Monica D.

Top 10 Best Scope Washers for Large Medical Facilities Patient Safety is paramount for all medical facilities. And automatic endoscope reprocessors (AERs), commonly known as scope washers, are an essential part of patient safety. But when it comes to purchasing a scope washer the requirements between large hospitals and smaller practices become quite significant. For this reason, we've created a current Top 10 Scope Washers List for large hospitals and medical facilities. We've also provided many insights into the factors that we 've considered in compiling this Top 10 best scope washers ...

 If you have a small medical practice that utilizes AERs (Automatic Endoscope Reprocessors), or "Scope Washers" as they are commonly called you may be wondering which is the best scope washer that will meet the needs of your small clinic. The first step is identifying a small practices needs. Small Medical Practice Needs Considered Space EfficiencyWhy: Small practices usually have limited space. So the footprint and required area around the unit to operate it comfortably must be taken into consideration. So our Top 10 list includes Scope Washers that take into consideration Space con...

In medical facilities, cleanliness is not just a requirement—it's a matter of life and death. And one crucial piece of equipment with regards to maintaining cleanliness is the scope washer. A scope washer, or scope cleaner, is a machine designed to clean and disinfect endoscopes. These instruments, used for internal examinations, must be spotless and sterile after each use. Without proper cleaning, they could become a breeding ground for bacteria and through cross contamination risk patient safety. This guide covers a number of topics that will help you understand more about scope washers and ...

.1 Micron filters are an extremely specialized filtration device that captures particles as small as 0.1 micrometers (μm) in diameter. One micron is one-millionth of a meter, which means these filters are engineered to stop particles that are much smaller than most bacteria or pathogens. To get a perspective of how small 0.1 micrometers is, a human hair is typically 70-100 micrometers. This means that 0.1 micrometers is 700 to 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Considering that that most bacteria range in size from 0.5 to 5 micrometers, 0.1 micrometers is about 5-50 times smal...

An "AER Filter" is a filter used in an "Automated Endoscopic Reprocessor". AERs are used in the medical industry to clean and disinfect flexible endoscopes and their accessories used in endoscopy procedures. By adding the word "filter" after "AER" it should clarify your query making it related to an "Automated Endoscopic Reprocessor". So why don't search engines agree? Back in 2020 we did an article here on the MedService Repair blog named "Searching for AER filters" that shared the frustrating results you experience on virtually all search engines when you type "AER filter" into a search engi...

 It might seem like common sense that Preventative Maintenance on AERs is critical, but many companies don't think about, take the time, or have the time to implement it. That's where companies like MedService Repair can help. We offer preventive maintenance services and maintenance kits to make this essential task as easy as possible for you no matter what brand of AER your office is currently using. Automated Endoscope Reprocessers are used in the healthcare industry where gastroenterology and surgical departments perform endoscopic procedures regularly. AERs are critical to the cleanin...

The ASP AER (Automated Endoscope Reprocessor) system is an extremely critical and valuable piece of equipment to the healthcare industry. Facilities that use endoscopes would typically know this first hand. An AER cleans and disinfects endoscopes post use increasing safety levels for patients and making your medical facility operate more efficiently. For an AER to continue to run properly, extend its life expectancy and to keep it cost effective preventative maintenance is the key. Therefore, we thought an article that outlined some of the reasons that preventative maintenance makes sense incl...

 Wondering where Custom Ultrasonics went to? You're not alone and it hasn't gone away. Wassenburg Medical Acquired Custom Ultrasonics on December 31st 2021. All of Custom Ultrasonics activities and assets were assumed by Wassenburg Medical including the staff members.Custom Ultrasonics seemed to be the perfect fit for Wassenburg as both have mission statements that were in alignment. Both focus on manufacturing and distributing high quality products having to do with infection control including endoscopic devices, instrumentation and other related equipment, components and supplies.B...

Why can't I find AER Filters on Google when I type "AER Filter"? Almost every result is for "AIR" Filters (with an "I" instead of "E"). Talk about frustrating for the person in charge of maintaining the AER (Automatic Endoscope Reprocessor) for their medical facility. TIP | Go to "The Workaround" below to find out how to search for and find "AER Filters". We've brought this topic up once previously, but we thought it would be a good idea to do a follow-up and fill you in on how Google is handling it in 2024. The bottom line is that these search engine errors are still happening and what might ...

There are numerous enzymatic products on the market. This is especially true in the medical field and we sell a number of them here on this web site. But have you ever wondered, what does "Enzymatic" really mean and why enzymes are so critical to include in these products we offer?  If you look up the word in the dictionary you get: "adjective" 1. Of or relating to an Enzyme.Not much help in this writer's opinion. Digging a little deeper we find that "Enzymatic" typically refers to processes or substance(s) that involve or are related to enzymes. Still not a great explanation so we need t...

