Please refer to our official manual for a complete guide on sterilization of RUMEX instruments: General Instructions for Care, Cleaning and Sterilization of Reusable Instruments for Ophthalmic Applications.
What are the best practices for arranging instruments in a sterilization tray to ensure steam penetration and sterility?
Maximize exposure: disassemble instruments, unlock them, and lay them out singly without overlap. Secure with silicone mats or stringers; flush lumens. Store post-sterilization in a covered, dry area.
Even impeccably cleaned instruments fail to sterilize if packed poorly - steam must contact all surfaces (D-value for spores ~1-2 min at 121°C). Proper setup ensures the sterilant - steam, EtO, or plasma - reaches all surfaces, a special challenge for ophthalmic tools with delicate hinges (0.1mm gaps) and narrow lumens (0.3-1mm). Poor packing causes 20-30% of sterilization failures per AAMI audits.
Preparation Before Loading
- Disassemble Multi-Part Instruments: Take apart any disassemblable items (e.g., phaco handpieces with removable tips, irrigation/aspiration probes) to expose crevices for full sterilant penetration; reassemble post-cycle.
- Unlock Ratcheted Instruments: Sterilize ratcheted or locking tools (e.g., needle holders, forceps) fully unlocked - avoiding shielded areas between jaws that trap air pockets.
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Lumen Flushing: Flush lumen devices with distilled or deionized water right before tray loading using adapters; confirm patency with air burst.
Physical Arrangement in the Tray
- Use a Sterilization Tray with Drainage Holes: Choose perforated-bottom trays (holes >2mm) for free steam circulation and condensate drainage - solid bottoms trap moisture, risking wet packs (failure rate 15%).
- Single Layer Loading: Lay instruments in one layer, fully separated - no stacking or overlapping, which blocks sterilant contact; orient points down for drainage.
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Securing Instruments: Use accessories to hold instruments in place:
o Silicone Mats: Line the tray bottom with hole-pierced mats (1-2mm perforations) to enable steam penetration and shield delicate tips from vibration.
o Instrument Stringers or Spreaders: Clip ring-handled tools (e.g., scissors, forceps) open via metal bars or racks for the full cycle, ensuring 360° exposure.
o Container Liners/Soaker Sheets: Absorb excess moisture under heavy trays to preserve packaging integrity and prevent wet packs; change per load.
Ensuring Proper Packaging (If Wrapped)
Rigid reusable containers (with filters) often outperform disposable wraps for ophthalmic sets, shielding delicate instruments robustly from punctures. For wraps, choose single- or double-ply non-woven disposables (e.g., 60-70gsm) - skip woven textiles, which shed lint/particles (>100/m²) and demand maintenance. Wrap loosely enough for steam penetration (1-2" airspace), yet securely to preserve the sterile barrier; seal with tape showing indicators.
Post-Sterilization Storage
Post-processing, store trays in covered containers (if unwrapped) or dry, low-traffic enclosed areas (temp 20-24°C, RH<60%). Shelf life hinges on packaging - event-related (up to 1 year for rigid containers); humidity spikes, temperature swings (>10°C variance), and handling all erode sterility via breach events. Never store near sinks, floors, or in wet conditions; use FIFO inventory and event-related tracking (e.g., peel-pouch dates).
WARNING! Never store the instruments close to chemicals.
The instruments must be stored at a temperature from 10 to 25°C (50 to 77°F) and relative air humidity at max. 75% at 25°C (77°F). Indoor air must not contain corrosive additive agents.
Please refer to our official manual for a complete guide on sterilization of RUMEX instruments: General Instructions for Care, Cleaning and Sterilization of Reusable Instruments for Ophthalmic Applications.