The product is able to withstand sterilisation cycles over the long term
Lab consumables manufacturer Laser Components has released new coatings for laser optics meaning they can withstand countless sterilisation cycles in an autoclave over the long term.
The company worked with universities and other companies as part of the STAR (Stable Anti-Reflective Coatings for Medical Technology) research project.
This project enabled Laser Components and other participants to develop a process for resistant coatings.
Measurements show that the original reflectivity is retained even after several hundred autoclave cycles.
Disinfection in an autoclave is a widely used sterilisation process in medical practices and hospitals.
In order to kill microorganisms, medical instruments and laboratory utensils are exposed to a combination of high pressure, high temperatures and moisture in a pressure-tight vessel.
These extreme environmental conditions cause conventional coatings to crack or detach from the substrate.
Their optical properties quickly deteriorate, which can result in disturbing double images. Typically then, optics need to be replaced often and this new product helps lab technicians avoid this issue.