Regular preventive maintenance and service of virtually every make and model of medical equipment is extremely important for a host of reasons. That includes the top manufacturers like Steris, Medivators (Cantel), ASP/J&J, Olympus and Custom Ultrasonics. And yet in busy medical offices across the nation, thinking about the service schedule and maintenance of medical equipment is rarely at the forefront of attention as there's just so many things that must be paid attention to. Considering the consequences of equipment malfunction or it being inoperable, it makes good sense to have a regula...

The investment required in medical devices is huge no matter what manufacturer's solutions you've chosen. So, implementing a strategic service and maintenance plan makes good sense. For instance, let's say you purchased a DSD Edge AER from Cantel. (previously Medivators). The Cantel Service and maintenance department Is probably the first solution that comes to mind. Third party service and maintenance offerings might be your second thought and MedService Repair is here to help you in that regard. But there's a third strategic option that you might be interested in as well called "training". H...

When it comes to deciding whether or not to purchase an endoscope service agreement there are many factors to consider. Some of those are simple, like the cost of the service agreement itself or just using alternative solutions for maintenance. But others don't always come to mind so quickly so we thought it would be helpful to outline a few considerations for you to make an informed decision Cost of Repairs Without an Agreement It's important to try to understand what repairs you might be facing. I.e. what are the most common failures of the medical device you have purchased. This typically w...

Repair of an endoscope might not be the first thought that comes to mind when encountering an issue with an endoscope your medical office relies on. And while repair may not be a viable option in every situation, it should at least be considered because a high-quality repair may bring the endoscope back into service with no down-sides and at a much-reduced cost compared to purchasing a new one. An Endoscope is a medical device which is used for visually examining the human body internally. Typically, these specialty medical devices are used for procedures including gastroenterology, urology, o...

Buying a refurbished endoscope or AER (Automated Endoscope Reprocessor) both come with similar pros and cons to consider. We thought we'd go over a few of these considerations to help you to make an informed decision when shopping for either. Cost Savings: Refurbished endoscopes and refurbished AERs almost always cost less that buying brand new ones. These savings can make a huge difference with respect to your medical equipment budget of course. But cost is not the only consideration you have to deal with. Environmental Impact: While environmental impact may have been found a little lower on ...

We wanted to talk a little about the Steris System 1E. We'll be covering the basics on how it works and what things you should consider when choosing a company to handle your Steris System 1E PM (preventative maintenance). The Steris System 1E is used for high-level disinfection of medical instruments. It's obviously manufactured by Steris and has been an extremely popular unit. The Steris Corporation has been specializing in infection prevention and sterilization solutions in the healthcare industry for years now and clearly have a good handle on producing high quality medical devices. The St...

 The first thing that should be mentioned is that "Medivators" is now "Cantel". It's a little confusing as the web site is still medivators.com, but once on the web site the "Cantel" logo is on top with the quote "Medivators is now Cantel" next to it. So, there's an argument to made that this article should have been titled "Cantel Support". Or is it "Steris Support"? More on that later. Let's get into the "Support" topic. Cantel / Medivators is a company that provides support and medical device solutions in the field of endoscopy and infection prevention. While this is not their only lin...

That's a trickier question and topic than you might think. Some might think it comes down to two simple things; Quality and Price. But what about efficiency, Bioburden reduction, retention capacity, compatibility and compliance to name just a few things that might be considered when your trying to determine which is the best AER filter for endoscope reprocessing. In this article we're going to go over some of these topics and briefly look at some additional topics you might want to consider that have to do with the AER filter manufacturers as well.The best AER Filters (Automated Endoscope...

So what's the difference between the Scope Buddy Plus and its predecessor, the Scope Buddy? Efficiency and reliability are paramount in the medical field. Medical professionals rely heavily on advanced equipment to ensure accurate diagnoses and in choosing the most effective procedures to treat conditions. The Scope Buddy and Scope Buddy Plus are two popular devices used in endoscopy procedures. They are designed to streamline workflow and improve results and outcomes. Both, the Scope Buddy and Scope Buddy Plus share the same general purposes but there are noteworthy differences between the or...

No matter who the manufacturer is of your medical equipment, choosing the right technical support and service entity to assist you is critical. So is it better to go with the manufacturer's own service department or third party service offerings? Just as an example, let's say you're a small to medium size medical facility with a Medivators Automatic Endoscope Reprocessor that's due for a service or repair. Who should you call, Medivators customer service or a 3rd party service company? That's a loaded question with a ton of things to consider if you're willing to consider it. The easiest and m...

