Why Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Necessary

(This article is an updated version of an article written for our site on May 3, 2018. Which you can find here.)

While the process of any procedure done in a medical practice is important, the upkeep and sterilization process after the fact is just as important. Any number of microorganisms or pathogens could be clinging to those instruments unnoticed. And they’d have a severe effect on the next patient who’s on the receiving end of that tool. It’s why sterilization is so important. It eliminates pathogens in a controlled environment designed for that express purpose.

Enter, the autoclave. Autoclaves are machines used to carry out industrial and scientific processes requiring elevated temperature and pressure in relation to ambient pressure and/or temperature. These would be steam autoclaves, which nowadays is an umbrella term. Because there are so many types of steam autoclaves; gravity, pulse, pre/post-vacuum, you name it. They use these varying techniques to get into harder to reach areas within these tools. Porous hiding spots where pathogens can be hiding. And they’re very reliable.

But these days, with the way technology in the medical industry has advances, there’s always something new. Something different. A very different way to go about proper sterilization. Ultrasonic cleaners sterilize using ultrasonic sound waves to scrub tools of pathogens. And that’s what we’d like to talk about, we’d like to inject some variety into your choices. Ultrasonic cleaners are just as popular as steam sterilizers today. And it’s all about preference, so we’d like to share some information with you that can help you understand just how important ultrasonic cleaners really are.

And if you have any questions, you can call our Free Tech Support line, 704-966-1650 Option 3 for free technical support. 

Ultrasonic Cleaners 

Before we talk about their importance, we should touch on what an ultrasonic cleaner is and does. It was mentioned briefly above, but there’s more to it than just that. As we mentioned before, ultrasonic cleaners utilize ultrasonic sound to scrub your tools of pathogens. It does this by producing around 40 kHz or more of sound that agitates the solvent liquid inside the chamber. The liquid inside the chamber usually consists of water or liquid solvent. And this agitation in turn induces cavitation. But what is cavitation?

Best Technology Inc. best said it here:  “Cavitation ‘bubbles’ form when sonic energy creates a void (or cavity) which gets trapped as a bubble in a liquid solution of water or solvent. These microscopic bubbles implode with such force that contaminants adhering to surfaces are dislodged.” The liquid inside the chamber can be either water-based or solvent based, and is meant to reduce surface tension and increase cavitation. Water based solutions aren’t as effective at cleaning as solvent-based, but are better for the environment. 

Why Are They Important? 

Now we get into the real reason we’re here. Why the Ultrasonic Cleaner is important in the first place. The process of using ultrasonic sound and cavitation to clean is extremely effective. With the solvent itself containing wetting agents to reduce surface tension and increase cavitation. The cavitation bubbles allow better reach and penetration into more porous materials. Getting deep into the cavities and crevices that make the ultrasonic disinfection method leagues better than manual cleaning. And it also removes any debris in the process too, killing two birds with one stone. 

This kind of guaranteed sterilization power can provide peace of mind. Knowing that it can cover even ground anywhere that pathogens can hide out. Any hole, crevice, divot, everything gets clean. This puts it in a whole different class than standard sterilization techniques we have today. And most ultrasonic cleaners can have a sterilization time of around 3-6 minutes. That is definitely fast. 

And unlike some sterilizers that can take materials in a specified form, ultrasonic cleaners can sterilize a variety of items right out of the box. Things like metals, glass, rubber, ceramics and some hard plastics. And this in turn means that they’re not JUST in the medical industry. Ultrasonic cleaners have contacts in automotive, aerospace, dental, electronics, and jewelry industries just to name a few. Their importance cannot be understated. The power and efficiency they provide is second to none. And with such accessibility it’s sure to suit any needs you have.  

Some of the Best Names in Ultrasonic Cleaning

Hopefully we’ve done a good job at highlighting just why ultrasonic cleaning is so important. And with that we’d like to share some of the best names that are in the business of Ultrasonic Cleaning. 

The Coltene BioSonic UC150

The BioSonic UC150 had people singing its praises since its debut. This compact countertop ultrasonic cleaner is one of the best you’ll find on the market. It sports a sleek, modern design and is entirely non-intrusive. It’s quiet and can sit both countertop and recessed if need be. It has a very user-friendly approach. Things like: 

• Glove-friendly Touchscreen Display
• Externally accessible draining system
• USB Interface
• Data logging that can be transferred 
• Controlled Heating
• Customized operation via user modes
• The list goes on

If this quiet, 1.5 gallon ultrasonic cleaner is something you’re interested in, we’ve got more information in an article about it here.

And you can purchase the Coltene BioSonic UC150 from us here. 

The DuraSonic Ultrasonic Cleaner

While not quite as compact as the BioSonic, the DuraSonic line of ultrasonic cleaners shouldn’t go under your radar. Durasonic’s ultrasonic cleaners have a wide range of sizes to fit your specific needs. And for the price, some of these size comparisons can’t be beat. You can get one of these for yourself in .75 gallon, 1 gallon, 1.5 gallons, 2.1 gallons, 3 gallons, 4 gallons, and even 6.6 gallons. And this line of cleaners house features like:

• Sweep and Degas Function
• Temperature Controlled Heat for best cleaning performance
• Operator Temperature Controls (knob)
• Digital Ultrasonic Timer
• Comes with Free Basket and Cover
• Very Reliable Industrial-Grade Transducer
• Tank Material: Stainless Steel

If you think that the wide variety of the DuraSonic Ultrasonic Cleaners are for you, you can purchase them from us here. 

The Tuttnauer Clean and Simple

Not much is currently known about this new contender in ultrasonic cleaning. But with a name like Tuttnauer attached to it, there’s no mistaking that this is destined to be one of the best. Operating at a quiet 60kHz, this gentle frequency allows for gentle care of the instruments while simultaneously removing all surface contamination. And these can be purchases in 1 gallon, 3 gallon and 6 gallon models. And with its release comes accessories to function with it, such as clean and simple tablets, turning normal tap water into proper ultrasonic solution. Or the ultrasonic cleaning indicators used for routine monitoring of the washer itself. Speaking of the washer, Tuttnauer’s newest boasts these features: 

• High efficiency 60 kHz of cavitation for a thorough and quieter cleaning
• Durable vinyl clad steel housing…easy to clean and scratch resistant
• Stainless steel tank with cover
• Full line of accessories available

If want to check out Tuttnauer’s NEW Clean and Simple Ultrasonic cleaners, we have them available for purchase here.