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During this period, MELAG has succeeded in becoming a leading manufacturer of sterilization equipment. More than 400,000 MELAG units sold throughout the world testify to the ex- ceptional quality of our products — which are manufactured exclusively in Germany.
Initialisation of the printer / setting for immediate printout ............9 Vacuum test ............................10 Trial run ............................. 11 Installation log – sent to MELAG....................... 11 Safety instructions ..........................12 FOR EACH STERILIZATION CYCLE ..................... 13 Water and power ..........................13 4.1.1...
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® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B 4.11.2 Interruption of a drying phase ....................20 4.12 Response in case of warnings and error messages ................. 21 4.13 Operational shutdowns........................21 PLACING THE AUTOCLAVE OUT OF OPERATION / TRANSPORT / PUTTING THE AUTOCLAVE BACK INTO SERVICE..............................
Description of the unit Views of the unit __________________________________________________________ Rear view Vacuklav 23-B ® Front view 20 21 Side view ® Fig. 1 Views of the Vacuklav 23-B Water storage tank 11 Power cable Emergency overflow (OUT) 12 Front adjustable feet of the unit One-way drain (OUT) 13 Serial data and printer interface (RS 232) 14 Fuses for the unit: 2 ...
Installation examples___________________________________________________ Example 1 Example 2 Example 4 Example 3 Fig. 2. Installation examples for Vacuklav with double-chamber trap *1 Alternative: a separate drain with stench trap, instead of the double-chamber trap. Example 1 Example 2 EN1717 Vacuklav 23-B rear view Vacuklav...
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Control panel ___________________________________________________________ 2 x 20-character alphanumeric LED display For display of program status and parameters, and for operator for basic and special functions Program Start / Stop Function buttons Program selection button Start / stop button For selections, settings, and display of For selection of the sterilisation programs and...
1.5.7 Pre-heating___________________________________________________________________________ Activating the pre-heating function warms up the cold autoclave chamber before sterilization, or maintains the temperature between sterilization cycles. This shortens the duration of cycles and considerably reduces the formation of condensation, thus optimising drying results. 1.5.8 Documentation of results _______________________________________________________________ The memory of the electronic control system stores records of the previous 40 programs.
If you decide to use water treatment systems made by other manufacturers, be sure that they deliver water with sufficient quality and quantity. Please get in touch with the company MELAG before connecting such systems made by other manufacturers. In addition, a water stop valve (MELAG article no. 01056) should be installed upstream of such water treatment systems, in order to satisfy insurance requirements.
Vacuum test ____________________________________________________________ A vacuum test (leak test) should be conducted under the following conditions to assure proper functioning of the autoclave: Once when a new autoclave is set up for the first time When the autoclave is being put back into service after a long period of inactivity ...
As documentation that the autoclave has been set up properly, an installation record should be produced by an authorised person and a copy sent to MELAG. This is important in the event that you wish to make claims under warranty provisions.
After opening the autoclave door, do not touch exposed hot metal parts. Warning: These parts can burn operating personnel. Be sure to use a MELAG or standard tray handle to remove still-hot trays from the autoclave. Be sure to use suitable hand protection (for example, potholders or gloves) when removing other sterilizing containers.
Chamber pressure (bar) Temperature (steam) (°C) Preparation of instruments ________________________________________________ MELAG — use of non-rusting materials for parts which come into contact with steam ® All parts of the Vacuklav 23-B which come into contact with steam are made of non-rusting materials. The ®...
23-B: 1. Tray mount “B” (MELAG art.-no. 40224) for loading of either a maximum of 4 trays, or 4 standard tray cassettes 2. Tray mount “C” (MELAG art.-no. 40242) for loading of either a maximum of 6 trays, or 3 standard tray cassettes.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Closing the door ________________________________________________________ Close the door by slightly pressing it shut in the direction of the sterilization chamber flange, and at the same time press down the sliding handle until it will go no farther. The following message will appear on the display: Start-Stop Program D o o r...
Start of program_________________________________________________________ Start the selected program by pressing the button “Start – Stop”. When you press this button, the autoclave will automatically begin to check the quality and quantity of the available demineralized / distilled water, and will run a conductivity test.