Most medical offices offering endoscopic services are so busy with patients and endoscopy procedures that the time between the pre-cleaning and manual cleaning is not even given a second thought as there is none. A stacked patient schedule doesn't allow for down time, but what happens if there's an anomaly. Some rare situation that arises where there's a longer delay than there ever should be and your system and protocols are tested. Are you ready for that?  In these rare situations, if there's no protocol in place you may be at risk of a failure of your AER being able to perform its job ...

AERs are used in both the dental field and medical field for cleaning instruments. But AERs for cleaning endoscopy instruments are more specialized and there are a number of additional factors to consider when trying to evaluate the best automated endoscopic reprocessor to use in your practice.  Endoscopy instruments are typically more delicate and complex than dental instruments. They require specialized cleaning and disinfection procedures to ensure that these instruments are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. As such, you will need an AER that is specifically designed and validated fo...

Enzymatic detergents are a type of cleaning agent that contain enzymes, which are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. These detergents are commonly used in a variety of industries, including the medical field. In this article, we will discuss the differences between traditional uses of enzymatic detergents and their uses in the medical field. Traditional Use of Enzymatic Detergents Enzymatic detergents have been used in the household and commercial cleaning industries for many years. They are effective in removing stains and soils from a variety of surfaces, including fabrics, dishes, a...

If you've been considering an Endoscopy Service Agreement you're not alone. Many health care related entities across the country utilize service agreements to improve the quality of service for their patients, reduce their overall cost of maintenance while decreasing their financial and liability risks. Endoscopy Instruments and equipment are not inexpensive. And while some minor maintenance might be able to be accomplished in-house if you have an individual in your employment who is tech savvy, major repairs and even scheduled maintenance you may want to leave to trained endoscopy equipment r...

You might be asking yourself does Med Service Repair… Sell Medivators products? Offer replacement AER Filters for Medivators AERs? Service Medivators AERs? Offer support for Medivators products? Sell Medivators AERs? Here's this writers thoughts / opinions on each question. Does Med Service Repair Sell Medivators Products? Well the "not so short" answer is MedService Repair has spent the last 25 years + assisting their clients; surgery centers, hospitals, clinics and medical practices, with making the best choices with regards to supplies and maintenance decisions for ...

Custom Ultrasonics carries a wide array of product solutions that are primarily focused on the cleaning and storage of endoscopic and other related instruments. They've been serving healthcare professionals and the Infection Control community since 1979 and through extensive R&D have developed and manufactured medical equipment that has met high-level disinfectant requirements to ensure patients safety and the efficiency of medical offices worldwide. If you had to categorize their products below is the best categorization: Washing & Disinfection of EndoscopesSystem 83 Plus 9System 83 P...

MedService Repair offers expert Technical Support for Medivators equipment. Our technicians have the experience and training required to assist you with almost any question you might have about your Medivators medical equipment. Whether it's for endoscopes, AERs (automated endoscope reprocessors), inspections, preventative maintenance or any related repair, we've got you covered.  Troubleshooting Medivators Medical Equipment If you're encountering warning messages displayed on the LCD screen alerting you to operational malfunctions, we can help. We've been servicing Medivators equipment f...

Buying new endoscopy equipment is extremely expensive. That's a fact that has kept many medical offices and their patients from benefitting from these offices having and using them. What some medical offices don't realize is that buying reconditioned endoscopy equipment might make perfect sense especially when considering the lower cost and high quality of the equipment that MedService Repair offers. And while this may be the case for small medical practices, even hospitals and larger medical offices sometimes consider refurbished equipment as there can be significant savings buying refurbishe...

Filters for AER (automated endoscopic reprocessor) machines along with many other parts and consumables they use are ongoing PM or maintenance replacement items. So, it makes sense that there would be a healthy OEM compatible replacement filter market with products that meet or exceed the manufacturers own strict quality guidelines. Well, there is but they can be a little hard to find if you're using a search engine. If you search for "Steris Filters" on Google you'll find that there are 308,000 results (at least today) and almost nothing on the 1st page of results other than Steris' own shopp...

The Medivators Advantage Plus has a long feature list and was designed specifically for quick and easy use and relatively simple maintenance. The Advantage Plus was designed to test, clean, disinfect and rinse endoscopes. There's a long list of features related to the disinfection of endoscopes for this amazing machine and some of the highlights are: Individual channel connectively Channel blockage monitoring Dedicated computer system (PC) controlling all aspects of the reprocessing cycle(s) and recording. The reporting capabilities ensures quality assurance and backups are simple to manage. I...

