ABSTRACT
Sterilization can be performed at a small or large scale using tabletop and room- sized machines dedicated to the purpose. In fact, the largest autoclave built held an internal volume of 82,000 fit³, designed to sterilize Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft components. To prevent infection and transmission of harmful viruses due to a buildup of microbes, make sure products are designed to enable and facilitate sterilization. Autoclaves sterilize items by exposing them to steam for a certain timeframe at a specific temperature and pressure. Endoscopes are notorious for causing serious, and even fatal, infections due to improper sterilization. Although part of the endoscope sterilization process is automated, it is largely a manual process, relying on users to perform hundreds of detailed steps correctly to ensure all microbes have been eliminated—a challenge for even the most diligent person.
