Our Technicians can speak with you directly to answer questions you may have and provide guidance on what make and model would best suite your needs.
See below for a quick guide of things to consider before making the purchase.
Type of autoclave
- There are different kinds of autoclaves that sterilize using different methods. Selecting the right one based on your needs will be important.
- Most veterinary and dental practices utilize a steam autoclave for sterilization. These are ideal for heat resistant medical devices.
Chamber size and shape
- You will want to consider what size of equipment you will be processing in the autoclave, and how many loads a day you process. Making sure you have a unit with a chamber large enough to fit your equipment will be critical.
- How much counter space to you have available? You will need to make sure that you have the space for a large autoclave. Most veterinary and dental practices use a countertop autoclave. Autoclaves need to be placed on a sturdy, level surface.
Manual vs automatic autoclaves
- An automatic autoclave will run a cycle without assistance from the user. They are also typically more expensive than a manual autoclave.
- A manual autoclave may require the user to complete multiple actions while running a cycle to keep the process going.
- You will need to consider whether your staff on site will have the time to monitor the autoclave every time a cycle is running if you choose a manual model.
Choosing the right manufacturer
- Is the manufacturer well known and will your autoclave be supported should be need repairs?
- What kind of warranty does the manufacturer offer if you are purchasing your autoclave new?
We can also assist with hooking up your Anesthesia Machines, Ventilators and making sure you have the right connections to keep your practice running smoothly!
]]>Always refer to the manufacturer’s manual for maintenance and cleaning of your dental unit and handpieces.
See below for tips on maintaining your dental unit and handpieces.
You should check your equipment every day before starting procedures to make sure it is in proper working condition.
- If your dental compressor takes oil, does it have the appropriate amount?
- You should also think about what backup you have in place if any of the equipment fails during a procedure. Do you have a backup handpiece to use if yours stops working mid-procedure? Do you have a spare turbine available?
- Always lubricate your handpiece before use. Press the pedal for 8-10 seconds to make sure the lubricant works its way through the handpiece. Always lubricate your handpiece before autoclaving it at the end of the day. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual.
- Check to make sure your highspeed handpiece is working at the correct pressure.
- Check to make sure you can increase and decrease the water flow on your highspeed handpiece.
- Check the tip length on your ultrasonic scaler. Many manufacturers provide an easy-to-use printed card to show wear and indicate when the tip should be replaced.
- Check your compressor to make sure the drain valve is closed.
At the end of every day, you should wipe down the dental unit and sterilize your handpieces.
- Never autoclave your highspeed handpiece with a bur inserted, and never autoclave the lowspeed handpiece with a prophy angle on it.
- Drain your compressor tank at the end of the day to remove moisture.
While there is a good chance you’ll find your pet if they’re wearing a collar and tags, it’s always possible that the collar may come off or that they weren’t wearing it when they went missing. Having a collar on your pet is an important step you should also take, as it is most likely that a regular citizen will be the first to find your lost pet, and they will not have a scanner to check for a microchip.
Losing a much-loved member of your family is something we all want to avoid, and microchipping your pet is another step you can take to help avoid that heart wrenching situation.
Most veterinarians and animal shelters can implant a microchip. Getting the microchip is only the first step though, you must register with the microchip company! Some companies charge a one-time fee to register, while others have an annual fee. If your company charges an annual fee, be sure to renew your membership every year.
After you have the chip registered, be sure to update any changes through that company such as an address or phone number change to ensure you are contacted should your missing pet be found, and their chip scanned.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. Cats without microchips were reunited with their owners only 1.8% of the time, whereas microchipped cats went back home 38.5% of the time.
]]>Along with installing the actual medical gas piping, we provide and install vacuum pumps, waste gas scavenger systems, wall or ceiling outlets, hose drops, and system status monitoring systems.
We provide complete medical gas systems from concept and design to complete finished systems.
Each one custom built to fit your hospital or clinics particular requirements.
During the design process our team will offer valuable feedback and suggestions, as well solutions that may be more cost effective for your practice.
We recently installed an outdoor medical gas storage space for a customer, which included new piping throughout the building and pressure alarms.
Whether you just need a repair, a practice update, or a new build contact our installation team!
We’re here to help.
]]>October is the ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Adopting a dog helps homeless animals find a forever home. Every year approximately 670,000 dogs are euthanized in the United States.
Adopting a dog is a great way to combat puppy mills, and if you buy your pet from a pet store, online seller, or a flea market your dog is almost certainly coming from a puppy mill. Puppy mills keep dogs in deplorable conditions, and usually provide little or no veterinary care. Most dogs in puppy mills will never live life outside of a cage and are bred repeatedly.
