[Suitability of different procedures for the sterilization of microsurgical instruments. A review of current and future procedures].

A review of common methods of sterilization is presented. The principles of operation of steam, hot-air, and gas sterilizers, as well as that of a completely new method which uses H2O2 plasma, are described. The suitability of these methods for sterilizing microsurgical instruments was studied. This paper deals in particular with hot-air sterilization, which is preferred because of the low humidity involved. This method was investigated by recording temperature curves during sterilization. Sterilization with hot steam (autoclaving) has been shown to damage instruments by causing corrosion, to which the types of steel used to make these instruments are highly susceptible. A H2O2 plasma sterilization method is described which operates at low temperatures and with very low humidity. Its suitability for microsurgical instruments has been investigated.