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Cassette autoclave
Also called: cassette sterilizer, rapid steam sterilizer
A small, fast steam sterilizer where a slide-out cassette becomes the chamber.
A cassette autoclave is a compact steam sterilizer. Instead of a big chamber with a door, you load instruments into a flat metal cassette and slide the cassette into the machine. The thin cassette heats and cools quickly, so cycles are short. Many offices use one alongside a larger chamber autoclave, often for handpieces.
How to spot it
- A low, wide box with a slot in the front for a flat, drawer-like metal cassette.
- The cassette has a handle and a lid that latches.
What it is used for
- Runs wrapped or unwrapped cycles, depending on the model and the cycle chosen.
- Handy for quick turnaround of handpieces between patients.
Safety and care
- Unwrapped items must be used right away or packaged; critical instruments are never stored unwrapped.
- Never use an unwrapped cycle for implants.
- Monitor it like any sterilizer (mechanical, chemical, weekly spore test) and follow the manufacturer's instructions for care.
Related
Sources: SciCan. STATIM S Cassette Autoclaves brochure (SD-208), CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17), CDC. Dental Infection Prevention FAQs: Sterilization Monitoring