Which ultrasonic cleaner

Ultrasonic cleaning is suitable for cleaning a wide variety of materials, including metals, glass, rubber, ceramics and some hard plastics.

Ultrasonic cleaning is especially useful for removing tightly-adhered contaminants from intricate items with blind holes, cracks and recesses. Examples of contaminants removed through ultrasonic cleaning include dust, dirt, oil, grease, pigments, flux agents, fingerprints and polishing compound.

Ultrasonic cleaning systems are widely used in many industries, including medical device , automotive, aerospace , dental, electronics, jewelry and weapons. Ideal items for ultrasonic cleaning include medical and surgical instruments, carburetors, firearms, window blinds, industrial machine parts and electronic equipment. The fluid used in industrial ultrasonic cleaning systems can be either water-based aqueous or solvent-based.

Both types of cleaning solutions contain wetting agents surfactants to reduce surface tension and increase cavitation. Aqueous cleaning solutions are generally more limited in cleaning effectiveness but better for the environment than solvent cleaning solutions. The time required for ultrasonic cleaning depends on the material and soils, but typical cleaning times range from 3 to 6 minutes.

Some delicate items such as electronics may require a longer cleaning time. It should be noted that ultrasonic cleaning by itself does not sterilize items. In medical applications, sterilization typically follows ultrasonic cleaning as another process step. An ultrasonic cleaning machine, sometimes called an ultrasonic bath machine, includes the following basic components:. The ultrasonic transducer is the key component in an ultrasonic cleaning system.

The ultrasonic transducer is a device that generates sound above the range of human hearing, typically starting at 20 kHz, also known as ultrasonic vibrations. An ultrasonic transducer consists of an active element, a backing and a radiating plate.

Most ultrasonic cleaners use piezoelectric crystals as the active element. The piezoelectric crystal converts electrical energy to ultrasonic energy through the piezoelectric effect, in which the crystals change size and shape when they receive electrical energy. The backing of an ultrasonic transducer is a thick material that absorbs the energy that radiates from the back of the piezoelectric crystal. The radiating plate in an ultrasonic transducer works as a diaphragm that converts the ultrasonic energy to mechanical pressure waves in the fluid.

Thus when the piezoelectric crystal receives pulses of electrical energy, the radiating plate responds with ultrasonic vibrations in the cleaning solution. The electronic ultrasonic generator is a power supply. These voids induce the formation of high-energy hydraulic shock waves thatproduce a powerful suction-effect. Through the years many studies that demonstrate the reliability andeffectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning have been published. Some of these studiesdemonstrate the effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning in standardizing thecleaning process and removing dried serum, whole blood, and viruses fromcontaminated instruments.

While manual cleaning is intended to remove gross debris from theinstrument's surfaces, ultrasonic cleaners are designed to remove microorganismsand other fine debris from less accessible surfaces.

Some reports suggest thatultrasonic cleaning, preceded by manual scrubbing, results in an even greaterreduction in patient debris than achieved by either alone.

Despite all of its benefits, ultrasonic cleaning, like any decontaminationprocess, has its limitations, and understanding each permits its safe harnessingand effective application. Although the reprocessing instructions of most surgical instrumentsrecommend ultrasonic cleaning as an integral step in their preparation forterminal sterilization, some instruments may be constructed of delicatematerials damaged by its power, precluding the use of ultrasonic energy.

Materials, such as quartz, silicon, and carbon steel may erode or become etchedafter prolonged exposure to ultrasonic cavitation. Review of each instrument'sinstructional manual to determine whether ultrasonic cleaning is contraindicatedby its manufacturer is recommended. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually one in a multi-step process that begins withmanual cleaning to remove gross debris. This step is performed immediately afterthe instrument's use to prevent patient soil from drying.

Once manually cleaned,the instrument is then placed in the ultrasonic cleaner. This cleaning step isparticularly important for removing fine debris that may not have been removedduring manual cleaning. Some ultrasonic cleaners may automatically injectdetergent into the instrument's processing basin, as well as lubricate theinstrument to prevent corrosion prior to terminal sterilization. Some may alsobe equipped with channel adapters that flush a detergent solution thorough thelumens of cannulated instruments.

In general, ultrasonic cleaners feature a timer and temperature control toadjust the cleaning time and to increase the temperature of the detergentsolution, respectively. They may also be equipped with controls that permitadjustment of their power output Watts and frequency kHz. Covers that reduceexposure of personnel to potentially harmful contaminants and aerosols duringcleaning, as well as instrument trays, holders and baskets, may be standard oroptional. Several factors can enhance or limit the cleaning effectiveness of anultrasonic cleaner.

None is as significant as the physical properties of thecleaning solution or other liquid medium through which the ultrasonic wavespropagate. Briefly, the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves is directlyproportional to the electrical power applied to the transducers.

Cavitationcannot occur unless the amplitude of these waves, and therefore the electricalpower, exceeds a minimum threshold value.

The properties of the cleaningsolution, which include its temperature, viscosity, density, vapor pressure, andsurface tension, cause this threshold value to vary such that changes in any oneof these properties is likely to affect cleaning effectiveness. In addition to aiding in the removal of patient debris from soiledinstruments, detergents increase cleaning effectiveness by reducing the water'ssurface tension.

This effect increases cleaning effectiveness by: a facilitating the transmission of the ultrasonic waves through the detergentsolution; b lowering the minimum amount of ultrasonic energy necessary forcavitation to occur; and c reducing the resistance to flow of the detergentsolution through the instrument's narrow lumens and orifices.

Detergentsspecifically formulated for ultrasonics, and known to be compatible with theinstruments to be cleaned, are recommended to increase cleaning effectiveness. Temperature is also a significant a factor to the physics and effectivenessof cleaning. An increase in the temperature causes a corresponding increase inthe detergent solution's vapor pressure and a reduction in minimum energyrequired for cavitation. Mixing the detergent with warm water is thereforerecommended to enhance the effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaners.

Ofcourse, to avoid damaging the surgical instrument, the temperature of the watercannot exceed the instrument's temperature parameters.

Also, because reportsindicate that bacteria can proliferate in the ultrasonic cleaner's detergentsolution and its aerosols during the course of the day, 16 using afresh volume of water for cleaning and rinsing each new batch of soiledinstruments may be advantageous to minimize personnel exposure to potentiallypathogenic microorganisms. Although costly and not required, using deionizedwater may also be advantageous, as, in addition to dissolving detergents moreefficiently, it does not contain minerals that frequently tarnish instruments.

Instrument baskets, trays: The benefits of ultrasonic cleaners cannotreally be appreciated without using specially designed instrument baskets,trays, or cassettes. Each of thesefixtures is crucial, as it: a maximizes exposure of the instruments to theultrasonic waves; b minimizes movement of the soiled instruments against oneanother during ultrasonic cleaning, which can result in costly instrumentdamage; and c optimizes cleaning effectiveness by preventing the instrumentsfrom contacting the bottom of the cleaner's processing basin the other side ofwhich the transducers are usually mounted where they might interfere with theproper operation of the transducers and prevent transmission of the ultrasonicwaves.

Instrument arrangement: The method by which contaminated instrumentsare arranged in the processing chamber can have as much effect on cleaningeffectiveness as the choice of the detergent. No ultrasonic cleaner for this piece! All these warnings may make you wonder why you would use an ultrasonic cleaner in the first place.

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