It is outrageous that, although we have been able to expand the frontiers of medicine, we still have people dying from things like infections. What then have we learn from the works of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch about eliminating dangers of infections?

The germ theory of disease states that infectious diseases are caused by pathogens and getting rid of these microorganisms greatly reduces the chances of someone getting infected.The realization of the deadly effects of microbes and the increasing importance of infection control is placing greater focus on sterilization techniques. While disinfecting reduces these harmful pathogens from surfaces it is sterilization that kills all the microorganisms- beneficial or not.

We have all seen commercials for disinfectants and you would always hear it kills 99.9% of germs 100% of the time. Well it is true. Only what they conveniently forget to mention is that the 0.1% that is still alive is the pathogens- disease carrying microbes so it is important to remember that disinfectants do not eliminate all microorganisms and are used only on inanimate or non living objects.

Furthermore the amount & kind of organisms killed or inhibited not only depend on the kind of microbes but also on the kind of disinfectants used as the best disinfectants won’t work well unless the temperature is just right, concentration of disinfectant is wrong or there is a lot of dirt on the surface. There are basically two kinds of disinfectants in the market. Bactericidal and Bacteriologist. Bactericidal kills the 99.9% microbes while Bacteriostatic inhibits the growth of the microbes.

Sterilization can be achieved using heat, chemical, filtration, irradiation and high pressure processes. The only problem with a few of these methods is that surfaces, instruments and medical devices that had to be sterilized were made from materials that could be destroyed by heat, moisture or chemicals.

The demand for an innovative method of sterilization that would not use heat, moisture or chemicals and yet be effective spurred researches and in the 1950s Ethylene Oxide gas was discovered for sterilizing these sensitive devices but the ETO is a carcinogen which seriously limited its use. The past decade has witnessed tremendous progress in the research and development of effective low temperature sterilization methods. We now have Peripatetic Acid Immersion (which was released in 1988), Ozone Sterilization (which was cleared by FDA in 2003) and the Plasma Sterilization which has proven to be an appropriate alternative sterilization procedure. This sterilization technology based on plasma was patented in 1987 and produced commercially for the American markets in 1993.

Plasma Sterilization uses very low temperature Hydrogen Peroxide gas plasma technology to sterilize surfaces, instruments and devices. The germicidal effects of plasma have been known for decades but it is only recently that we have begun to apply this technology to industry. Medical Personnel were intrigued with The Plasma Sterilizer as it cut out the ideal sterilization time cycle to 45 minutes (the time cycle with the ETO was 16 hours), had improved load humidity management, didn’t need aeration, had better heat distribution, shallow penetration of gas plasma, was safer for use (as there was supposed lack of emission) and money would be saved for the institution.

The gas plasma is generated by removing electrons from a gas to produce charged nuclei and free electrons. It works by ensuring that the plasma heat output (around 45^oC) intensifies the action of the chemical and that there are no toxic residual remains on the sterilized materials.

Nowadays Gas Plasma Sterilization is widely utilized for the sterilization of spores as spores are more tolerant than other microbes. It also has the ability to inactivate endotoxins and lipid A.

There are some really good Gas Plasma Sterilizers being sold commercially today but public opinion show that the widely recognized sterilizer manufacturer is Sterrad. Other notable manufacturers include MoonMed and Tynsol.

The main ingredient used for sterilization is Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2 which is highly concentrated (approximately 59%). Cellulosic materials, such as medical grade papers and autoclave pouches, neutralize the sterilizing agent by rapidly interacting with the oxidizing agent and its radicals resulting in an aborted cycle. What this means invariably is that we should watch the kind of materials that come in contact with the sterilizing agent during the process so there won’t be inadequate Sterilant concentration.

Gas plasma sterilizer has a shallow penetration depth of approximately 10–20nm so it is easy to achieve a sterility assurance level of 10^-6 which means the gas plasma sterilization only kills one layer of bioburden.

Plasma will have important applications in medical and industrial settings in the future which mean Plasma Sterilization methods will require further research and investigation. The future success of this technology may depend on close collaboration between microbiologists and physical chemists.

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Proper sterilization of surgical instruments and equipment for patient care and surgery is a critical aspect. Plasma sterilization is a new technique for sterilizing certain products without the disadvantages you get with gas sterilization methods.

see also: What is plasma sterilizer?

Plasma sterilization is an alternative to steam sterilization for sterilizing those easily corroded products used in surgery such as clamps, implants, holding instruments, cutting instruments, hemostatic forceps, retractors and others. All these instruments as well as other equipment used in surgery must be sterilized because of the bacteria trapped inside the instruments from being used on other patients.

