Autoclave Flashcards
a machine that provides a physical method of
sterilization by killing bacteria, viruses, and even spores present
in the material put inside of the vessel using steam under
pressure.
Autoclave
sterilizes the materials by heating them up to a
particular temperature for a specific period of time
-also called a steam sterilizer that is commonly used
in healthcare facilities and industries for various purposes
-considered a more effective method of sterilization
as it is based on moist heat sterilization.
Autoclave
The simplest form of the autoclave is the___________ or laboratory bench autoclaves
pressure cooker
type
main component of a steam
autoclave consisting of an inner chamber and an outer jacket
pressure chamber
is made up of stainless steel or gunmetal,
which is present inside the out chamber made up of an iron
case
inner chamber
The autoclaves used in healthcare laboratories have an __________ that is filled with steam to reduce the time taken to
reach the sterilization temperature
outer
jacket
is the case where the materials to be
sterilized are put
inner chamber
seal off the outside atmosphere and
create a sterilized condition on ht inside of the autoclave
lid
-is present on the lid of the autoclave to
indicate the pressure created in the autoclave during
sterilization.
-essential as it assures the safety of then
autoclave and the working condition of the operation
pressure gauge
controls the pressure inside the chamber by
releasing a certain amount of vapor by lifting itself
whistle
-present on the lid of the autoclave, which is
crucial in cases where the autoclave fails to perform its action
or the pressure inside increases uncontrollably
-has a thin layer of rubber that bursts itself to release
the pressure and to avoid the danger of explosion
safety valve
-is present underneath
the chamber that uses an electric heating system to heat the
water and generate steam in the inner and the outer chamber
electrical steam generator or boiler
-is present underneath
the chamber that uses an electric heating system to heat the
water and generate steam in the inner and the outer chamber
electrical steam generator or boiler
pulls out the air from the inside of the chamber
to create a vacuum inside the chamber.
vacuum generator
-system to cool the
effluent before it enters the draining pipes.
-This system prevents any damage to the drainage pipe due to the boiling water being sent out of the autoclave
wastewater cooler
Principles of an Autoclave
steam pressure temperature Time
medium through which heat is transferred in an autoclave
It is a very effective heat transfer medium because it can penetrate materials more effectively than dry heat
steam
The primary purpose of pressure in an
autoclave is to raise the boiling point of
water. At standard atmospheric pressure,
water boils at
100°C (212°F)
Most autoclaves operate at around_________ above atmospheric pressure, which allows
steam to reach temperatures of approximately 121°C
(250°F).
15 psi (pounds per
square inch)
In an autoclave, temperatures are typically set to _______. At this temperature, the combination of steam
and pressure is capable of breaking down the cell walls of
microorganisms and denaturing their proteins.
121°C
(250°F)
The standard exposure time for an autoclave cycle is
around_________ , although this can vary depending
on the load size, type of material, and the specific
autoclave model.
15-20 minutes
The standard exposure time for an autoclave cycle is
around_________ , although this can vary depending
on the load size, type of material, and the specific
autoclave model.
15-20 minutes
Works like a household pressure cooker, using steam pressure to sterelize small items
Best for: Simple, small-scale sterilization in basic setups or labs
Pressure Cooker Type
Uses gravity to push air out as
steam fills the chamber, then
sterilizes the load with hightemperature steam.
Gravity displacement type
