The FDA issued clearances for our RapidHeat sterilizers under K872643A and K881371 in 1987 and 1988, respectively. These units have ETL, UL, and applicable CE approvals. CPAC Equipment, Inc., the manufacturer of RapidHeat sterilizers, is an ISO 13485 certified manufacturing facility.

RapidHeat sterilizers have been in successful use for over 25 years in the dental and healthcare markets.

Most of today’s instruments including handpieces and other instruments incorporating thermal plastic composite materials that are suitable for steam sterilization are also suitable for the higher temperatures of RapidHeat sterilizers with no negative effect on the instrument lifecycle. In recent years the creation of more heat-tolerant materials (e.g., heat-resistant fluoropolymers. silicones, and polycarbonates) and their replacement of heat-intolerant materials used in medical devices has reduced significantly the number of instruments that are intolerant to dry heat sterilization conditions.

RapidHeat sterilizers have pre-set sterilization cycles ranging from six minutes to twenty-one minutes depending on load configuration, packing configuration, and load size. These short sterilization cycle times and and no drying requirement makes HVHA technology an excellent choice to replace “Immediate-Use steam sterilization.” RapidHeat Sterilizer cycles do not fall under healthcare’s definition of “immediate-use” which is a standard term used for short-cutting the drying time needed in steam sterilization. An “Immediate-Use” steam sterilization cycle is used by staff when an instrument or instrument set has an emergency need to be turned around as quickly as possible. If there is improper drying, subsequent cooling will cause any moisture to condense and packaged instruments to remain wet, increasing the potential for instrument corrosion. Moisture degrades the ability of the packaging to maintain sterility. Failure to dry instruments after steam sterilization violates CDC’s recommendations that state “instrument packs should be allowed to dry inside the sterilizer chamber before removing and handling. Packs should not be touched until they are cool and dry because hot packs act as wicks, absorbing moisture, and hence, bacteria from hands.”

A Comparative Cost Analysis reveals a 50% operating cost savings over a comparable steam sterilizer. Exceptional savings are found in maintenance, utility, and instrument replacement costs. Operational cost can be defined by utility costs, sterilizer–required supply costs, and equipment maintenance cost.