Disassembly for Sterilization

[ruthanne]

How involved do you get in disassembly for steam sterilization? Depth gauges? Set screws? ESF Clamps? Where do you draw the line?

[ferb03]

I like to see everything taken apart and left apart but the techs have a tendency to become somewhat hysterical if they have to reassemble. My fix is to partially assemble. Put the tip of the ruler into the tube of the depth gauge but not insert fully. That way they know what goes together and hopefully can finish assembly quickly.

[fkrizman]

For the most part everything is taken apart particularly if there is any chance it could come apart during a procedure. There are a few things that have disassembly instructions for cleaning but can be reassembled for sterilization. The main thing I have difficulty with is loaner instrument sets and ortho sets that do not allow for disassembling things like depth gauges. We do our best to take apart what we can but I always worry something will get lost or someone not knowing where the part is and how to reassemble. Good luck getting someone with the company to tell you that depth gauge has been specifically tested to be sterilized assembled with in the set.

[pnothum]

Unless you have manufacturer's instructions that say an item can be steam sterilized together it must be done apart. If you don't, you have assumed the liability if there is an infection.