Electron beam sterilization surgical sutures, 2

Possibility of electron beam (1.5 MeV, Van de Graaff accelerator) sterilization of a polypropylene surgical suture was examined from the points of sterilization effect and material degradation by the reason of that γ ray sterilization has not been permitted of its high degree of degradation. The D values of B. pumilus ATCC 27142 dry spores were determined to be 0.11 x 104 Gy in air and 0.18 x 104 Gy under the nitrogen stream irradiation, and the sterilization doses for electron beam were calculated to be 1.6 x 104 Gy in air and 2.7 x 104 Gy under the nitrogen stream, corresponding to γ ray sterilization assurance level of 2.5 x 104 Gy. Tensile strength of the polypropylene suture was 95 % of original strength soon after electron beam irradiation in air and was changed to be 81 % after 6 months storage, this is within the limit of the recommended value of 80 %. Furthermore, heat treatment (85 deg C, 1 hr.) following irradiation reduced degradation of irradiated polypropylene: its tensile strength was 93 % soon after irradiation but 97 % after 6 months. In the case of irradiation under the nitrogen stream, tensile strength after 6 months storage was 73 % without heat treatment, but 93 % with heat treatment. Based on the above results, we concluded that electron beam sterilization is applicable to the polypropylene surgical suture used in this experiment and heat treatment successive irradiation is effective to restrain material degradation. (author)