Instrument Reprocessing for Universities: Solutions for Teaching, Research, and Clinical Practice
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To provide high-quality care and reliably serve a high volume of patients, university hospitals need high-performance, optimally coordinated solutions for instrument reprocessing. MELAG provides comprehensive support—from facility and process planning through cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization to documentation and service. Discover our product recommendations for universities and university hospitals.
Efficient Instrument Reprocessing at High Capacities
The high-performance MELAtherm 20 thermal disinfector enables the automated cleaning and disinfection of large quantities of instruments. With the appropriate loading configurations, up to 16 standard wash trays can be processed in the lower basket, along with additional smaller wash trays in the upper basket. This enables university hospitals to achieve reliable reprocessing results and efficient processes for instrument sets used in both patient care and education, even with a high patient volume.
At dental universities, the rapid reprocessing and maintenance of handpieces and contra-angles is also particularly important. Careclave and MELAcare perfectly complement the workflow: cleaning, disinfection, and oil maintenance can be completed in as little as 14 minutes—for up to 144 instruments per workday. This ensures that sufficient reprocessed instruments are available at all times, even when dealing with large volumes of instruments in student clinical courses.
The MELAseal 200 and MELAseal 300 bar sealers enable the validatable packaging of critical medical devices in sterilization packaging. The MELAseal 300’s automatic film feed supports particularly efficient workflows: Even large quantities of individual instruments can be packaged quickly, continuously, and reliably.
If the university hospital relies on instrument sets in wash-tray systems, these can be packaged in sterilization containers. This reduces the use of single-use packaging, speeds up the workflow, and ensures a reliable sterile barrier system.
High-Performance Sterilization for High Throughput
For the sterilization of large volumes of medical devices, MELAG offers high-performance autoclaves with a chamber volume of up to 200 liters. The Vacuclave 550 and the Cliniclave series support an efficient and reliable sterilization workflow in university hospitals. Depending on the room layout and process requirements, single- or double-door solutions are available—optimally tailored to the workflows of your AEMP (Medical Device Reprocessing Unit).
Complete Documentation and Secure Release
Traceability and reliable verification of instrument reprocessing are also of central importance in university hospitals. MELAtrace Pro supports comprehensive documentation and release of reprocessed instruments and instrument sets.With load management, tamper-proof reprocessing protocols, and barcode labeling, this documentation and release software ensures maximum transparency. This allows each reprocessing process to be clearly assigned and the proper sequence of instrument reprocessing to be documented in a traceable manner.
Centralized Instrument Reprocessing at Danube Private University: Efficient, Independent, and Traceable
Challenge: High patient volume in a limited space
Founded in 2012, Danube Private University combines modern dental education and clinical patient care under one roof. Each semester, 48 students are enrolled in the program, while approximately 200 students are present at the clinic each day. At 48 treatment stations, up to 400 to 500 patients are treated each day. The demands on the availability of hygienically reprocessed instruments are correspondingly high.
Before planning the reprocessing system, a fundamental decision had to be made: Should the university reprocess its instruments in-house or use the large external reprocessing service provider in Krems? An external solution, however, would have meant additional transport routes, longer turnaround times, and greater dependence on fixed pickup and delivery cycles. For the treatment courses, on the other hand, it was crucial that instruments be made available again quickly, reliably, and in sufficient quantities.
Solution: A High-Performance Central AEMP
Danube Private University therefore opted for its own central medical device reprocessing unit (AEMP). The solution combines high capacity with efficient, clearly structured processes—all within the most compact footprint possible.
Five MELAtherm thermal disinfectors and three ultrasonic cleaners enable the rapid cleaning and disinfection of large quantities of instruments. The instruments are then packaged using two MELAseal Pro sealing machines or in a stock of approximately 1,000 sterilization containers. For sterilization, four Vacuklav 40 B+ units, each with an 18-liter chamber volume, and one Cliniclave 45 with a 100-liter chamber are available. The combination of several compact autoclaves and one large autoclave allows for flexible adaptation to varying loads and peak utilization.
MELAtrace is used to electronically document and release the reprocessing procedures. MELAprint 60 handles the labeling of instruments and sets. This creates a seamless, traceable workflow—from cleaning and disinfection through packaging and sterilization to documented release. The department’s own AEMP thus lays the foundation for independent processes, short instrument turnaround times, and reliable conditions for learning and treatment.
Danube Private University x MELAG
For its Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Danube Private University in Krems an der Donau, Austria, relies on five MELAtherm units, two MELAseal Pro units, four Vacuklav 40 B+ units, and one Cliniclave 45. The equipment is supplemented by 1,000 containers as well as MELAtrace and MELAprint 60 for labeling. This creates a seamlessly coordinated process—from cleaning to documentation.
Thousands of medical and dental schools around the world train large numbers of students. A high volume of patients and rotating groups of students place special demands on efficient instrument reprocessing.
Whether instrument reprocessing is carried out centrally in a reprocessing room or decentralized across multiple locations depends on patient and student throughput, spatial conditions, and existing staffing structures. Involving MELAG in the planning process from the very beginning lays the foundation for a reprocessing process that is optimally tailored to the specific university hospital.
