In this issue of Healthcare Matters we have featured Andersen Sterilisers as our Sterilisation Company of the Month.
Andersen Sterilisers offers ethylene oxide sterilisation (EtO) solutions for the life sciences industry; working in facilities as diverse as hospitals, day surgery centres, dentists, veterinary clinics, research and clinical laboratories, universities and medical device manufacturers.
Founded in 1956 by Dr Harold Andersen, the company’s range of tubes and drains has increased over the years and its EtO sterilisers have developed to meet ever more stringent standards for effectiveness and safety. Today Andersen Sterilisers continues to meet the needs of over 6,000 active users worldwide who benefit from its highly effective sterilant solutions, either in-house or through its sterilisation services.
Andersen Sterilisers is most well-known for the supply and maintenance of high quality EtO sterilisation equipment and related accessories. The company’s Anprolene AN75 is a particular standout as the only FDA-cleared, room-temperature steriliser on the market.
Building on Anprolene’s established reputation for efficiency and dependability, the next generation AN75 series achieves even more consistent sterilisation results. An interactive touchscreen menu combines with component updates to provide the most versatile and effective sterilization system on the market, giving facilities of any size hospital-level sterility assurance (10-6 SAL) at a reasonable price point.
Andersen Sterilisers’ dedication to investing in the latest technology means its products have a unique edge in the industry. Its EO-Flexible Chamber Technology (or EO-FCT) uses less gas than other manufacturers on the market. With only 17.6g of EO cartridges used, Andersen Sterilisers can achieve terminal sterility with 90% less EO than any other system. The 100% EO system sterilizes at room temperature without external vacuum lines or steam generators, protecting the most delicate instruments, electronics, drills, fiber optics, cameras and plastic or rubber items.
Anprolene sterilisers also now include a number of important improvements. Featuring more powerful ventilation and purge pumps, a unique active aeration system, a digital display tracking cycle progress, temperature sensors monitoring room conditions during each cycle, microprocessor monitoring cycle and automatically restoring system in case of power failure.
Its latest product line, the EOGas Series 4, represents another leap in sterilisation technology from the company. The Series 4 is the fastest EtO steriliser available that still delivers 10-6 SAL, with the fastest of its four cycles being just three and half hours at 50°C. It involves minimal installation requirements – just a 2.6cm PVC hose to the outside with the wall plate provided. There are no water or vacuum lines required.
Unlike traditional EtO sterilisers which involve rigid metal chambers and large external tanks of gas, the EOGas 4 system uses gas impermeable sterilisation bags and unit dose 100% EtO cartridges. By eliminating chamber dead space, EOGas employ only a tiny fraction of the EtO used in other systems. Andersen’s purge probe technology also uses active aeration to flush the sterilisation bag with a constant flow of fresh air at the end of the sterilisation cycle. With EOGas, sterilisation and aeration occur in the same chamber. There is no need to transfer products to a separate aeration area.
Another great benefit of Andersen Sterilisers is its stellar reputation for ease of use and efficiency. Its sterilisers have been praised for their easy installation process and don’t require expensive accessories, such as external compressors, fixed water lines or steam generators.
Andersen Sterilisers also offers an off-site sterilisation service. Health professionals, medical device manufacturers and veterinary practices from across Europe, can send their products to Andersen and the company will sterilise them at its UK office in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
For clients with infrequent sterilisation needs, this off-site service presents a more cost-effective solution than purchasing a steriliser. Parameters can be adapted to the specific needs of the customer and Andersen offers a fast turnaround – in most cases 5 working days. As well as this, Andersen is now the only company offering an ethylene oxide sterilisation cycle times as low as three hours. Its sterilisation cycles are also extremely gentle. The 30°C EOGas cycle successfully sterilises medicated stents, whilst preserving the biological activity of the drug coating.
Looking to the future, the company hopes to make EOGas 4PLUS the perfect complement to today’s sterile processing department’s infection control strategy, with Andersen’s trademark reputation for efficiency and safety providing a benchmark for the industry.
Andersen Steriliser’s continual research and product development ensures that its state-of-the-art systems deliver high levels of sterility assurance through a safe, efficient and highly reliable process. Its storied history has set its foundation for a greater future, making Andersen Sterilisers the best choice for on or off-site sterilisation on the market today.
For more on Andersen Sterilisers, please see below:
T 01255 428328
uk@anderseneurope.com
https://www.anderseneurope.com