10 Common Types of Autoclaves and Where Each One Is Used

Autoclave Manufacturer in India

Hospitals and labs are places where cleaning equipment is a must. Reason? Doctors and scientists use a lot of equipment every day. And if those are not properly maintained, it can cause a lot of harm. So, sterilisation is a must for medical equipment. The most common device that is used for sterilisation is an autoclave.

What is an Autoclave?

An autoclave is a device that is used to clean equipment by using hot steam. The heat of the steam is enough to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. After cleaning, the medical equipment is ready to use again.

Nowadays, different types of autoclaves are used by hospitals, labs, and pharmaceutical companies. Here are the common ones used by different organisations.

Types of Autoclaves and Their Usage

Portable Autoclave

A portable autoclave is a device that is easy to move from one place to another. It doesn’t require a lot of space. It can be placed anywhere. It is easy to use and is best for small-scale sterilisation work.

Where it is used

  • Small clinics
  • Dental clinics
  • Diagnostic labs
  • Rural health clinics

Doctors who work in health camps use a portable autoclave.

Cooker Type Autoclave

A cooker-type autoclave is a device that looks like a pressure cooker that we use at home. It is a device that is easy to use. Water is filled inside a chamber, then it is heated up to produce steam. The steam produces enough pressure to kill bacteria. Despite it being a simple design, it is still effective for sterilisation.

Where it is used

  • School and college labs
  • Small research labs
  • Training institutes

This type of machine is commonly used in many labs as it is easy to understand and maintain.

Table Top Autoclave

The tabletop autoclave is a small device that rests on a table. It is a slightly advanced version of the device. All systems of this type are usually equipped with a digital control system and safety devices.

Where it is used

  • Dental clinics
  • Pathology labs
  • Small hospitals
  • Veterinary clinics

In dental clinics, autoclaves are used for sterilizing equipment after each patient. This is useful for that purpose.

Vertical Double Wall Autoclave

In a vertical autoclave, the equipment is loaded from the top. In a double-wall system, there are two layers of metal. This ensures that the heat is retained inside the device. It is useful for increased efficiency and safety.

Where it is used

  • Research labs
  • Pharmaceutical labs
  • Biotechnology labs
  • Hospitals

This autoclave is useful for sterilising equipment and materials.

Vertical Triple Wall Autoclave

This system is similar to the vertical double-wall device, except for the addition of a third wall. This makes it easier for the autoclave to maintain heat. The triple wall equipment is a robust autoclave that is useful for heavy work.

Where it is used

  • Pharmaceutical industries
  • Biotechnology research centres
  • Industrial labs
  • Hospitals

Horizontal Cylindrical Autoclave

The horizontal autoclave is a large piece of equipment that is useful for heavy work. It is cylindrical in shape and has a door that opens from the front. Trays of equipment may be placed inside easily.

Where it is used

  • Large hospitals
  • Central sterilisation departments
  • Medical equipment processing units

These machines are used in hospitals where a number of surgical instruments have to be sterilised on a daily basis.

Horizontal Rectangular Autoclave

It has a rectangular shape instead of a round shape. This is a unique feature. Due to this, a greater number of items may be sterilised at a time.

Where it is used

  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Industrial labs
  • Large hospitals

The unique feature is helpful in making the autoclave more efficient in these settings.

Radial Locking Autoclave

A radial locking sterilisation system has several clamps, and these clamps lock the door. These clamps lock the door when there is pressure inside. Due to this, the autoclave is more efficient.

Where it is used

  • Hospitals
  • Pharmaceutical labs
  • Industrial autoclaves

It is more efficient due to its unique feature.

Wing Nut Autoclave

In a wing nut autoclave, several wing nuts are used to seal the lid. These wing nuts are tightened for sterilisation. It has a simple and robust design.

Where it is used

  • Research labs
  • Educational institutes
  • Testing labs

These are preferred in many labs because they are easy to maintain.

Sliding Door Autoclave

These are big machines used in big facilities. The door slides to the side instead of swinging out. This is useful for big batches of equipment to be sterilised.

Where it is used

  • Large hospitals
  • Pharmaceutical plants
  • Industrial sterilisation facilities

These are commonly used in modern healthcare facilities because of the fast workflow.

Final Thoughts

These are important pieces of equipment used in healthcare and research. They are used to ensure that medical equipment is clean and safe to use. If you want to choose the right equipment for hospitals, labs, or pharmaceutical companies, partner with MEDILAB TECHNOCRACY, a trusted Autoclave Manufacturer in India

 are able to keep high standards of hygiene. Many healthcare facilities seek advice from a reliable Autoclave Manufacturer in India to ensure that they get the right equipment.