Centralized Instrument Reprocessing Using a Two-Room Design at the University of Sarajevo: Greater Capacity, Flexibility, and Process Reliability
As part of a comprehensive modernization project, the University of Sarajevo planned to revamp its dental clinic. With 159 treatment stations and approximately 200 students per semester, large quantities of instruments must be reliably reprocessed every day in a short amount of time. During the initial planning phase, the focus was primarily on the treatment concept. However, future requirements for instrument reprocessing had not yet been sufficiently taken into account.
Decentralized reprocessing directly in the individual treatment areas would have led to inconsistent workflows, a high level of manual effort, and limited capacity given the scale of the operation. Together with MELAG, the university therefore developed a needs-based approach: a shift from decentralized processes to a central reprocessing unit for medical devices. The new hygiene workflow was designed to enable high throughput while remaining flexible enough to adapt to varying instrument volumes and loading conditions.
From Existing Space to Central AEMP
A particular challenge was integrating the new reprocessing facility into the existing building structure. A former conference room and two storage rooms were redesigned for this purpose into a clearly separated two-room concept. In the non-clean area, eight thermal disinfectors handle the mechanical cleaning and disinfection of the instruments. The reprocessed instruments are then transferred to the clean area, where packaging, sterilization, release, and distribution take place.
For sterilization, the University of Sarajevo relies on a combination of eight Vacuclave autoclaves and three models from the Cliniclave series. The different chamber sizes allow for flexible loading, short cycle times, and distribution of instrument quantities based on demand. This enables both smaller loads and extensive instrument sets to be sterilized efficiently.
In addition, approximately 700 MELAstore trays and boxes are in use. They reduce manual steps, simplify transport between treatment and reprocessing, and support a standardized instrument cycle. In this way, a high-performance central AEMP was created from limited floor space, meeting the high demands of both teaching and patient care.
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System Solution for Sarajevo
As part of a modernization project, the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina established an efficient sterilization process for approximately 200 students per semester. The university installed eight MELAtherm units, three MELAseal Pro units, eight practice autoclaves, three large autoclaves, and 700 MELAstore trays and boxes.
With 210 treatment units and up to 200 students per semester, the Arab Academy in Kerdasa, Egypt, needed a high-performance instrument reprocessing system. To meet this need, a comprehensive MELAG system solution was installed, including MELAtherm, MELAseal Pro, Vacuklav 43 B+, and MELAtrace. A representative from the distributor supported the project on-site for one year, providing training, instruction, and service.
Conclusion: Successful instrument reprocessing begins with comprehensive planning
The projects at Danube Private University, the University of Sarajevo, and the Arab Academy demonstrate that effective instrument reprocessing does not result solely from the selection of individual devices. What is crucial is a comprehensive concept that takes into account spatial conditions, the volume of instruments, treatment procedures, and future capacity requirements from the very beginning.
The earlier instrument reprocessing is incorporated into the university hospital’s planning, the better the layout, workflow, and hygiene processes can be coordinated. In doing so, the focus should not be limited to individual process steps such as cleaning, packaging, or sterilization. Only the interaction of all work steps—from the return of contaminated instruments to documented release—creates a safe and efficient instrument cycle.
Equally important is flexible equipment configuration. The combination of different equipment capacities makes it possible to reprocess both small loads and large quantities of instruments as needed. Multiple units that can be operated in parallel also increase availability, shorten turnaround times, and minimize the impact of potential outages. Innovative and optimally sized solutions can also limit the long-term costs associated with maintenance, validation, and repairs.
A reliable service partner is a key factor for success in this regard. Professional installation, regular maintenance, rapid technical support, and ongoing training ensure that the planned processes are implemented safely even during daily operations.
The most important insight from the university projects is therefore this: Early, comprehensive, and flexible planning lays the foundation for maximum process reliability, short instrument turnaround times, and consistently reliable conditions for teaching and patient care.
See for yourself the excellent experiences our customers have had in the fields of outpatient surgery centers, day clinics, medical care centers (MVZ), and smaller hospitals. Because we want to make the instrument reprocessing process more efficient and simpler. That has been our mission since our founding in 1951.
With the innovative device concept, Cliniclave 45 ensures safe and fast availability of sterile instruments.
The Surgical Center Berger Klinik
"Quick and safe sterilization of an increased number of instruments makes for higher efficiency and improves the the patient welfare."
Hospital Sandnes Emergency Center
"We need safe and fast sterilisation of instruments for emergency treatment - that is why we have chosen the Cliniclave 45 from MELAG."
Surgery Center in Potsdam
"The Cliniclave 45 is an entirely reliable large steam sterilizer producing excellent drying results and short program run times."
The Surgical Center Berger Klinik
"Quick and safe sterilization of an increased number of instruments makes for higher efficiency and improves the the patient welfare."
The single-door large autoclave with a capacity of 105 litres (1 sterilisation unit) guarantees reliable sterilisation of up to 35 kg loads in the shortest possible time thanks to the patented double-jacket technology.
