Seal of approval: innovative container systems ease transport, sterilization & storage

Healthcare Purchasing News, August, 2004 by Julie E. Williamson

With the cost of surgical instrument sets totaling in the tens of thousands of dollars--and as much as $60,000 or more for orthopedic sets--taking steps in properly care for the devices both inside and outside the operative room becomes imperative.

Fortunately, manufacturers are offering a slew of container systems that promise to reduce damage to delicate instruments, enhance the sterilization process, organize and transport sets, and maximize storage space. Container systems come in various sizes to accommodate different sets and unique facility requirements, and range from stainless steel or aluminum rigid models to those made of lighter, high-density polymers and composites. Cutting-edge models are also available to safely transport flashed instruments, transport and sterilize delicate cameras, scopes and lenses, and serve as soaking systems to eliminate spillage and protect personnel from contaminated instruments during transfer.

Sources agree that durability, versatility, safety and ease of use are the primary factors driving today's purchasing decisions.

"Construction is very important. Not only is it necessary to have a reliable container, it's also important to have one tart can be easily serviced, maintained and repaired," said Alex Vrancich, operations manager for Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp., Stow, OH.

Vendors appear to be meeting those demands with systems that feature durable bases, latches, lids and handles that can with stand the rigors of repeated use and various sterilization methods.

A case for rigid containers

In recent years, there's been a growing trend toward the use of rigid container systems. Such systems provide numerous benefits. Not only does their rigidity offer superb protection and permit easy stacking of sets, they are also known to simplify set-up and identification of instruments in the operating room, and help maintain sterility of surgical devices until they are used.

Another key benefit is that they eliminate the need for woven and nonwoven wrapping materials, which can cost facilities thousands in labor, material and expenses associated with reprocessing due to tears or punctures in the wrapper and the accumulation of condensate on the internal "wet packs" and external surfaces of the case following sterilization. The elimination of wrapped cases can prove particularly beneficial when managing heavy orthopedic trays because of improved handling and identification of contents. Furthermore, some sealed container systems are designed to package multilevel trays, which avoids the expense and time required to wrap each individual level, noted Marcia Frieze, chief executive officer, Case Medical Inc., Ridgefield, NJ.

An orthopedic set can have as many as 12 trays for one procedure. In addition, there is a time factor involved. Some orthopedic companies are recommending extended processing times up to 40 minutes for these systems. "A sealed container system constructed of thermoconductive materials, such as aluminum, can facilitate the sterilization process," she said.

To further maximize user benefits, manufacturers of rigid containers are incorporating even more value-added features into their systems. The SterilContainer System by Aesculap Inc., Center Valley, PA, for example, consists of various sizes of lids and bottoms, along with assorted accessories such as baskets, filters, indicator cards and tamperproof locks. Color coded lids are also available to facilitate grouping and coordination of different instrument sets. The SterilContainer System is made of a "specially formulated aluminum alloy," with the surface protected by a layer of adonized oxide to prevent corrosion.

Perhaps the most unique feature of Case Medical's SteriTite rigid reusable sealed container is that is can be used in universal sterilization applications; that is, the system is fully validated in steam, prevacuum and gravity displacement, ethylene oxide and gas plasma sterilization. The company's perforated bottom container has been validated for all current methods of sterilization; solid bottom containers are limited to dynamic air removal systems, such as pre-vacuum steam.

"Having a universal container system is very important because of the complex devices and various methods of sterilization options being used today," Frieze explained. "The SteriTite container was designed to handle small and delicate instruments, such as scopes and cameras, all the way" up to robust orthopedic devices. A universal system is extremely cost-effective because it contributes to standardization and eliminates the need for multiple products." The fact that SteriTite containers have been cleared for up to 22 pounds of instruments further adds to the savings because it reduces the need for additional containers.

Case Medical states that adopting an event-related sterility policy using SterilTite containers can save facilities approximately $3,600 annually. Specifically, facilities that use the SteriTite container system can save an average of $200 per container in refurbishing costs and reduce labor costs by 28%. In addition, Case Medical's organizational system of protective inserts and snap in Back Bone brackets can save thousands of dollars in expensive repair and replacement costs associated with scopes, cameras and other delicate and complex devices.