Why not put sterilization equipment right in-line with assembly and packaging operations, asks STERIS Corp., Life Sciences, Mentor, Ohio, (steris.com). The company's VHP MD Series sterilization equipment is aimed at just-in-time sterilization of packaged medical devices on-site and at the point of production. The effective and automated VHP (Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide) process is low temperature, has short sterilization cycle times, low operating cost, broad material compatibility, and there's no gas plasma phase. “What's more, after VHP sterilization is completed, the by-products are water vapor and oxygen, making it safe to use in-house and safe for the environment,” says Larry Lachowski a manager at the company. “Finished goods inventory requirements and associated costs may be reduced because a lengthy aeration phase is unnecessary with VHP,” he adds. For these reasons, the VHP MD sterilizer is the Medical Design Machine of the Month.

A typical two to six hour VHP MD cycle consists of:

• A vacuum leak test that checks the chamber seal

• Conditioning phase removes air from the chamber and packaging

• Sterilization phase injects hydrogen peroxide vapor into the chamber in a series of multiple pulses, and a

• Brief aeration phase removes residual vapor.