 If your medical practice offers endoscopy, then you probably already know that there are endoscopic supplies needed on a regular basis to keep the equipment running and your patients safe. Many of these products are considered consumables (one-time-use) and just like finding the best value on the initial purchase of your endoscopy equipment buying the high-quality consumables at the lowest cost makes a big difference in your practices balance sheet each year. There's plenty of different endoscopic products that you'll need that are more often than not one-time-use. Some of those categori...

Typically, enzymatic cleaners are used in the healthcare industry. They're used to clean and decontaminate many different types of medical equipment and devices. And when it comes to Endoscopy they are sometimes referred to as enzymatic detergents as well. This is because the surfactants used in their formulation lift soils from medical instruments. While it's probably obvious based on the naming convention, enzymatic detergents are formulated using enzymes. The structure of these enzymes reacts and break down soils extremely efficiently. They literally target soils making them extremely effec...

We've covered quite a bit of ground in our blog about AER filters and I don't expect us to be finished any time soon as MedService Repair has actively engaged and has a remarkable reputation for selling extremely high-quality OEM compatible filters for automatic endoscope reprocessors at some of the lowest prices over the years. There are many logical business reasons for the continued research and development of new and more efficient technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of OEM water filters and their compatible counterparts. They are used in so many genres of business and every...

You Perform Preventative AER Maintenance Every Year... Why Not Save up to 20% on your AER Preventative Maintenance Kits? Now you can with Preventative Maintenance Kits from MedService Repair! MedService Repair provides qualified PM Kits for your Medivators Endoscope Reprocessors Medivators Reprocessor Model MSR PM Kit # MSR Annual Filter Package # Service Availability DSD-201 DSD 78400-722 MRF12-14 Day or MRF12-28 Day On-SiteDSD EDGEDSD 78401-176MRF12-EDGEOn-SiteAdvantage PlusADV 78400-776ADV12On-SiteCER-1 / CER-2CER-MV-PMMRF12-MVMSR Depot w/ Loaner MedService Repair Offers Discounted PM Kits ...

Why Choose the CER OPTIMA™? The CER-1 and CER-2 OPTIMA™ are well known for their compact footprint and their fast and convenient processing. Made by one of the industry leaders, Medivators® / CANTEL®, this unit with its multiple configurations has become an extremely popular solution for medical practices where space is a challenge but quality is of the upmost importance and cannot be sacrificed. The CER-1 Optima™ is capable of reprocessing 1 endoscope at a time. The CER-2 Optima™ is capable of reprocessing up to 2 endoscopes at a time. Both models are considered to be semi-portable syste...

When it comes to medical device reprocessing, endoscopy procedure products, infection control and prevention, Cantel covers almost all the bases. They have a longstanding stellar reputation for quality manufacturing and support of the products they sell. Medivators, based in Minneapolis, MN is now Cantel according to their web site. The logo on the website is now Cantel even though you visit Medivators.com to see the website. They design develop and manufacture a great deal of medical products related to endoscopy and infection prevention including replacement Medivators water filters for thei...

Water filtration and purification is critical in most if not all areas of medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and just plain hydration. This purification of water is extremely important when it comes to AER water filters as a patient's health and life is at stake. While tap water provided in the modern world typically is relatively safe for drinking, there are so many variables with regards to its processing that it's impossible to use without extreme water filtration for automatic endoscopic reprocessors. Any risk of microbial contaminants (viruses & bacteria) stemming...

 If you're looking for a "refurbished AER" online for your medical practice, good luck! Used AER (automatic endoscope reprocessor) machines  that have been completely refurbished to operate like new are far and few between as there's just not a lot of companies that offer these services. If you're looking online for key phrases like "Refurbished AER" you'll may even see results that have nothing to do with an actual refurbished AER but instead you may find results that have to do with air filters, spelled "AIR" as search engines of today attempt to auto-correct an...

Preventative maintenance is no longer just a good idea, it's a wise business decision that both increases the life expectancy of your AER (automatic endoscope reprocessor) while decreasing the the down time involved with machine malfunctions and more involved repairs. It just makes sense! The CER1, along with many other AERs all need preventative maintenance done and the sooner you put together a maintenance plan and schedule the less likely that your practice will be found wanting. Don't let the small size of the ativ deceive you, it still needs PM. There's a number of parts that are the typi...

We carry, repair and service the leading manufacturer's medical devices, equipment, products and consumables. So we thought it would make sense to spend a little time talking about one of the leaders in the market, Cantel Medical Corp. Cantel Medical Corporation is clearly one of the industry leading manufacturers of medical equipment. Cantel is an American company who is based in Little Falls, NJ and focuses in the "Medical Devices" industry. It was founded in 1963 and primarily focuses on infection prevention and compliance, water purification and filtration. Cantel Origins Cantel originated...

