Ethylene oxide (also known as EO or EtO) is a low temperature gaseous process widely used to sterilize a variety of healthcare products, such as single-use medical devices. Through the use of a vacuum-based process, EO sterilization can efficiently penetrate surfaces of most medical devices and its lower temperature makes it an ideal process for a wide variety of materials.

What is Ethylene Oxide Processing?

Ethylene oxide sterilization consists of four primary variables:

Gas concentration

Humidity

Temperature

Time

EO is an alkylating agent that disrupts cellular metabolism and reproductive processes of microorganisms. EO penetrates breathable packaging, making contact with all accessible surfaces of the product to deliver the required sterility assurance level (SAL).

What is Ethylene Oxide Used For?

EO is suitable for the sterilization of a wide range of materials not compatible with other methods of sterilization. Products commonly processed with ethylene oxide include:

Assembled complex devices

Catheters

Custom procedure packs

Equipment with integrated electronics

Multi-lumen tubing products

Stents

Wound care dressings