Consultants’ Comments

• “Contemporary, high-tech appearance.”
• “Instruments never have to be on the counter.”
• “Sharps container and ultrasonic cleaner can be built into the countertop.”
• “Under cabinet lighting is a nice touch.”
• “I like that we were able to customize the layout for our space.”
• “They thought of everything – even a vacuum to drain the sterilizer!”

Description

Solaris is a modular sterilization center that is fully customizable. Space requirement is a minimum of 10 linear feet. Individual components are arranged in a four-stage linear fashion that follows the flow of instrument processing:

• Stage 1: Receiving, Cleaning, Decontamination
• Stage 2: Preparation and Wrapping
• Stage 3: Sterilization
• Stage 4: Sterile Storage

The receiving area is defined by upper cabinets with textured glass panels and ed interior lighting. Cabinet doors are controlled by a kick plate for hands-free placement of used trays of instruments for later processing. A deep stainless steel sink and gooseneck faucet with pullout spray head are standard. Soap, towel and glove dispensers are built-in, as is a retractable HVE hose. The wrap station has two pullout trays and a compressed air line for connection of a hand-piece purge/lube unit. The autoclave tower has pullout shelves for two sterilizers. The sterile storage area is defined by blue interior lighting and can be configured to store trays or cassettes. An optional water system, Vista-Pure, produces purified water for use in autoclaves and operatory water bottles. A 14-foot custom unit with solid-surface countertops was used by 10 consultants during a nine-month evaluation period. Solaris received a 98% clinical rating.

Equipment Features

Solaris is an efficient and esthetic unit that streamlines instrument cleaning, sterilization and storage. The number of options, surfaces, colors and sizes offer versatility for the needs of most practices. The cabinetry is sturdy and well built drawers roll smoothly and all components functioned flawlessly during the evaluation period. The cabinetry layout follows the workflow, with separation between each of the four stages. The contaminated instrument storage keeps these items off of the countertop, an important feature for offices in which the sterilization center is in a traffic area. The Solaris unit evaluated had an under-mounted ultrasonic cleaner, M250 Soniclean (Midmark), which keeps the countertop uncluttered and reduces noise. The sink faucet sprayer is convenient for rinsing instruments, and the solid-surface countertop is easy to clean and disinfect. Two sterilizers can be stacked for efficiency, and the integrated HVE is a great convenience in draining them. A hose from the Vista-Pure system delivers purified water directly to the autoclaves, eliminating the need for purchasing distilled water. The pullout trays in the wrapping station are designed for cassette wraps and sterilization bags and are at a comfortable height for the user. Overall, auxiliaries felt that everything they need for instrument processing was at their fingertips. All consultants found Solaris to be better than their current sterilization center, and 100% would recommend it.