipulation may lose some of its stainless properties.
To prevent corrosion always make sure you use instruments for their intended purpose and follow the guidelines outlined on this page for instrument care.
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By following these guidelines, you should get many years of satisfactory use from your quality surgical instruments.
- Never let anyone else use your valued instruments
- Handle your instruments delicately and with care, and use them only for their intended purpose.
- Clean and thoroughly dry your instruments as soon as possible after each use, paying special attention to overlapping surfaces.
- Store your instruments with tip protectors and always place them so that they do not touch each other.
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