Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers
Steam sterilisation is a commonly used method in the sterilisation of surgical instruments. To ensure the sterility of the sterilised goods an evaluation of the sterilisation process is required. This might be achieved either through physical measurements or indicators. Optimal sterilisation results...
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doaj-a337c66659b54f3498d4604eadfe25ea2021-04-08T04:19:49ZengElsevierPhysics in Medicine2352-45102021-06-0111100034Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisersPaul Burian0Manuel Feurhuber1Marco Miranda2Marino Magno3Christoph Hochenauer4Institute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/B, A-8010, Graz, Austria; Corresponding author.Institute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/B, A-8010, Graz, AustriaW&H Sterilization, Via Bolgara 2, I-24060, Brusaporto, BG, ItalyW&H Sterilization, Via Bolgara 2, I-24060, Brusaporto, BG, ItalyInstitute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25/B, A-8010, Graz, AustriaSteam sterilisation is a commonly used method in the sterilisation of surgical instruments. To ensure the sterility of the sterilised goods an evaluation of the sterilisation process is required. This might be achieved either through physical measurements or indicators. Optimal sterilisation results are achieved by removing the air from the sterilisation chamber. In this paper a new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based approach is presented, which allows to calculate the steam distribution within a sterilisation chamber with focusing on hollow loads. Additional measurements were performed using a self-developed measurement chamber to validate the CFD model. A modified process challenge device (PCD) with different tube lengths in combination with a chemical indicator (CI) was tested, to identify the volumetric influence of the lumen on the resulting air-steam mixture therein. A numerically efficient model was developed to determine a steam volume fraction threshold leading to a response of the CI. This study aims to predict the volumetric amount of steam which is necessary in order to pass a PCD test fitted with a CI. Both the CFD model and the measurements showed that often an insufficient steam penetration is indicated by PCDs which can lead to an insufficient sterilisation of hollow loads.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235245102030010XSteam sterilisationCFDPCDSterilisationMultiphase flow |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Paul Burian Manuel Feurhuber Marco Miranda Marino Magno Christoph Hochenauer |
spellingShingle |
Paul Burian Manuel Feurhuber Marco Miranda Marino Magno Christoph Hochenauer Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers Physics in Medicine Steam sterilisation CFD PCD Sterilisation Multiphase flow |
author_facet |
Paul Burian Manuel Feurhuber Marco Miranda Marino Magno Christoph Hochenauer |
author_sort |
Paul Burian |
title |
Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers |
title_short |
Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers |
title_full |
Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers |
title_fullStr |
Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers |
title_sort |
numerical prediction of the chemical indicator response used in steam sterilisers |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Physics in Medicine |
issn |
2352-4510 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
Steam sterilisation is a commonly used method in the sterilisation of surgical instruments. To ensure the sterility of the sterilised goods an evaluation of the sterilisation process is required. This might be achieved either through physical measurements or indicators. Optimal sterilisation results are achieved by removing the air from the sterilisation chamber. In this paper a new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based approach is presented, which allows to calculate the steam distribution within a sterilisation chamber with focusing on hollow loads. Additional measurements were performed using a self-developed measurement chamber to validate the CFD model. A modified process challenge device (PCD) with different tube lengths in combination with a chemical indicator (CI) was tested, to identify the volumetric influence of the lumen on the resulting air-steam mixture therein. A numerically efficient model was developed to determine a steam volume fraction threshold leading to a response of the CI. This study aims to predict the volumetric amount of steam which is necessary in order to pass a PCD test fitted with a CI. Both the CFD model and the measurements showed that often an insufficient steam penetration is indicated by PCDs which can lead to an insufficient sterilisation of hollow loads. |
topic |
Steam sterilisation CFD PCD Sterilisation Multiphase flow |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235245102030010X |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT paulburian numericalpredictionofthechemicalindicatorresponseusedinsteamsterilisers AT manuelfeurhuber numericalpredictionofthechemicalindicatorresponseusedinsteamsterilisers AT marcomiranda numericalpredictionofthechemicalindicatorresponseusedinsteamsterilisers AT marinomagno numericalpredictionofthechemicalindicatorresponseusedinsteamsterilisers AT christophhochenauer numericalpredictionofthechemicalindicatorresponseusedinsteamsterilisers |
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1721535540481753088 |