Medical devices are critical to the general public's overall health. They assist with the diagnosis, prevention and rehabilitation of many diseases and illnesses. And while the WHO (World Health Organization) may not be a typical resource you might seek out for guidance when upgrading your medical equipment, it does make sense to read about their role and impact with medical devices and some of the resources they offer. You may find their step by step guides helpful with the process. This is especially important when making sweeping changes or considering wha...

Because medical equipment is extremely expensive and potentially cost prohibitive high-quality used medical equipment might be a consideration for your practice. The trick, is finding refurbished equipment that is high-level quality from a source you know you can trust. These sources must have in place the highest quality procedures during the refurbishing processes and should have a name and business model that is well known, has been in business for a long time and has a stellar reputation. MedService Repair has all of these attributes and would be happy to assist you in purchasing refurbish...

Ever wondered what the big deal is with Xenon Lamps? Let's go over some of the basics to bring you up to speed. Xenon lamps create light by sending electricity through an ionized gas at very high pressure. The reaction creates an extremely bright white light that looks a lot like natural sunlight. Its uses are abundant ranging from searchlights, film projector lights, the medical industry, science labs and even automotive headlamps, although these are little different. While Xenon lamps seem like a newer technology the technology was first discovered by P. Schulz in 1944. Once discovered the r...

 The DSD-201 automated endoscope reprocessor is a dual scope reprocessor. Two endoscopes can be reprocessed simultaneously or asynchronously. Its design incorporates many different performance and safety features that should be considered when you're in the market for an AER. Medivators focused on 4 main areas during their development of the DSD-201. Safety, Versatility, Speed and Cost Efficiency. In this article we'll talk a little about safety and how that equates to the highest quality of patient care. If the endoscope is used and cleaned as prescribed in the Medivators operation manua...

Ever wondered how to replace a water filter in the DSD-201? Well let's go over some of the basics so you have an idea of what it will take. However, please refer to your Medivators' manual for the latest specific installation instructions. First, you'll need a filter wrench. These wrenches are typically supplied with the DSD-201. If you don't already have one, depending on the exact water filter you're replacing consider purchasing our low-profile filter wrench here on the MedService Repair web site. There's two parts required for this AER maintenance task. You'll need the water filter itself ...

HAVE YOU EVER SENT A SCOPE TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF A DAMAGED TIP OR LENS?MedService Repair Tip Protectors are a low cost solution to reduce high cost endoscope repairs!MedService Repair Endoscope Tip Protectors: Superior Protection, Increased Infection Prevention MedService Repair Endoscope Tip Protectors are semi-flexible expandable mesh products (latex free) designed for the protection of Endoscopes and delicate surgical instruments during transport and storage. The clean, non-absorbing, semi-flexible expandable mesh offers the sensitive tip of medical instruments protection from both fron...

DON'T THROW IT AWAY, WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO LIFE! If you have a Medivators / Cantel Scope Buddy, odds are that you love it. We want you to know that you have options for repairs and replacement tubing! MedService Repair provides full Scope Buddy support including Service and Replacement Tubing. The Medivators Scope Buddy is a fantastic flushing pump used by facilities across the United States. While many believe that the Scope Buddy is a consumable that cannot be repaired, the reality is that a Scope Buddy can be repaired. Why replace a Scope Buddy with a newer model that costs thousands of ...

So our last article covered some of the basics about compatible water filters for AERs, but what we didn't go over is how many there are a and how the manufacturing process has evolved making most OEM compatible water filters on par with the manufacturer's original products. The water filter market is huge. Its global market size for water filtration in general is estimated to be at 9.92 billion in 2019 and 11.48 billion USD in 2020. It's forecasted to be as high as 24.11 billion by 2025. That's a 15.9% growth rate from 2019 to 2025. With these types of numbers involved the manufacturing playe...

Many medical practices across the country have made the large investment into an AER (Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessor) to further protect their patients from infections and run their offices at high efficiencies. But what you'll find out rather quickly is that there are some maintenance items necessary to keep your AER running like a champ. One of these maintenance items at the top of the list is the water filter they require, also known as AER Filters. The original manufacturers of these amazing AER machines would love it if you'd just buy all of your maintenance supplies like the water filt...

Medical offices often make huge investments in not only endoscopes and the equipment necessary to clean and properly maintain them, but often the building itself, electrical system and water supply in preparation for the type of equipment and the manufacturer's requirements for installation. What doesn't typically come with all endoscopes is tip protectors. It's often the last thing you'd think about. Just like buying patio furniture for the first time, it's not until the rain comes or the sun starts to fade the fabric that you think maybe I should have purchased covers for them. Well the same...

