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MENTOR, Ohio – STERIS Corp. has introduced the next generation of its vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizer for health care environments — the Amsco V-PRO 1 Plus Low Temperature Sterilization System.

Launched in 2007, the Amsco V-PRO 1 sterilizer, which uses dry vapor, became popular as an efficient, high-volume processor for packaged, heat and moisture-sensitive instruments. STERIS has changed and added to the system to meet customer needs.

“By observing and working with our customers in their own facilities, we knew that the larger square chamber of the V-PRO 1 system was an important productivity booster for them,” said Nick Jacobs, global product manager for the Infection Prevention Technologies division at STERIS, in a written statement (pdf).

STERIS also noticed that most of the items being sterilized were not “lumened devices” – endoscopes, tubing or other instruments that have internal channels, making them harder to sterilize – but non-lumened devices, such as cameras, cables, batteries, telescopes and defibrillator paddles. Since the original V-PRO 1 cycle was designed for both lumened and non-lumened devices, “We saw the opportunity to develop a new, shorter (non-lumened) cycle to help processing staff become even more productive,” Jacobs said.

“The Amsco V-PRO 1 Plus Low Temperature Sterilization System offers a significant leap forward in productivity potential for health care providers,” said Sudhir Pahwa, vice president and general manager of Infection Prevention Technologies as STERIS, in the statement. “The added flexibility this new system provides is a better fit for our customers. The new options will help sterile processing staff to get the most out of their investment.”

Amsco V-PRO 1 owners will have the option to upgrade to V-PRO 1 Plus capabilities. STERIS also has developed a self-contained biological indicator that can be used with either system to monitor the sterilization process. The “plus” system uses the same VAPROX HC sterilant (vaporized hydrogen peroxide that breaks down into water and oxygen when exhausted from the sterilizer) as the original system.