(Duke Health Raleigh Hospital)

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  Inside the decontamination room. Pictured at left is the Reliance 4 Cube washer/disinfector and at right is the Reliance 7 Cube washer/disinfector. The Reliance 4 Cube machine processes one load at a time, while the 7 Cube tunnel machine is capable of handling up to five loads of instruments at various phases of washing and disinfecting.

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  Another view of the decontamination room showing the Reliance Cube 4 machine (left) and Cube 7 machine (right).

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  Pictured are barrels of detergent and lubricant. The three tanks of detergent are a closed system, with detergent moving automatically from the tanks into the washers.

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  Surgical instruments are placed in the tray to go through the Reliance Cube 4 washer/disinfector.

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  Instruments going through the washer are all in the open position for cleaning.

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  Instruments getting ready to go through the Reliance Cube 7 washer/disinfector. The washer has five stations on a conveyor belt that each can simultaneously perform a phase of the wash on up to five loads of instruments. In both the Cube 4 and Cube 7 machines, instruments go through a multi-step washing, rinsing, and lubrication process. (See "Details of the Sterilization Process.")

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  View of the washer action in the washer/disinfector machines.

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  Instruments coming out of the washer/disinfector into the sorting and sterilization room.

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  A technician sorts and inspects instruments after cleaning.

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  One technician packages a completed instrument tray while another assembles a tray.

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  A technician prepares instruments for assembly.

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  Wrapping the instrument tray.

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  The autoclave, where instruments are sterilized in very high-temperature steam to destroy any remaining organisms.

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  A load of packaged instrument trays in the autoclave.
  

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  The autoclave at right is shown during a sterilization cycle, while a cart of sterilized instruments comes out of the autoclave at left.

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  A cart is packed with finished items that have been processed and wrapped and are ready for the OR.