 Infections from pathogens being transmitted from medical instruments and equipment is a very real risk that must be dealt with very seriously. The protocols and products used must be carefully considered and selected with a full understanding of their strengths and weaknesses to keep patients safe. There's a number of medical instruments and equipment that cannot be cleaned and sterilized utilizing heat. The answer for most of these situations including most endoscopes is the use of a high-level disinfectant. You might be asking what "high-level disinfection" actually means. Well arguabl...

So what's a "Scope Buddy®" you ask? In a nutshell, it's described by its manufacturer as an "endoscope flushing aid". It's meant to only be used as an aid during the manual cleaning cycle of endoscope reprocessing however. The manufacturer also makes it clear that is not intended to manually clean endoscopes. With that said, the Scope Buddy® offers a simple way of achieving hands-free flushing of endoscopes during their reprocessing cycle. If you've ever manually cleaned an endoscope you know that it's not a simple task and the repetitive motions necessary to do the job well can present a long...

So part two of our series about the installation of an AER will continue with some specific site specific recommendations and requirements that are very important to consider prior to installation. These recommendations may even be important to consider during the selection process and purchase of your AER. Different AER machines have different requirements so this article is not meant to be an exact installation guide for your specific AER. It's merely meant to give you some things to consider and investigate for yourself with the manufacturer of the AER unit you are interested in or have pur...

If you're considering the purchase of an AER (automatic Endoscopic Reprocessor) you're not alone. AERs have become the standard for so many practices across the globe. There's a lot to consider when purchasing of course, but there's just as much to consider about where and how it will be installed as well. So let's take a cursory look at the following installation considerations. Electrical, Room Ventilation and Air Supply Electrical We've talked about the electrical in other articles here on the MedServiceRepair.com web site. But your system typically must be able to supply 1000 watts at 100 ...

There's numerous important factors with regards to the installation and maintenance of any AER that your practice should consider before and after your purchase. Typically these tips will apply to almost any automated endoscopic reprocessor, but please check your manufacturer's user manual for specific instructions for your AER. Today's tip is about proper "Grounding". While it's easy to take grounding for granted, you absolutely need to make sure that your electrical system throughout your practice is "properly" grounded. A properly grounded circuit helps protect your equipment, the rest of y...

Well, when you first come across the word "Enzymatic Cleaners" it comes across to most as a pretty fancy word that's not exactly easy to pronounce when first read. But enzymatic cleaners are mostly used in the medical realm to decontaminate medical devices, equipment and their accessories. They are used a great deal with equipment having to do with Endoscopy procedures as the surfactants used are designed to break down and remove organic proteins from these devices after use. The enzymes in enzymatic cleaners or detergents are what actually break down the organic matter left on these medical d...

If you're looking for a replacement AER filter for your automatic endoscopic reprocessor you more than like will use a search engine to do so. More than 85% of all customers find web sites with a search engine. But when you unsuspectedly type "AER Filter" into the search engine your problems start with the results displayed. When using a search engine for the phrase "AER Filter" the first page of results (" The TOP 10") are typically anything but AER Filters (Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessor Filters). Instead you more than likely will find products and services related to "AIR Filters" at leas...

It's probably safe to assume if you're reading an article on our web site that you know what an endoscope is, right? From Merriam-Webster.com "an illuminated usually fiber-optic flexible or rigid tubular instrument for visualizing the interior of a hollow organ or part (such as the bladder or esophagus) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes that typically has one or more channels to enable passage of instruments (such as forceps or scissors)" But do you know about their origins? We thought it might be fun to dig into just a few of the notable historical milestones of this remarkable device co...

 When you're in the market for an AER often times the "little things", recurring costs like test strips and other consumables, are overlooked or at least put on the back-burner. The features an AER might offer are usually the first consideration and the price is right there with it as the price may rule out many of the options you have. But those "little things" will be what you're left with after you take the plunge on the purchase. And what if you ruled out an option based solely on the machine's price but didn't take into consideration the savings on those little things, like consumabl...

So you may be wondering what we're talking about when we suggest to take "time" into consideration when you're figuring out which is the best AER for you to buy for your practice. Well "time" is a valuable commodity and it has to be considered when choosing an AER. Manufacturers do outline the typical cycle times for their respective AERs but what about the time spent, or saved, with other aspects of the device or its consumables. It might be a good idea to put together a spread sheet for this consideration as we'll just go over a couple items to think about but there are many more that you co...

