An E.T.O gas sterilizer, or ethylene oxide sterilizer, is a special piece of equipment that is used to sterilize medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and other items that cannot be sterilized in conventional means. The ETO gas sterilizer makes use of ethylene oxide gas to eliminate microorganisms on the surface of the product and this renders the product safe to be used in medical practice and other applications.
The ETO gas sterilizer is normally comprised of a sterilization chamber, gas supply system, and control system. The sterilized products are loaded into the sterilization chamber. The gas supply system provides the ethylene oxide gas into the chamber and the control system manages the sterilization process, such as the temperature, humidity and gas content.
The sterilization in an ETO gas sterilizer generally follows three key steps, namely pre-conditioning, sterilization and aeration. In the pre-conditioning step, the chamber is heated and moisture is added to precondition the products so that they can be sterilized. This is followed by the sterilization process, which entails filling the chamber with a mixture of ethylene oxide gas and other gases. The ethylene oxide gas gets into the packaging and neutralizes any microorganisms that could be present in the product. The time taken during the sterilization process is determined by the nature of the product under sterilization.
Once the sterilization process is finished, the process of aeration is carried out, which consists of the elimination of the ethylene oxide gas in the chamber and the products. This is usually achieved by pumping fresh air or inert gas like nitrogen into the chamber to clear off the ethylene oxide left and then the products can be safely handled and distributed.
The ETO gas sterilizers are quite common in the medical equipment and pharmaceutical sectors, and other sectors that need products to be sterilized. Nevertheless, ETO gas sterilizers, because of the possible health hazards presented by the usage of ethylene oxide gas, are to be turned on and serviced in strict safety conditions and rules.
Ethylene oxide (ETO) gas is also an effective sterilizing agent that is widely used in the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors to sterilize products that cannot be sterilized through other means. ETO gas can pass through a large range of materials, such as plastics, rubbers, and metals, so this is a perfect solution to sterilize complex medical devices and equipment.
Yet, ethylene oxide is also a very toxic and even carcinogenic gas that may become a huge threat to human health if it is not managed well. This is why the use and maintenance of ETO gas sterilizers are to be performed under the strict safety regulations and rules to reduce the chance of being exposed to ethylene oxide.
Generally, ETO gas sterilizers are an effective device for sterilizing the medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other products. Nevertheless, considering the health hazards that may be caused by the usage of ethylene oxide gas, it is of utmost importance to ensure that these sterilizers are safely and responsibly operated and maintained.