Ultrasonic Bath

Question 1

What is the Ultrasonic Bath Process?

Answer 1

A ferocious process that used sound waves, at very high frequencies to produce bubbles that implode and have a scouring effect against the hard surface of the instruments

Question 2

What must be ran before the equipment can be used?

Answer 2

A degas cycle

Question 3

What is involved in a degas cycle?

Answer 3

Before any production cycles are run, the chamber must be filled with water and detergent
A standard production cycle should be ran with the chamber empty, except for from the load carrier
The reason for this is that there are air/gas bubbles inside water normally
During the ultrasonic process any bubbles created will collapse into air bubbles
This will effect the efficacy of the equipment and prevent proper cleaning of instrumentation

Question 4

How does Ultrasonic Cleaning work?

Answer 4

As the sound waves pass through the water they cause microbubbles to form
The fluctuation in pressures the sound waves induce, cause the bubbles to rapidly expand and then collapse
This process is referred to as cavitation

Question 5

Following either manual or ultrasonic cleaning what is the next step?

Answer 5

Rinse
Instruments must be rinsed in a separate sink and submerged in the water

Question 6

What follows rinsing?

Answer 6

The instruments must be processed through the washer-disinfector where they are thermally disinfected

Question 7

When should manual washing be carried out?

Answer 7

If the instrumentation cannot be processed through automated equipment