Each manufacturer has their own requirements and guidelines for cleaning and testing of the AERs (Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessors) they manufacture. And the manufacturers of endoscopes also have their own cleaning requirements set forth. It's important that you read the manuals for the specific AER and endoscopes you have purchased to make sure you are following the procedures set forth for your specific equipment. Endoscopes are extremely complicated devices that are reused on patients and the risk of infection is high if not properly pre-cleaned and disinfected. There are so many places th...

Each of our "Choosing an AER" articles are going over a number of important topics to consider when buying an AER. Our sixth edition today will focus on the filters that are required to properly maintain and run these technological marvels. Odds are that AER filters are not at the forefront of anyone's mind when shopping for an Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessor. It would be like asking about the oil filter cost and availability if you're shopping for a car. It just doesn't typically happen! But why this might matter becomes clear when you realize there are a number of filters on these machines ...

Following established guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of AERs (automated endoscopic reprocessors) is mandatory for the safety of your patients and internal staff. But who makes the guidelines and where do you find them to follow? It's a great question and an absolute requirement to have the right resources on hand. The great news is there's quite a few different respected entities that are contributing to these recommendations. And while the list below is not exhaustive it should give you a great place to start. Reviewing each of these resources should help you understand the best fit...

Preventative Maintenance on Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessors is almost never on the top of the list of things to handle unless the unit's not functioning correctly. Medical offices are typically so busy with so many important things to do it could easily be pushed to the absolute latest acceptable date within the manufacturer's guidelines. But this is not the best practice of course if you're interested in keeping your AER in the best condition possible. And while it may seem like common sense, adding the DSD-EDGE PM (preventative maintenance) scheduled day to your Calendar may not be a bad i...

When you make your decision on which AER to purchase you might be somewhat stuck with the responsibility of using disinfectants and detergents that the manufacturer designed the Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessor to be used with. It's similar to buying a Ferrari and needing to always buy premium fuel going forward. Maybe this is not an issue for you and it's definitely not always the case. However, it something to consider. The type of disinfectants / chemicals used directly impact the reprocessing time, efficacy and the energy used to operate the equipment. There's a number of factors that dete...

So here's a topic that may not be on the forefront of someone's mind looking into the purchase of an automatic endoscopic reprocessor; Energy Efficiency. We've already covered "Cycle time" in our prior article "Choosing an AER | Part 2: Cost Per Cycle". But cycle time also relates to and affects energy efficiency so it makes sense that we'd go into the energy perspective of cycle time here. All things being equal, any logical argument about energy consumption would include "the longer a unit takes to sterilize scopes the more it would typically cost to operate". But there's more to this equati...

 So let's dive into part three of our series on the top things to consider when you're shopping for an AER (Automated Endoscopic Reprocessor).In this article we'll go over some of the items related to Service Costs. Obviously keeping these critical instruments in top notch condition and calibrated to the OEM specifications is extremely important. Quite literally, the health of your patients is on the line. So finding out what the recommended service schedule looks like for the AER you are considering purchasing is a pretty important step. Along these same lines is to do a little rese...

So we promised to go over some of the items on our list of considerations when purchasing an AER (Automated Endoscopic Reprocessor) from our March 28th article "Choosing and AER". There's obviously so many things to consider besides just the type of AER and budget that it may seem daunting. But here's one of the basic considerations that may be helpful to consider when you're in the market for an AER. Let's go into some of the details today on the "Overall Cost Per Cycle". Overall Cost Per Cycle There's a number of variables to consider when you're looking at the overall cost per cycle. And th...

In July 2015 the CDC (Centers for Disease Controls) asked HICPAC (Healthcare infection Control Practices Advisory Committee) for their recommendations on how to improve the facility-level training for those using reprocessing endoscopes. A large work group of 14 primary entities was formed to collectively development recommendations for HICPAC to take into consideration. The HICPAC recommendations were finalized and made available in July 2016. The first sentence in the CDC's Introduction indicates "healthcare facilities should have a reliable, high-quality system for endoscope reprocessing wh...

It's interesting that cost is sometimes a mental barrier rather than physical. It definitely can be the first barrier for new equipment acquisitions, especially AERs (Automated Endocope Reprocessor) as the costs can soar is some cases. It's a barrier reached often before there is really any financial research done to see if an AER equipment expenditure can be justified from other financial perspectives. This position makes perfect sense if your practice has very little revenue, but for most medical offices that offer Endoscopic treatments the purchase of an AER may increase your revenue and de...

So let's do a refresher on some of the recommended steps and precautions that must be followed to properly maintain and utilize an AER (Automated Endoscopic Reprocessing) machine. It may seem like a waste of time but there's some really great standards that have been set by multiple entities that can reduce your overall risk for patients of infections when operating these amazing machines. We'll start with a list of organizations who have created and established the professional guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes. It's an industry best practice to develop your internal offi...

