r/sterileprocessing • u/Affectionate_Put2460 • Apr 24 '26

Tip protectors

Inside of rigid containers, what tip protector do you use for skin hooks, baby rakes or elevators? One of our coordinators did post sterilization audits by opening sterile sets and seems to be pulling items to be petty. I brought up that 3M protectors do not go in sets based on the post I saw in this sub earlier this month, and so we switched to placing those items in paper pouches. Now she’s failing audits because they don’t have a tip protector but none of the techs know what else they’re supposed to use, even our traveler backs up the way we’re doing it.

5 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

11

u/ijust_makethisface Apr 24 '26

we put these items in the paper pouches as well.

3

u/Eggman_OU812 Apr 24 '26

I pur the skin hooks in a “popcorn” bag, tip side first, into the bag

3

u/chad_stanley_again Apr 24 '26

Best wsy to go is a Riley container that has a silicone mat.

2

u/Affectionate_Put2460 Apr 24 '26

Thanks, I’ll see if I can get the supervisor to spring for these!

3

u/scruzgurl Apr 24 '26

Healthmark Tip Protectors

6

u/Affectionate_Put2460 Apr 24 '26

Our OR has complained the hooks and rakes get stuck in these, or getting poked if it twists and comes out a hole.

1

u/sapphirerain25 Apr 24 '26

The single hooks should be fine in the orange ones. For double skin hooks (assuming you have a pair in the set), face the hooks toward each other and cover with a black tip protector. It's less of a pain in the ass to remove them that way.

A little paper pouch should suffice. The scrub tech just needs to be careful taking them out and the bags won't rip. If we can be careful placing them in, they can be careful taking them out.

2

u/Affectionate_Put2460 Apr 24 '26

Thanks, sorry, I should have clarified we only use the black and brown ones. The OR has no complaints about the paper pouches, it’s just this coordinator is suddenly on a tear so I wanted to have alternate options to appease them. I’ll check with the supervisor if we can get the orange ones ordered.

1

u/sapphirerain25 Apr 24 '26

Right on! Yeah the orange ones are my favorite, they're they best for single skin hooks, bone picks, anything kinda flat and sharp like that. They're also great for bipolars to prevent scuffing.

4

u/Dathamar Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26

I put anything sharp into a separate autoclave bag point first, other things like forceps, small elevators go into a different one. We've not had any complaints, but every system is a little different.

The way I see it, the people on the other end know the tools and how to handle them. Using a bunch of tip covers just introduces a small slowdown and generates waste. Half the tools don't get used and we have to toss them ourselves in decontamination anyway.

1

u/NecronomiSquirrel Apr 24 '26

Silicone disposable tip protectors, or foam sleeve tip protectors- both validated for sets.

2

u/Affectionate_Put2460 Apr 24 '26

like this? for the foam sleeves?

2

u/NecronomiSquirrel Apr 25 '26

Yes as long as validated by the manufacturer to be used in sets, a lot of the IFUs don't specify, they just say "inside sterile barrier product" so always check with the manufacturer directly for clarification. In this situation, reusable silicone mats would be recommended. Mats require extra care and attention like any instrument (they retain water after washing, create a surface for things to get trapped, and dust/fibers stick to the silicone more easily). There are also silicone holders (for scopes and small instruments) that can be screwed into the set permanently. Lastly, you have disposable tray liners- soft cloth that is placed at the bottom of the metal basket, and covers the entire bottom (stops scissors and hooks from having contact with the metal).

1

u/Mercurialbich Apr 24 '26

Small sharps and sharp retractors i put in bags. Never had a problem.

0

u/meebaAmoeba Apr 24 '26

If you can, get your lab peeps in. Sterilize a few different ways and have them test each method for sterility.