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Related Concept Videos

Instrumentation Amplifier01:25

Instrumentation Amplifier

An electrocardiography (ECG) machine is an essential piece of medical equipment used to monitor the electrical activity of the heart. It operates by detecting small electrical changes on the skin that result from the depolarization of the heart muscle during each heartbeat. However, these signals are in the microvolt range and can be easily overwhelmed by noise or interference.
To overcome this challenge, an ECG machine utilizes an instrumentation amplifier. This specialized amplifier is...
Instrument Calibration01:12

Instrument Calibration

Instrument calibration is essential for ensuring that instruments produce accurate and consistent results. It is vital in manufacturing, healthcare, testing laboratories, and scientific research. Calibration processes are specific to each instrument and help enhance data accuracy. Each instrument has a unique calibration process tailored to its design and function to improve data accuracy.
Analytical Balance Calibration
An analytical balance measures mass and requires regular calibration to...
Mass Analyzers: Overview01:13

Mass Analyzers: Overview

The mass analyzer is a crucial component of the mass spectrometer. In the ionization chamber, the vaporized sample is bombarded with a high-energy electron beam to generate a radical cation and further fragment into neutral molecules, radicals, and cations. A series of negatively charged accelerator plates accelerate the cations into the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates ions according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios and then directs them to the detector. The common types of mass...
Mass Analyzers: Common Types01:19

Mass Analyzers: Common Types

The quadrupole mass analyzer consists of four cylindrical metal rods arranged in a diamond carrying a DC voltage and a radio-frequency AC voltage. The motion of ions through the quadrupole depends on the field strength, causing only ions of a certain m/z to resonate successfully and strike the detector at a given field strength. Though the transmission rate for these analyzers is high, the exact elemental composition of the sample is not determined because of low resolution; however, they are...
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences01:20

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences

Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) is a highly selective and sensitive technique for accurate elemental analysis. Though the analysis of ICP–MS mass spectra is comparatively straightforward, it is affected by spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic interferences. Spectroscopic interferences arise when the plasma contains ionic species with an m/z value the same as the analyte ion. Spectroscopic interference can be categorized as isobaric, polyatomic ions, and refractory oxide ion...
Instrument Transformers01:23

Instrument Transformers

Instrument transformers, comprising voltage transformers (VTs) and current transformers (CTs), play crucial roles in power substations by providing isolated replicas of current or voltage for measurement and protection purposes. Voltage transformers reduce the primary voltage to levels suitable for relay operation and measurement, while current transformers scale down the primary current. The primary winding of a current transformer often consists of a single turn, achieved by threading the...

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Related Experiment Video

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High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition
05:11

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition

Published on: June 27, 2025

Loaner instrumentation: processing the unknown.

Thomas G Winthrop1, Barbara A Sion, Clifford Gaines

  • 1Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

AORN Journal
|March 14, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Loaner surgical instruments may not be properly cleaned. Testing revealed 16% of loaner instruments had blood residue, posing a potential patient safety risk in healthcare settings.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare-associated infections
  • Sterilization and disinfection practices
  • Medical device reprocessing

Background:

  • The increasing use of loaner instrumentation in healthcare facilities presents challenges for ensuring proper decontamination.
  • Maintaining sterile environments is critical for patient safety and preventing infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the decontamination status of loaner surgical instrumentation received at a major medical center.
  • To identify potential risks associated with the use of inadequately cleaned instruments.

Main Methods:

  • A quality improvement project was conducted by the Central Processing Department.
  • Loaner instruments were tested for the presence of biological residues, specifically blood.
  • Data analysis focused on the prevalence of contamination on returned instruments.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition
05:11

High-precision Electromagnetic Flowmeter with Empty Pipe Detection via Complex Programmable Logic Device-based Waveform Recognition

Published on: June 27, 2025

Main Results:

  • A significant percentage (16%) of tested loaner instruments showed positive results for blood residue.
  • This finding indicates a failure in the decontamination process for a portion of the instruments.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights a critical safety concern regarding the decontamination of loaner surgical instruments.
  • Results prompted revisions to internal standard operating procedures and alerted the infection control committee to a potential hazard.