If you adopt a dog, you are helping more than just one animal. By adopting a dog, you are making room in the shelter for another stray or surrendered dog to have the chance to find a forever home.
Adopting an adult dog also means you get to avoid the troublesome puppy years, and many shelter dogs are already trained with basic commands including being house broken, knowing how to sit, lay down, and stay. Many shelter dogs have already been socialized with children, other dogs, and cats as well. While some shelter dogs come from difficult backgrounds, many were surrendered due to no fault of their own but because of a human problem like moving, divorce, or deciding a grown dog is not as cute as a puppy.
Even if you are unable to adopt a dog, you can still help! Donating to your local humane society, or directly to the ASPCA is a great option to contribute to the cause.
]]>– Always reference your instruction manual for proper use and maintenance of your centrifuge.
Schedule routine maintenance on your centrifuge to identify issues and to verify it is operating properly. We recommend an annual basis at a minimum. Scheduled maintenance by a trained Technician can allow you to address issues that have already arose to avoid damage to the centrifuge, as well as preventing damage from taking place. The scheduled maintenance will verify the physical condition, electrical condition and fully test the centrifuge to ensure it is operating as the manufacturer intends. If you notice anything unusual, like the centrifuge vibrating or making odd noises, stop the spin and reach out to a service representative for maintenance to avoid further damage.
The rotor on a centrifuge is designed to be ran up to maximum speed with a specific weight in the load. You should never run a rotor at a higher speed than what is specified by the manufacturer. If you are using high density solutions, you need to reduce the run speed to avoid stress on the rotor and should consult your instruction manual for directions. Always make sure loads are balanced before running the centrifuge and ensure that it is on a level surface.
Glass tubes can break while running your centrifuge. This can be caused by improper loading or defects. Before running the centrifuge again, you need to remove all glass fragments and you should clean the centrifuge as soon as possible. This includes any gray dust you may see.
– Always unplug the centrifuge prior to cleaning.
You should clean your centrifuge daily or weekly, or at the very least monthly basis. Refer to your instruction manual for cleaning recommendations, as they will often advise of the proper cleaning materials and cleaner to use. Some cleaners, like bleach, can discolor or damage stainless steel and others can damage plastics.
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]]>Your autoclave should come with a user manual, and it’s important to reference this and follow the directions provided by the manufacturer of your specific unit. This includes weekly or monthly cleaning.
You should have your autoclave inspected on an annual basis by a trained Technician. This allows you to confirm the unit is functioning properly, safely and as the manufacturer intends. It also allows you to identify issues and address them before they become a bigger problem and impact your patient care.
Below are some steps to maintain and use your autoclave.
- It’s important not to overload the autoclave, as this will cause inadequate sterilization and impacts the drying.
- You should drain the water from your reservoir on a weekly basis, and refill it with distilled water. Using distilled water is very important! You should never use tap water as it increases the amount of cleaning needed and can reduce the life of your autoclave. Using tap water can also lead to expensive repairs and can even result in the need to replace the unit.
- It is a strong recommendation to perform a biological live spore test weekly or at the very least monthly to ensure sterilization.
- It’s important that the contents you are sterilizing are clean and have no debris such as blood or organic tissue. Not doing so can damage the instruments, or the sterilizer. Using an ultrasonic cleaner prior to sterilization can help ensure the contents are clean.
- Check your door seal regularly for any damage. Door seals do need replaced, and the frequency will depend largely on the amount of use.
When you are not using your microscope use a dust cover, as this can help extend the life of your microscope. You should store your microscope in a clean, dry area that has good ventilation. Do not store your microscope without any eyepieces, even if you have it covered. This allows dust to gather and collect in the eye tubes, and these can be difficult to clean.
Routine and annual maintenance of your microscope can help ensure that it continues to work well for years to come.
We recommend annual maintenance by a trained Technician. This can also help identify any issues that may need addressed before they become a bigger problem and impact your patient care.
You can clean off dust using pressurized air. It is very important to not apply pressure when cleaning your lenses or objectives as this can damage them.
It is very easy for microscope lenses to become scratched, so it is important to treat them with care. Never use anything that is abrasive to clean your microscope lens.
You should remove any traces of oil from your 100x objective daily. Not removing the traces of oil can cause damage. Oil can penetrate the gears and slide mechanisms and get into crevices between the lens elements and the mounting structures. This could potentially cause irreversible damage.
When regularly using your microscope, you may find that the collars, knobs, and fasteners become loose and require tightening. It is important to never over-tighten or use force when you are performing any maintenance. This can cause damage to the metal parts in your microscope.
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