While it may seem like common sense, you really need to consider what your budget is prior to even starting the hunt for an Automated Endoscopic Reprocessor. Prices are all over the board as are sizes, options and features for endoscopic scope sterilization machines (AERs). As with all technology the price per feature and the feature's capability typically falls over time but the amount of features and their capabilities continue to increase while the size of units get smaller and more compact increases the machines price. That said, research you've done last year is sometimes meaningless for ...

We've already covered the impact that the aging population has had with regards to the endoscopy market size in a previous article. But there's other factors that are driving this adoption by the medical industry and the general public fueling this growth as well. One of these additional factors fueling this growth is a steady increase in gastrointestinal, gynecological, urological and respiratory conditions. Diagnosing and treating these conditions requires endoscopic procedures. Due to this, the healthcare industry has adopted the use of these incredible machines as the recommended standard ...

On April 18, 2018 there was big news for Cantel Medical as the FDA issued 510(k) clearance for them to begin marketing their Advantage Plus Pass-Thru automated endoscope reprocessor (AER). According to their press release this would be the first pass-through reprocessor marketed in the United States. The Cantel design of the Advantage Plus Pass-Thru AER enables one-way workflow. This dramatically reduces the possibility of human error. It's proven to high-level disinfect commonly used endoscopes and duoscopes. The design includes hard-wall separation. This allows for a completely separate...

 Let's face it, nobody is getting younger and the population growth continues its rise. Adding to the population growth is that the average life expectancy continues to rise. In 2018 it was reported on census.gov that older people were projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. By 2030, it's reported that all baby boomers will be over age 65 expanding the older population so that one in every 5 residents will be of retirement age. By 2034 there will be 77 million people over age 65 verses 76.7 million under the age of 18. So you ask, why does that matter with rega...

There are numerous manufacturers of automated endoscope reprocessing machines so as you can imagine there are even more manufacturers of AER filters to provide the necessary consumables that these machines require as doctor's offices across the globe adopt the use of these marvelous infection fighting machines. Some of the most popular AER manufacturers (in no particular order) are Cantel, previously named Medivators, Johnson & Johnson / ASP, Olympus, Custom Ultrasonics and Steris. There are however many other AER manufacturers across the globe and probably more coming as this segment...

AERs "Automated Endoscope Reprocessor" come in many sizes, shapes and types to fit the specific needs of doctor's offices across the county. There's so many variables to consider when purchasing one of these amazing machines that you really should take some time to think through this completely. What if your office is small with very little floor space? Well you just ruled out a number of AER units that might fit other doctor offices perfectly. Fortunately for you Medivators / Cantel makes a compact automated endoscope reprocessor that might just fit your needs. The CER Optima™ AER, made by Ca...

So what is an AER? It's a fair question as it's a mouthful to say. The short answer is an AER (Automated Endoscope Reprocessor) is used to reprocess endoscopes. But that's just turning words around and not really a good explanation. So let's first go over what "endoscopy" is so we get some context and a better understanding of the machines we're talking about. Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure that allows doctors to examine and view the digestive system on a color monitor. The endoscope used for this procedure is a flexible tube that utilizes a small light and camera allowing doctors to vi...

So if you're one of the busier endoscopy facilities there's a lot of things to think about when selecting an AER. And while no one will be better than you at understanding your needs for your office and specific patient needs here's some things to consider if you're in the market for one. The quality of the machine and its capabilities are critically important and a couple of the top factors on the list. But by buying one of the leading manufacturers automatic endoscope reprocessor machines you're all but assuring yourself that you've handled those two factors. Another factor which is critical...

AER Filters are used in automatic endoscope reprocessing equipment. To properly reprocess and clean the endoscope these filters must be free flowing and the best practice to ensure that they operate at the highest efficiency is to follow the manufacturers recommended maintenance schedules for replacement of these filters. Failure to perform required maintenance may result in injury or death to the operator or patient so it's extremely important that you refer to your Medivators / Cantel user manual and follow their specific recommendations as the information below is extremely generalized. AER...

Automatic endoscope reprocessing equipment can be expensive to maintain but short cuts are just not acceptable and can lead to a safety concerns for patients, staff and the businesses who use them. The detergents, cleaning tools and AER filters needed to keep your AER in optimum operating order can obviously be bought from the original manufacturers of these units. But sometimes those parts and products come at a premium price compared to other resources for such products. The cost of AER Filters, detergents, disinfectants and other related supplies have to be considered when ca...