Far-Forward Austere Sterilizer (FAST)

Sterilization of medical and surgical tools is a critical step in minimizing the risk of infection to combat casualties during far-forward medical interventions. However, there are significant challenges to providing sterile equipment in austere environments where power is limited and ability to transport equipment and deliver supplies is constrained. The complexity of modern surgical tools, such as surgical scopes, adds to the challenge because they are heat sensitive and cannot be sterilized by conventional steam autoclaves. Unfortunately, alternative endoscope sterilization methods are impractical for forward deployment, therefore new sterilization methods are needed to process medical and surgical instruments in the field. The proposal describes a successful low-temperature, chemical-free, broad spectrum sterilization method with short sterilization cycles that ensures endoscopes are pathogen free between patient procedures. The proposed Phase II development effort will expand the testing of the sterilization method and result in construction and testing of a breadboard prototype sterilization system to accommodate metrics and design specifications. The proposed innovations significantly augment onsite instrument sterilization resulting in improvement to military medical facility readiness for wounded warfighter treatment and care.