2008

2008

Room-temperature REVOX Peracetic acid sterilization

is patented

Patent for low-temperature plasma sterilization using

hydrogen peroxide is granted

First patent for vapor hydrogen peroxide sterilization granted

The commercial use of electron beams (e-beam)

in sterilization begins

The industrial use of gamma radiation

begins with Cobalt-60 as a

radiation source

Ethylene Oxide (EO) sterilization for the

preservation of spices is

patented

Sterilization by boiling introduced

Charles Chamberland, Louis Pasteur’s pupil

& collaborator, develops the rst pressure steam sterilizer

English physician B.W. Richardson begins using Hydrogen Peroxide

as disinfectant

FDA approves rst Class II medical device (cranial implant) using

REVOX Peracetic acid sterilization

First trials of mind-controlled prosthetic arms are successful

First ‘bionic eye’ approved by FDA

3-D printing used to build polymer skull implant

First full face transplant completed

First use of PillCam, a patient-swallowed light and camera

First transplant of arti cial brain cells into a human patient

First synthetic blood approved for patient use

Robots rst used in laproscopic surgery

First baby born via in vitro fertilization

CAT-scans invented

First total condylar knee transplants begin

First human heart transplant performed

First cardiac pacemaker is implanted in a patient

Jonas Salk develops the rst polio vaccine

First u vaccine pioneered

Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

Dr. Paul Dudley pioneers the use of the electrocardiogram (ECG)Wilhelm Roentgen discovers X rays

First vaccine for cholera developed

Joseph Lister publishes groundbreaking article on the need for cleanliness in the surgical room

Louis Pasteur publishes his seminal text on “germ theory”1858

1862

18761867

1879

18811895

1913

19281938

1945

19521956

1958

1967

1974

1975

1978

1987

1977

1989

1998

2001

2008

2008

2008

2014

2010

2013

2015

1950s

Timeline of Sterilization and Medical Breakthroughs

OH2C CH 2

STERILIZATION MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS

The history of modern medicine is replete with both once-in-a-life-time scientific breakthroughs and steady, continuous advances. The pace of this progress has acceler-ated of late, but one key aspect of medical manufacturing was hold-ing it back: sterilization. Until re-cently, medical manufacturers were forced to rely upon de-cades-old methodologies—that were often employed under harsh or rigid conditions—to sterilize their products. But now, thanks to the arrival of the REVOX Steriliza-tion System, there is finally an innovative, room-temperature sterilization solution that befits the age of cutting-edge medical technology and just-in-time pro-duction.

by Cantel Medical

TM