Sterilization is the process of killing/destroying all types of microbial life. Sterilization could be realized by applying heat, chemicals, radiation, excessive pressure and filtration.
Sutures supplied by Dolphin Sutures are sterile sutures sterilized by Ethylene oxide gas (EO or ETO).
- ETO / EO gas is commonly used to sterilize objects between 30 °C and 60 °C with relative humidity above 30% . Ethylene oxide penetrates well through the medical grade paper to sterilize the sutures. EtO can kill all known viruses, bacteria and fungi, including bacterial spores and is compatible with all the suture materials.
- Automatic computer controlled sterilizers are used to sterilize the sutures with set parameters and in an atmosphere controlled environment where humidity, pressure, temperature is strictly monitored.
- Sterile sutures are flushed with pure medical grade nitrogen gas after removing EtO from the sutures since EtO is a carcinogenic substance.
- Sterile sutures are subsequently checked for moisture content, residual EtO and sterility.
- Catgut sutures are sterilized by a Sterilizing fluid containing Distilled Water, Isopropyl Alcohol and EO.
- Sutures can be sterilized by Gamma Radiation. However Gamma Radiation is not suitable for many suture varieties like polypropylene, catgut.
- When supplying in bulk we can also supply non-sterile sutures.