What is ETO?

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) is a simple cyclic ether. At room temperature it gaseous, but liquifies below 10.7°C. It is vitally important in the production of many chemicals and products such as antifreeze, paints and detergents. EtO gas is widely used in hospitals and veterinary worldwide for the sterilisation of medical devices and equipment and is a popular alternative to radiation and steam sterilisation. 122,000 kilograms per year is used for sterilisation in the US alone.

Pure EtO can be used as a sterilising gas, it destroys microorganisms by alkylating (attaching to) enzymes and DNA, causing their inactivation. To accomplish this, Ethylene Oxide first needs to penetrate materials and plastics. In order to speed up this process the gas is usually heated to 38°C or 54°C, this is known as low-temperature sterilisation and is compatible with a much wider range of materials compared to steam and dry heat processes. The process is simple; place the materials to be sterilised into the liner bag, add the EtO ampoule/cartridge, humidity chip and your chosen process challenge device. Seal the bag with the included bag tie and activate the ampoule.

ETO is used for the sterilisation of delicates, taking 16hrs on either benchtop or floor standing units, so is usually carried out overnight. The ETO comes in glass ampoules and is a toxic substance taking the form of liquid when below 11 degrees C, and gas when above this temperature. It is simple to use – just put the items you wish to sterilise into a bag with the ETO ampoule, (various bag sizes are available) and then put the bag into the steriliser, the ETO ampoule is broken open and left for 16hrs. The steriliser is vented to remove ETO to the outside of the building. Equipment that needs to be stored and not used immediately can go into a sterilisation pouch before going into a big bag (the pouch shelf life is about 1 year – dependant on the pouch manufacturer). You will need an 11gm ampoule for a 60-litre unit and 20gm for a 135-litre unit.

The complete tabletop solution to ethylene oxide Sterilisation. Designed to make life easier. The Axis steriliser is:

FAST

• No more worries that your Sterilisation cycle will fail during winter months due to low temperatures
• Microprocessor controlled
• The Axis AX-60, AX-135 and AX-160 have a heated cabinet, which makes the ETO more effective and shortens the sterilisation time and ensures that a constant temperature is maintained throughout the entire cycle

EFFICIENT

• Using 100% Ethylene Oxide, the Axis system is a gentle, non-corrosive, effective way to sterilise
• Extends the life of instruments
• Minimum gas use
• Safer on the environment

ECONOMICAL

• Sterilisers and Gas kits are a fraction of the cost of our nearest competitors
• We are so confident we offer a money-back guarantee on our sterilising gas ampoules and consumables –  compare the results and costs to your existing supplier
•  Our EtO gas is sold in kits so that you have all the equipment you need without having to order multiple products.
  • Ampiooule Kits
  • ARQ-11 (60L Kit)
    • 20 x Liner Bags 22″ x 24″
    • 20 x 11cc Ampoules
    • 20 x Humidity Chips 18″ x 24″
    • 20 x Nylon Tie wraps
    • For the 60L unit, you will need to use 1 x 11g EtO cartridge per cycle
  • ARQ-20 (135L Kit)
    • 20 x Liner Bags 22″ x 36″
    • 20 x 20cc Ampoules
    • 20 x Humidity Chips 18″ x 24″
    • 20 x Nylon Tie wraps
    • For the 135L unit, you will need to use 1 x 20g EtO cartridge per cycle
  • Cartridge Kits 
    • AR-11
      • 20 x 11cc EtO Cartridges
      • 20 x Humidity Chips
      • 20 x Liner Bags
      • 20 x Bag Ties

OPERATOR FRIENDLY

• Load and seal the bag, break the ampoule and press the start button, what could be easier?

SAFE

Axis sterilisers are designed to comply with OSHA regulations and are manufactured by an ISO certified company and CE marked

Some of the items you can sterilise in the Axis system are:

• Laparoscopic Instruments
  • Laparoscopic instrumentation is often not compatible with conventional forms of sterilisation due to the delicate optical, electronic and plastic construction of the devices. EtO sterilisation allows simple and straightforward decontamination of the instruments. EtO sterilisation of reusable laparoscopic instruments can provide a cost-saving over single use devices.
• Endoscopes
• Catheters & Tubes
• Syringes
• Gowns and Masks
• Bandages & Dressings
• Respirators
• Sutures
• Stent Sets
• Probes and electrical equipment
• Plastic & Rubber Tubing
• Electrical Equipment (Batteries Separately)

Advantages of the Test unit over other suppliers:

• You are not tied into a consumables contract (our ampules are half the price!)
• The chamber is heated to 54C – this makes the ETO much more effective. Because ETO is a liquid at 11C and often these units are installed in cold outbuildings (NOT IDEAL, NOT RECOMMENDED) then in the winter you wonder if the sterilisation is very effective with some units! (If it has to be in a cold room then use a portable heater for 1/2 hr or so to heat up the room)
• The unit alarms if the chamber does not reach 54C within 1/2 hour
• The units are much less expensive as are all the consumables. So Practices are converting over to Test ETO ampoules that already have units from other suppliers
• For the 60litre unit and the 135litre unit, it will cost the Practice less than £10 per cycle

An annual service will ensure:

• • the continued compliance
  • the steriliser is functioning correctly