In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, innovation plays a pivotal role in enhancing patient safety and streamlining essential procedures. Ethos® Automated Ultrasound Probe Cleaner Disinfector, a groundbreaking product, is making significant waves in the field, and for good reason. It is the first device of its kind to receive clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making a remarkable milestone in infection control of transvaginal, transrectal, and surface ultrasound probe reprocessing. While there are many things that set Ethos apart from the crowd, three things really make it shine.
One-Stop Shop
At the heart of the Ethos revolution is its unique ability to provide both manufacturer-recommended cleaning and high-level disinfection for soiled transvaginal, transrectal, and surface ultrasound probes—all within a single, streamlined device. This is a departure from traditional methods that often involve multiple steps and the use of distinct products, making the reprocessing of these semi-critical medical devices with Ethos more efficient and convenient. When using Ethos, simply remove the probe cover to perform the bedside cleaning, insert the soiled probe into Ethos, and walk away.
Ethos ushers in a new era of efficiency and precision in ultrasound probe reprocessing. The process begins when the ultrasound probe is inserted into the Ethos device and data is entered into the microprocessor. It's at this point that the reprocessing journey commences. The probe undergoes meticulous cleaning, high-level disinfection, and thorough rinsing. While this happens, the chemical efficacy of the disinfectant is automatically tested and validated without the need for human interpretation of test strips. This synchronized approach not only saves time but also enhances the reliability of the reprocessing procedure.
Water Quality
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) recently released a new standard, ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023, focusing on the quality of water for the reprocessing of medical devices. As a result, there will be more stringent standards required surrounding the quality of water specifically used in the reprocessing of medical devices, such as transvaginal, transrectal, and surface ultrasound probes. Fortunately, each Ethos device comes equipped with a 5nm (0.005µm) filter. This filter effectively removes bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins from the water used by Ethos for the cleaning, disinfection, and rinse cycles.
Employing a device like Ethos which comes ready to filter the water it uses can save time and headache when trying to ensure your facility maintains the required standards. The water filter used by Ethos is, in fact forty times smaller than the 0.2µm filter recommended in ST108 for bacteria removal. This ensures that not only will probes be rinsed with water that removed bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins through the rinse cycle, but also that your facility will be able to remain compliant in the future if and when water quality standards are raised again.
User-Friendly
One of Ethos' standout features is its user-friendly interface. It has been designed with the healthcare professional in mind, ensuring that the reprocessing procedure is as smooth and straightforward as possible. Preparing the probe is so simple, anyone could do it: remove the procedure cover from the soiled probe to perform bedside cleaning and then directly place it into Ethos. No additional preparation steps are required. Following this, the healthcare professional is guided through the next steps by a series of simple prompts displayed on the color LCD touchscreen.
These prompts facilitate logging essential information about the probe, including details about the disinfectant lot and the user's identification. This data, in conjunction with other system information, is documented on the reprocessing report generated upon the successful completion of the cleaning and disinfection cycle. This comprehensive report serves as a valuable record of the reprocessing procedure, aiding in quality control and regulatory compliance. Not only is a report printed out after each interaction with Ethos, but a HIPAA-compliant electronic log is kept for easy record retention.
The introduction of Ethos represents a leap forward in infection control, significantly contributing to patient safety. By providing reliable, automated manufacturer-recommended cleaning and high-level disinfection, Ethos minimizes the risk of healthcare-associated infections, a critical concern in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, Ethos has broader implications for workflow efficiency within healthcare facilities. With its one-device, one-step approach, it simplifies the reprocessing of ultrasound probes, saving time and reducing the potential for errors. In a busy healthcare setting, where each moment counts, the time efficiency offered by Ethos is invaluable.
Ethos Automated Ultrasound Probe Cleaner Disinfector represents a significant advancement in infection control and medical device reprocessing. Its FDA clearance is a testament to its innovation and effectiveness. With its streamlined workflow, user-friendly interface, and emphasis on consistency and reliability, Ethos is poised to become an essential tool for healthcare facilities seeking to enhance patient safety, modernize their processes, and achieve the highest standards of care. It offers not only a new era of confidence in ultrasound probe reprocessing but also a glimpse into the future of infection control in healthcare.
