An autoclave is a gas-tight sealable pressure vessel that is used to sterilize instruments and materials using hot steam under high pressure. The pressure raises the boiling point of the water, allowing temperatures of up to 134 °C to be reached in order to kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and spores.
Autoclaves are essential in medical practice as they sterilize surgical instruments, surgical linen, swabs and other devices that come into direct contact with patients. The aim is to kill all harmful microorganisms in order to prevent infections.
A typical autoclave goes through several phases: the pre-vacuum to remove the air, the sterilization phase with saturated steam and the final drying phase. These phases ensure that the steam reaches all surfaces of the items. Depending on the degree of vacuum or air removal, autoclaves can be divided into class S and class B autoclaves.
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Class B autoclaves in medicine
Class B autoclaves are among the most powerful and versatile sterilizers developed specifically for the medical sector. They work with a fractionated vacuum process in which the air is evacuated from the sterilization chamber in several cycles and then steam is added to ensure that the steam reaches all surfaces of the items to be sterilized. This method ensures reliable sterilization even for complex instruments with cavities or porous materials.
Thanks to this technology, class B autoclaves are able to sterilize not only solid and porous materials, but also narrow hollow instruments in the “critical B” category, such as surgical straight and contra-angle handpieces and endoscopes. Even textiles and packaging can be sterilized safely and efficiently.
The performance of class B autoclaves is regularly tested using a standardized helix test body. This test simulates the harshest conditions for steam penetration to ensure that complete sterilization is guaranteed even under demanding conditions. The versatility and performance of these autoclaves make them the ideal choice for practices and clinics that want to maintain the highest standards of hygiene.
Typical areas of application
Dental practices, e.g. orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery Sterilization of dental straight and contra-angle handpieces, which often have complex cavities.
Surgical practices, e.g. orthopaedists, ophthalmologists Sterilization of packaged surgical instruments with narrow lumens.
Advantages of class B autoclaves:
Sterilization of wrapped and unwrapped instruments Ideal for single or double-wrapped surgical sets that require sterile storage.
Suitable for hollow instruments Thanks to their ability to remove air from hollow bodies, they can also safely sterilize medical devices and instruments with complicated shapes.
Maximum flexibility Almost all types of items to be sterilized can be treated, from metal instruments to textiles.
Class S autoclaves in medicine
Class S autoclaves offer a less complex but more economical solution for practices with less demanding sterilization requirements. They do not use fractionated vacuum, but generally work with direct steam injection. Class S devices are suitable for solid instruments and simpler hollow items, but not for complex or porous materials, as is the case with Class B devices. For practices that do not use complex hollow instruments, a class S autoclave may be the right alternative. Sterilization takes place either with a fractionated flow process or even with a simple pre-vacuum.
The intended use in the user manual provides an overview of the area of application: Depending on the model, this ranges from simple hollow instruments (e.g. scissors and forceps) to more complex hollow instruments.
Typical areas of application:
General medical practices
Sterilization of simple instruments such as tweezers and scissors.
Cosmetic and podiatry practices
Cleaning of tools that do not have complex hollow bodies or areas that are difficult to sterilize.
Advantages of class S autoclaves:
Cost-effective solution
They offer an economical alternative to class B autoclaves, especially for smaller practices with simpler sterilization requirements.
Simple operation
Ideal for less complex medical applications and instruments that do not require extensive sterilization.
Conclusion
Autoclaves are indispensable in the medical sector for safe and effective sterilization. While class B autoclaves are perfect for demanding tasks such as the sterilization of hollow bodies and wrapped instruments, class S autoclaves offer a more economical solution for less complex applications. Both types help to prevent infections and ensure patient safety.
Find out more about our high-quality class B and S autoclaves and find the right model for your practice.
Class B or Class S Autoclave: Selection Based on Instrumentation
The choice between Class B and Class S autoclaves depends primarily on the instruments, the type of packaging, and the sterilization requirements:
Class B autoclaves for demanding sterilization: They use a fractionated vacuum process and are suitable for packaged and unpackaged instruments, porous materials, and complex hollow-body instruments.
Class S autoclaves for simpler requirements: They are suitable for specified loads and—depending on their intended use—simple to moderately complex hollow instruments, and offer a cost-effective alternative for less demanding applications.
The type of instruments determines the device class: The decisive factor is which medical devices and types of packaging actually need to be sterilized in the practice.
Class B offers maximum flexibility: Dental practices and surgical facilities in particular benefit from its broad suitability for diverse and demanding sterilization items.
Consider the intended use: For Class S autoclaves, the user manual specifies which instruments and loads may be safely processed.
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