Radiation Sterilization

Medical products, such as surgical dressings, sutures, catheters and syringes must be sterilized before they can be used in medical procedures. This is frequently done using radiation.

*HOW DOES THIS PROCESS WORK"

Radiation sterilization involves exposure of products to gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source for a predetermined amount of time. The step by step process is such:

 Hermetically sealed medical products are packed in cardboard boxes.

 Boxes are loaded in carriers.

 Each carries travels at a controlled speed on an overhead monorail.

 Enters the irradiation cell through a labyrinth.

 Boxes are exposed to gamma rays from a Co-60

 Five passes ensures that the products are exposed to the minimum recommended dose which is 25 kiloGray

The energy from the photons of gamma radiation is transferred to the electrons in the material producing highly active electrons and highly reactive free radicals. These species...