The microbial quality of endoscope rinse-water can be assured using this system, designed to produce up to 30 litre/min of treated water to feed several automated endoscope reprocessor units
The increased use of automated endoscope reprocessors (AER) is focusing attention on the microbial quality of endoscope rinse-water.
Guidance in the form of HTM2030 and model engineering specification C32 address the operation and validation requirements for rinse water systems, but do not always emphasise the impact of the chemical quality of mains water and its contribution to deposition within both the AER and endoscope device itself.
Such deposition can inhibit the performance of the detergents and disinfectants, and can give rise to biofilm formation.
The proposed new European standard (prEN15883) is not clear in addressing these issues.
Elga Process Water says its new Medica Biopure system represents a major advance in solving the need of the modern endoscopy facility.
It is designed to produce up to 30 litre/min of treated water, and can feed several AER units via a ring main distribution system.
The Medica Biopure is enclosed in an award winning, plastic moulded cabinet styled to look like a piece of laboratory furniture.
It is easy to clean, takes up minimal space and contains the complete water treatment system from a Type A air gap through to flow and return connections for the treated water ring main.
Following treatment by high efficiency reverse osmosis membrane, the purified water is delivered into a 350 litre storage reservoir which actually forms part of the double walled cabinet, is fully drainable and is fitted with a 0.2um bacterial vent filter to prevent recontamination by airborne bacteria.
From the reservoir the water is pumped through a 254nm UV lamp, a final ultrafiltration membrane and into the distribution ring main to the various points of use.
Unused water is returned to the storage tank via a spray ball, ensuring that all the reservoir's internal surfaces are continuously rinsed, preventing biofilm formation.
A clever piece of electronic control allows the flow to be modulated to meet the peak demand to give a constant pressure of 3bar in the ring main, then inhibit it to reduce noise, temperature build up and power consumption when demand is reduced.
Ambient temperature water systems are notoriously difficult to maintain in a hygienic condition, so the Medica Biopure is provided with a fully automated and validated disinfection protocol which is accessed via an E-key system.
Once the sequence has been initiated, the reservoir is drained to low level and the UV lamp is disabled.
The sequence then waits until the operator adds a pre-packaged and validated single shot of disinfectant chemical via a disinfectant dosing port on the front of the housing.
The on-board conductivity monitor checks that the disinfectant dose has been added and the disinfectant solution is then circulated for a pre-set time through the ultrafilter and distribution pipework.
It is then rinsed from the system and the UV lamp re-started.
The operator then confirms that the residual disinfectant concentration has been reduced to a safe level, and only after acceptance does the controller allow the Medica Biopure to be put back into service.
The whole disinfection procedure it is carried out without opening the Medica Biopure's cabinet housing and can provide printed and electronic outputs to record the process and verify satisfactory completion.
The only time the housing needs to be opened is during quarterly service when the pre-filter cartridges are checked and the RO membrane is cleaned and sanitised.
The Medica Biopure is supported by a national network of field service engineers focused on critical healthcare applications.