Before surgery the instruments that require sterilization are wrapped to assist with handling. Instruments prepared for sterilization must be wrapped or packaged in such a way that their sterility can be maintained. The materials used for packaging must allow the Sterilant to contact the device during the sterilization process but also to protect the device from contamination during handling.

Temperature Sensitive Instruments can be Sterilized

Gas plasma sterilization was developed as an alternative to ethylene oxide and is suitable for temperature-sensitive instruments as it can sterilize at lower temperatures. It isn’t however recommended for items with long tubes as gas penetration can be an issue. The use of gas plasma sterilization is dependent on access to the items being sterilized, and porous materials are also not suited for this method of sterilization as they absorb the hydrogen peroxide before being generated into the active plasma form.

Plasma sterilization offers time-saving advantages for the full range of medical instruments –see some of the sensitive items listed below:

• Reusable devices that come into contact with mucous membranes should receive high-level sterilization. These devices include the likes of reusable anesthesia breathing circuits, flexible endoscopes as well as respiratory therapy equipment.
• Laparoscopic or arthroscopic telescopes on the other hand don’t require disinfection, but need to be sterilized before use every time. Instruments that require sterilization must always first be thoroughly cleaned to reduce organic material such as body fluids.

Time-Saving Plasma Sterilization

Time is life in the medical industry. Reliable sterilization depends on contact of the sterilizing agent with all areas of the item to be sterilized and quickly and effectively too. Selection of the type of sterilization method will always depend on the nature of the item to be sterilized. If you have any doubts or queries about sterilizing a medical device, you can always contact the manufacturer of the product. There are different techniques towards medical device sterilization based on the energy source and microorganism destruction method required. Knowing the right sterilization method for a particular medical device requires careful consideration because the incorrect method can be catastrophic.

Contact the MoonMed Team for any Sterilization questions you may have!!

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While plasma was discovered in 1928 and is the 4th state’ of matter, the idea of plasma sterilization was proposed in the sixties as a good, low toxicity method for the use of medical care staff. Today a plasma sterilizer has potential as an antimicrobial sterilization procedure and is sought after not only in the medical industry, but also in agricultural and other industrial settings. An advantage with a plasma sterilizer is the shallow penetration of gas plasmas which eliminates damage to the material being sterilized.

Scientists have estimated that more than 99% of the matter in the universe exists in the plasma state.  Most stars are filled with plasma, an ionized state of matter similar to gas. Plasma doesn’t have a definite shape, but unlike liquid or gas, its shape can change when under the influence of a magnetic field. In our day-to-day lives, plasma is found in some television screens, in fluorescent light bulbs, in neon signs and it can be made in a laboratory.

Quicker, more Thorough Plasma Sterilization

Plasma sterilization was started in 1968 because of the need to ensure that instruments are properly cleaned to avoid infection. Where ethylene oxide is used to sterilize medical instruments, the cycle can take about 8 to 16 hours. If plasma is used however, the cycle will take about 45 to 75 minutes for both wrapped and dry instruments and devices. After this time the products will be ready for use. One of the benefits about this sterilization type is the lower temperatures of sterilization. Temperatures are maintained at 104-122F or 40-50 C range which helps to ensure the delicate instruments of today are not damaged, gas plasma sterilization is typically used before surgery so as to sterilize the like of implants for instance. Plasma is able to inactivate most pathogens, and today low-pressure plasma sterilizers are commercially offered in the market.

Sterilization that Meets Required Criteria

In the 1st century with burgeoning populations, the risk levels of fungi has been increased in food safety, health and in agriculture, and efficient, long-lasting control tools for contaminants are needed. In modern times, the process of sterilization is becoming more and more complex and the risk of error is increased. Plasma has been researched, tested and explored and satisfies all this criteria for sterilization, and operators of the sterilizer simply selects the desired cycle and sterilization information about the cycle stages are displayed on the touch screen. Many studies have shown that plasma treatment can efficiently inactivate fungi and sterilize crop seeds, human tissues, various instruments foods and paper.

With plasma sterilization, you get low thermal loads, no dangerous toxic agents are used, no follow-up treatments will be necessary and there won’t be any formation of toxic products during sterilization, showing that the plasma sterilizer complies with every requirement expected of it and is a fast and safe way to Sterilize.

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 MOON-PS100 PLASMA GALAXY Series

Plasma Sterilizer

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