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® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Program status: Shown on the display: Drying phase Program Start-Stop After the pressure has been released, the V a c u u m - d r y i n g drying phase begins. After the drying phase begins, it is possible to interrupt the program s i n .
(gloves, etc.). Be sure to use the proper tools (MELAG Tray Lifter or standard tray lifter) or hand protection (pot holders or gloves) to remove the hot sterilized items from the autoclave.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B sterilization it can occur that condensation residue remains on the sterilized items or on their package. The heat from the still-hot sterilized items will evaporate this condensate after completion of sterilization. DIN 58953, Part 7, Section 7, contains the following on moisture residue on paper wraps or see-through sterilization paper after sterilization: “Small amounts of water on the outside of the packages are harmless if they have dried away within 30 minutes after taking them out of a steam sterilizer.”...
4.11.2 Interruption of a drying phase ___________________________________________________________ A program can be terminated after starting of the program step “Drying”, e.g. in case of needing an instrument urgently for use. Since the sterilization has been completed, the items are sterilized at this point. Drying is crucial for sterile storage.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B 4.12 Response in case of warnings and error messages ________________________ ® The Vacuklav 23-B has safety features as well as an extensive checking and monitoring system which is integrated into the computer control. These functions guarantee a maximum of possible reliability for the sterilization process, and eliminate risks arising from the autoclave for the patient and the autoclave operator.
Special functions Display of water quality (conductivity) / pre-heat temperature of the sterilization chamber _______________________________________________________________ Be repeatedly pressing the "–" button, you can at any time display the pre-heat temperature of the sterilization chamber, and the conductivity of the demineralized / distilled water being used. These two displays will flash alternatively on the screen, as follows: Operator action Shown on the display:...
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B external paper-roll mount, insertion of the paper roll, etc.), and on how to operate the printer, please consult the manual for the printer. 6.3.1.1.2 Initialization of the printer _____________________________________________________________ After you have connected the printer to the autoclave, you must initialise the printer. This means logging it in to the autoclave computer control system.
6.3.1.2 Connection to an external PC __________________________________________________________ 6.3.1.2.1 Installation _________________________________________________________________________ You can also use an external PC to output the autoclave log, and to archive data. To install this mode, use a null modem cable to connect the serial interface of the PC to the printer interface of the autoclave. You must install the ®...
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B 6.3.3 Printing out stored cycles at a later time _________________________________________________ If you have connected an external printer to the autoclave, and if you have initialised this printer, you can print out earlier cycles which you have later selected. To do this, switch on the autoclave at its mains power switch, and make the following settings: Operator action Shown on the display:...
6.3.4 Printing out all stored cycles ___________________________________________________________ If you have connected an external printer to the autoclave, and if you have initialised this printer, you can print out all stored logs at any point in time. To do this, switch on the autoclave at its mains power switch, and make the following settings: Operator action Shown on the display:...
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B 6.3.5 Displaying the contents of the printer memory ____________________________________________ If you have connected an external printer to the autoclave, and if you have initialised this printer, you can look at the content of the printer memory by carrying out the following steps: Operator action Shown on the display: 1.
6.3.6 Deleting stored cycles from the memory _________________________________________________ You may wish to erase all stored cycles from the memory: for example, to avoid the warning “Printer memory full”. This is possible only if you have set the immediate-printout option to “No” (see Section 7.3 of this manual). First, switch on the power to the autoclave, and proceed as follows: Operator action Shown on the display:...
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B 6.3.7 Test printout ________________________________________________________________________ To check the printer functions and the communication between the printer and the autoclave, print out a test log as follows: Operator action Shown on the display: 1. Press the "+" button and hold Start-Stop Program it down;...
Setting the date and time of day ______________________________________ You can set the date and time of day as required (for example, for changes between winter and summer time). Proceed as follows: Operator action Shown on the display: 1. Press the "+" button and hold Program Start-Stop it down;...
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Operator action Shown on the display: 7. Press the button "Program" to Program Start-Stop confirm the newly set value. D a t e / T i m e The new value will now stop flashing.
Operator action Shown on the display: 6. Then press "Start-Stop" again Start-Stop Program to return to the initial menu 1 4 : 2 7 : 1 2 position. – 0 . 0 2 b a r 2 5 ° C Total-cycle counter ______________________________________________________ ®...
