Stethoscope is several classes of medical devices

Summary: stethoscope is one of the most common medical devices, when we are not comfortable to go to the hospital to see a doctor can often see doctors wearing a stethoscope. Then the stethoscope is a few classes of medical devices? There are three main categories of medical devices, stethoscopes belong to the first class of medical devices, but electronic stethoscopes are the second medical devices. Since it is a medical device, the stethoscope needs to be sterilized after each use, so how to sterilize the stethoscope? Below together to understand. First, what is a class, class II, class III medical devices

A class of medical devices: refers to the low risk, the implementation of routine management can ensure its safety, effective medical devices. Such as most of the surgical instruments, stethoscopes, medical X-ray film, medical X-ray protection, automatic electrophoresis, medical centrifuges, slicers, dental chairs, boiling sterilizers, gauze bandages, Band-Aids, surgical gowns, surgical caps, urine collection bags.

Class II medical devices: refers to medical devices that have moderate risk and require strict control and management to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Such as thermometers, sphygmomanometers, cardiac diagnostic instruments, optical endoscopes, dental comprehensive treatment instrument, medical cotton wool, condoms and so on.

Class III medical devices: refers to the higher risk, need to take special measures to strictly control the management to ensure its safety and effectiveness of medical devices. The safety and effectiveness of medical devices must be strictly controlled. Such as implantable cardiac pacemakers, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter, invasive endoscopy, ultrasound scalpel, laser surgery equipment, blood transfusion, single-use infusion set, single-use sterile syringes, CT equipment.

Two, the stethoscope is a class of medical devices

There are two kinds of stethoscopes, respectively, Class I and Class II. Electronic stethoscope is class II, other stethoscopes are class I. The stethoscopes are class II, class I, and class II.

Three, how to disinfect the stethoscope

Stethoscope is the hospital medical staff to use the most widely used, one of the highest frequency of medical equipment. Almost every hospitalized patient without exception can contact the stethoscope, if the disinfection is not complete, it is very easy to become a risk factor for hospital cross-infection. So how to sterilize the stethoscope?

1, stethoscope disinfection site

Most medical personnel believe that only the stethoscope membrane and the patient direct contact, only the membrane for disinfection. However, a study on the stethoscope earplugs, tubes, membrane for bacterial culture found that the earplugs part of the total colony number of qualified rate is the lowest. The earplug part has a hole structure, which makes it difficult to remove bacteria completely, and the bacterial contamination rate only decreased by 60% after ethanol wipe disinfection.

Therefore, medical personnel for stethoscope disinfection, in addition to the membrane part of the disinfection, should also pay attention to its ear plug part of the disinfection, especially the hole.

2, often used to disinfect

①Chlorine disinfectant: poor stability, easy to decompose, a certain degree of toxicity to humans, easy to cause environmental pollution.

② 75% ethanol: less toxic, good bactericidal effect, easy to obtain; volatile, difficult to ensure the effect of disinfection, skin and mucous membranes have a certain degree of irritation.

③ Isopropyl alcohol: strong sterilization, irritation, safety and low toxicity; poor cleaning effect.

4 peroxyacetic acid: strong killing effect, low toxicity, low irritation; poor stability, strong corrosion.

⑤Ultraviolet radiation method: longer time required.

6 silver-containing antimicrobial film: beyond 1 week after the pollution situation is serious, and the cost of each film is higher.

7 Isopropyl alcohol composite quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant wipes: complementary functions, fast sterilization, easy to use, non-irritating, no damage to the surface of medical devices.