Focus on safety. Disinfectant resistant strains of bacteria and raised awareness of potential sources of infection have had a negative impact on the perceived safety of many reusable surgery products. Many of these patient fears are unfounded. Most instruments can be safely autoclaved without concern, however one item has come under recent scrutiny, reusable silicone liposuction tubing. Reusable silicone tubing appears to be a legitimate source of contamination in the O.R. Repeated heating in the autoclave and physical stresses during surgery breaks down silicone over time creating pockets in the tubing that trap particles of aspirant.
Silicone is also an excellent insulator.
When coiled in an autoclave, tubing can heat unevenly. There is no effective tool to scrub the inside of an eight foot length of tubing. We at Byron Medical feel that these concerns deserve your attention. For hospital and surgery centers looking to reduce risk of contamination and possible infection, we suggest our Concord series disposable cannulae. Since the disposable can be contoured to fit the body's natural topography, saving the surgeon from having to greatly shorten the life of his or her reusable cannula by bending it.