Ethylene oxide (also known as EO or EtO) processing is widely used for the sterilization of healthcare devices and instruments. The process involves exposing products to ethylene oxide gas under vacuum in a sealed chamber. EO sterilization assures that a safe and sterile product will be delivered to the market each and every time.

What is Ethylene Oxide Processing?

Ethylene oxide sterilization is a chemical process consisting of four primary variables: gas concentration, humidity, temperature and time. EO is an alkylating agent that disrupts the DNA of microorganisms, which prevents them from reproducing. The EO penetrates the breathable packaging and sterilizes all accessible surfaces of the product to render products sterile by alkylation of proteins essential for cell reproduction.

What is Ethylene Oxide Used For?

Ethylene oxide can penetrate multiple layers of breathable packaging, making it suitable for the sterilization of a wide range of materials not compatible with other methods of sterilization:

• Assembled complex devices
• Catheters
• Custom procedure packs
• Equipment with integrated-electronics
• Multi-lumen tubing products
• Stents
• Wound care dressings

When selecting a sterilization partner, manufacturers need to choose a contractor who has the flexibility and technical capability to meet the demands of the specific devices.

The Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Process

The ethylene oxide sterilization process may take place within a traditional ethylene oxide sterilization cycle

• Pre-conditioning: Used to preheat and humidify product loads to predefined conditions. This will assure a repeatable EO sterilization process regardless of pre-processing load storage conditions
• Sterilization: Performed using process phases specifically designed to provide the required level of EO exposure to assure sterility for a device or family of devices
• Aeration: Used to accelerate out gassing of exposed product loads and to contain and eliminate residual EO emissions to ensure that it meets specified residual limits outlined in ISO 10993-7

The Abster Equipments Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Offering

Through network of ethylene oxide locations offer Customers:

• Sustainable EO sterilization services
• Varying sizes of chambers
• Large portfolio of cycles
• Large range of encompassing solutions
• Complete geographic coverage to meet your contract sterilization needs
• Cycle optimization
• Improved turnaround times
• Flexible validation options
• Parametric release
• Research & development chambers
• Reduced incubation studies