Consultants’ Comments

• “Amazingly dry instruments.”
• “I appreciated not having to refill the water daily. The self-contained water system is very convenient.”
• “CycleStor is an excellent feature that will ensure we have the correct information for future repairs.”
• “Design a lock for the metal tray to prevent rotation during loading and unloading of the instruments.”
• “Reduce the noise level of the unit during sterilization.”

Description

The Thermo Scientific PVdry2 Class B Sterilizer is a pre- and post-vacuum steam sterilizer designed to ensure maximum steam penetration with a vacuum drying process which leads to sterile, dry instruments at the end of the sterilization cycle. In the pre-vacuum phase, cold air pockets are eliminated in the chamber before steam is introduced; then during the cycle, an audible vacuum pump pulses steam through the chamber by building pressure and then pulling a vacuum to perfuse steam through the chamber contents. In the post-vacuum phase, the steam is aggressively removed, drying packages to prevent microbial contamination that can occur from wet pouch wicking. A HEPA filter and sealed door are also utilized to ensure sterile drying. As a standard feature, the PVdry2 has a non-recirculating water system to keep the fresh water and wastewater separate. The optional Harvey DI+ is a water supply system that connects directly to the tap water supply, converting incoming water to deionized water and automatically fills and drains the PVdry2 eliminating the need for distilled water purchase and storage. The countertop unit has a 25.4 x 38.8 cm (10″ x 15.5″) chamber to accommodate large surgical cassettes. Each unit comes with a CycleStor USB flash drive to store and log cycle information to meet documentation recommendations. Four preset cycles include unwrapped, wrapped, towel packs, and handpieces. The unwrapped cycle takes 40 minutes to complete, including drying; and the wrapped cycle takes 50 minutes to complete, including drying. The cycle parameters can be adjusted in the lab mode. Accessories provided with the sterilizer include a multipurpose tray rack, cassette rack, and three trays. Twelve consultants evaluated PVdry2 during a three-month period. This product received a 94% clinical rating.

Equipment Features

The PVdry2 is very easy to operate with excellent access to controls and a clear display. Water automatically filling from the optional Harvey DI+ is convenient, and the unit is easy to drain due to the drain ports on the front and rear. The chamber size is efficient for most offices. (Please consult your owner’s manual on the weight that can be loaded into the chamber). The metal rack is versatile as it accommodates three large instrument cassettes placed vertically or six standard trays inserted horizontally. Some consultants found loading and unloading the cassettes challenging because the rack rotates, and there is little space between trays. The cycle times are appropriate, producing dry instruments. The drain connector is located in the front of the unit, ensuring easy access when disposing of wastewater. None of the disposable filters in the PVdry2 or the Harvey DI+ needed to be changed during the evaluation period. The unit will tell the operator when to change the water purification cartridge. CycleStor was perceived as an excellent feature as it was easy to use and allowed one to download critical diagnostics. All consultants recommended a reduction in the noise level during operation. One hundred percent of consultants reported PVdry2 was easier to operate and produced drier instruments than their current sterilizers. Seventy five percent would purchase and recommend PVdry2 to their colleagues.