22 ANALYTICAL AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
Advances in temperature calibration tools for use in sterilisers
Martin Riddett on temperature monitoring and sensor conformance in clinical and laboratory sterilisers.
A
utoclave sterilisers present temperature sensors with a very
demanding operational environment in terms of high levels of pressure and moisture. Temperature sensors specified for autoclave applications, usually type T thermocouple or Pt100 thermometer, must be specially designed and constructed for such environments; reliability, accuracy and stability are essential for ensuring safe sterilisation procedures.
Labfacility’s L200 8 channel indicator/logger.
www.scientistlive.com
Te Labfacility Autoclave Load thermocouple is designed to provide accuracy and stability in the rigorous environment of clinical and laboratory steriliser chambers. Te design has been subjected to successful evaluation
by CMI Healthcare, including leak testing in a vacuum chamber and processing through normal, porous load sterilisation cycles. Te sensor complies with test standard HTM 2010, Clause 6.19/6.21.
Te multiple seal construction ensures that moisture ingress is prevented, even at elevated pressure. Te combination of a close tolerance type T thermoelement and rugged construction ensures high accuracy, stability and long-term reliability. Alternatively, Pt100 resistance thermometer sensors using similar construction methods can be supplied.
Te sensor is protected by a 316-grade stainless steel sheath
and bulkhead tube; rugged, flexible stainless steel armour conduit protects the 2m lead with 2.5m of silicone rubber exiting the bulkhead tube. Te assembly tolerance complies with IEC 584-2 class 1 and colour code with IEC 584-3.
Validation of the sensors All temperature sensors used in the sterilisation process must be routinely checked and/or calibrated in accordance with procedures described in HTM 2010 Part 3 or any other national standards. Tere are various ways of achieving such compliance, which typically involve sending the sensors to an accredited laboratory for certification, which is an expensive and time- consuming procedure.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92