The Technological Advancements in Autoclaves Leave a comment
With the rise in technological advancements as of late, sometimes it can be hard to keep up. Many feats that technology can achieve nowadays were nothing but talk of science fiction just 20 years ago. We have any and every kind of info we could possibly need at our fingertips 24/7. And technology has advanced to a point of making many day-to-day things as efficient as possible. Like having a portable browser to surf the web, games of all kinds and advanced satellite GPS to name a few. Or almost every social media app that’s ever been, to see what your friends or others are up to at any time of day. But that’s only talking about the tech we carry in our pockets before we leave the house each morning. What about the amazing technological advancements happening in other areas of medical and/or machine-assisted practices?
That’s right, we’re talking about the medical industry once more. Specifically about the advancements and new advantages in autoclave technology with upgrades over time. When mentioning the speed of information gathering earlier, that same statement applies to many new style autoclaves on the market these days. In fact, there are even some apps that manufacturers make to go hand-in-hand with their autoclaves. These apps are able to help you find data on your autoclave at a moments notice. They can let you monitor the autoclave’s progress remotely, log live data, archive said data digitally, the list goes on. In this article, we’ll be telling you some examples of these technological advancements. And we’ll describe them in a digestible but detailed way.
And if you just want to talk to someone for any questions you may have, call our Free Tech Support at 704-966-1650 Option 3.
The New Changes
This section is full of examples of how autoclaves are moving forward in a technologically advancing era.
Remote Monitoring and the Cloud
One of the big changes that some new style autoclaves have been implementing are different forms of remote monitoring. Some autoclaves may have different options as to WHAT you can monitor in the autoclave remotely, but all around the point remains. The ability to remotely monitor the autoclave via smartphone, tablet, or any valid electronic device while it’s active is a big deal. You can log data and even archive it without being in the same room as the unit itself. And in most cases, some of the many different softwares available allow for barcode tracking. Simply put, once a cycle completes, your autoclave can create a special barcode sticker to scan. Then you can place it on to the packaging on sterilized loads for easily accessible cycle information.
And if you have a software like R.PC.R, (Remote PC Reporting) for example, then you can do all of the above mentioned, among other things. You can transfer data between devices via a PDF,
USB, Ethernet, or even over online connections. The Tuttnauer 6690 has an optional R.PC.R software called BacSoft for remote logs, monitoring, etc.
Some other kinds of autoclaves have updated online capabilities to store and grab data from the cloud. This is about the same thing but instead of the data being saved just on a device, it’ll have its own cloud storage for all devices connected to access at any point. Very few autoclaves have this, only a few companies so far have been experimenting with its benefits. But with the gradual rise of hardware upgrades in autoclaves, we’re sure it’ll be perfected and readily available in no time.
Touchscreens
As much as we would like to say a touchscreen in 2021 isn’t news, for autoclaves it most certainly is. For a long while, most if not all autoclaves up to certain models from around 2019 have had
basic info display panels. Most autoclaves relied on lights and sensors along with a small, basic data screen on the exterior unit to start a cycle, get information or identify an issue.
But on newer units like the Tuttnauer TVET or the T-Max 8, the touchscreen is a focal point. A big reason why their tech makes them a cut above the rest. The touchscreen allows for a more user-friendly experience when handling the autoclave. But it can also display more detailed information or error notices as to give more insight into the problem at hand. Or if you look at units like the Statim G4, the screen can show a problem before you even notice anything’s wrong.
G4 Technology
This section is focusing more on the aforementioned Scican G4 technology that ships into their most recent autoclaves. Units like the Statim G4 2000 and Statim G4 5000, and the Scican StatClave
G4. The G4 network that they all rely on allows for wireless connectivity between all of their devices and yours for maximum efficiency. And each device allows for the reading of external USB devices and the option to exchange data through other formats. Or they have the ability to wirelessly send active and accurate cycle data to your other connected devices. that way your focus can always be on the patient.
And G4 units also have built-in maintenance monitoring and information programs. And, with an auto-update option for its software, that’s one less thing you need to worry about. The G4 network can also connect you to a STATIM certified technician if you’re in need of any remote support.
Final Thoughts
Let’s face it, technology is changing the world around us in many, sometimes unexpected ways. And there’s no better time like the present to catch up and keep up with the wave of advancements. Just as your average phone company makes a new model each year that’s more efficient than the last, companies producing the autoclaves are ready to follow suit. Just like most tech you can have on a network, new-style autoclaves are adapting to connectivity for reliability and convenience. Each autoclave has efficient and accurate data logging and transfer methods, but some like the StatClave can even connect to WiFi.
Now all of it may not seem like a lot, but most of what was mentioned may not seem big, but to autoclaves they most certainly are. Things like wireless connections and being able to bring data to and from a cloud source. Having a system like the G4 tech so advanced that it can detect machine AND human error and notify you before anything major occurs. The medical industry is by no means falling behind, in fact any autoclave is no less viable than another. They all do different tasks when or if needed of course, but the upgrades are something to look for as well. New autoclaves are expanding their variety in what kinds of tasks they can accomplish, and sometimes in record time.
And these brands aren’t the only ones specializing in autoclave advancements. This new wave of medical software and tech is happening worldwide by many companies. But even as advanced as autoclaves come, a problem can still occur at any time. There is however no need to be concerned with that. We’re here to help you with our Free Autoclave Technical Support anytime you need it. And if you need some one-on-one video or facetime help please feel free to contact Stanley Sterilizer, Our Virtual Technician. And above all things please ensure you are keeping up with your Preventive Maintenance on all your autoclaves. It will keep them operating safely and efficiently which saves you money and minimizes your down-time. If you need help knowing which autoclave needs what maintenance and when it needs to be done please feel free to sign up for our FREE Preventive Maintenance Program. With that we will keep track of your autoclaves for you and let you know what is due on each unit and when it needs to be done.
As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”
We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.
You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.
The Statim G4 2000 is available here.
The Statim G4 5000 is available here.
The Statim G4 StatClave is available here.
The Tuttnauer 6690 Stand-Alone Autoclave is available here.