Mitigating the risk of cross-contamination

The medical industry has extremely high safety and hygiene standards. As such, medical devices must be autoclaved to prevent risk of cross contamination after contact with the human body. This creates a need for using components in medical devices made from specialty glass, ceramics, and metal that can withstand the harsh sterilization process.

Challenge

How can devices be safely sterilized for reuse while maintaining their longevity?

Pressure. Moisture. Aggressive chemicals. Temperatures of 273°F. Autoclaving presents a challenge for medical devices. While the process is essential, it can take a toll on the materials that protect sensitive electronics, such as organic polymers, after even just a few cycles.

Innovation

Reliable protection for medical electronics

It is not an easy task to guard sensitive electronics and light sources inside medical devices from this harsh environment. Sealing points made from organic materials can deteriorate and fail to provide adequate protection after just a few autoclaving cycles. However, inorganic materials don’t have this issue. Glass, metal and ceramics are resistant to moisture, pressure and high temperature.

Eternaloc® connectors and feedthroughs are manufactured with purely inorganic materials. With glass or ceramic as the insulator, they enable continuous power supply and signal transmission for electronics in devices, including laparscopes, arthroscopes, and robotic surgery systems – even after thousands of sterilization cycles.

Solidur® LEDs are hermetically sealed using glass, metal and ceramics – making them extremely robust and gas-tight. Customizable variations include the Ring LED, Mini LED with a diameter of 2.3 mm, and transistor-outline based LED. They can be utilized as an integrated light source in devices such as scopes, surgical tools, drills, and mirrors.