It is possible in individual cases to modify the program sequences on a customised basis (and within the context of the guarantee for sterilization effectiveness). These modifications, however, may be carried out only by personnel authorised by MELAG. If you require such modifications, get in touch with your specialist dealer or with the MELAG company.
Observe these instructions and correct and faulty operating action. Then continue your work with the autoclave. Only if the malfunction occurs again, get in touch with your specialist dealer, an authorised MELAG customer-care representative, or directly with the MELAG company.
The sterile filter is defective. R e p l a c e Exchange the sterile filter (MELAG article no.: 20160) A c k n o w l e d g e w i t h b u t t o n " – "...
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The monitoring of the internal device battery voltage has W A R N I N G ! determined a too low voltage value. B a t t e r y d e a d The battery has to be changed by the MELAG service- company/ service.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Error messages ______________________________________________________ Error messages generally occur with the display message "Error", followed by the error number and a description of the error. Error messages can appear before a program is started: i.e., as soon as the power switch is placed on, or some time after the power is switched on.
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Error message Cause of trouble / Corrective action The monitoring time was exceeded for venting the sterilization M a l f u n c t i o n 6 : chamber. Corrective action: The sterile filter may be dirty. If it is, there will be a warning V e n t i l a t i o n to this effect before this error message (see Section 7.3 of this manual).
If this error repeatedly occurs, please notify your specialist dealer. Preserving the value of this device Preparation of instruments ________________________________________________ MELAG — use of non-rusting materials for parts which come into contact with steam ® All parts of the Vacuklav 23-B which come into contact with steam are made of non-rusting materials.
® The non-rusting parts used in the Vacuklav 23-B ensure that the autoclave itself cannot cause rust to form. In any cases in which rust has developed on the autoclave or on the sterilized items inside, investigations have consistently shown that this rust has been dragged into the autoclave from the outside by rusty instruments. We must point out that rust can form on stainless-steel instruments made by even the best manufacturers.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B ® Regular care of the Vacuklav 23-B _________________________________________ 8.3.1 Cleaning _____________________________________________________________________________ At least once a week perform a cleanliness inspection of the tray rack, the sterilization chamber, the sealing surface for the door gasket, and the round plate around the door of the sterilization chamber. Check for dirt and for deposits.
8.4.3 Periodic maintenance recommendation ________________________________________________ In order to maintain the value of this device and to minimise the rise of its unexpected failure, the MELAG company ® recommends periodic maintenance of the Vacuklav 23-B.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Annex Instructions on drying ___________________________________________________ ® The sterilization programs of the Vacuklav 23-B alone provide very good drying of the sterilized items. The supplementary functions "Additional drying" and "Automatic pre-heating" effectively manage more difficult drying tasks: for example, with double wrapping (see Sections 6.2 and 6.5 of this manual).
Condensate + heat = steam Heat Heat Heat Heat Heat The drying process For good drying, it is necessary to transfer the available excess heat to the sterilized items. This process requires removal of the condensate from the walls of the sterilization container. This is achieved by the special design of the sterilization containers: the recesses and beading in the bottom the bottom, and in the cover by the raised filter area so that the condensed water can run off.
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B 9.1.3 Instruments __________________________________________________________________________ If instruments are to be sterilized which can be taken apart, then they should be taken apart before being placed in the autoclave. This will improve drying results. Do not use lubricants (instrument oil or instrument milk) on instruments before placing them into the autoclave, unless this is absolutely necessary for the particular instruments.
Lining up the see-through sterilization packages and paper pouches vertically, like 3 5 cards in a cata- logue file Activation of the “Additional drying” function Lengthening of the programmed drying times (but only after first co-ordinating with MELAG customer care service).
® User Manual for the Vacuklav 23-B Index Changing the setting for supply of demineralized / Performance features 7 distilled water 33 Placing the autoclave into operation 9 Cleaning 41 Pre-heat temperature 22 Control panel 7 Pre-heating 31 Date and time of day 30 Preparation of instruments 13 Door 12, 15, 37, 38 Preparation of of instruments 39...
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