AAMI/ISO 11135:2014

1 Scope

1.1 Inclusions

This International Standard specifies requirements for the development, validation, and routine control of an ethyleneoxide sterilization process for medical devices in both the industrial and health care facility settings, and itacknowledges the similarities and differences between the two applications.

NOTE 1 Among the similarities are the common need for quality systems, staff training, and proper safety measures. The majordifferences relate to the unique physical and organizational conditions in health care facilities, and to the initial condition of reusablemedical devices being presented for sterilization.

NOTE 2 Health care facilities differ from medical device manufacturers in the physical design of processing areas, in theequipment used, and in the availability of personnel with adequate levels of training and experience. The primary function of thehealth care facility is to provide patient care; medical device reprocessing is just one of a myriad of activities that are performed tosupport that function.

NOTE 3 In terms of the initial condition of medical devices, medical device manufacturers generally sterilize large numbers ofsimilar medical devices that have been produced from virgin material. Health care facilities, on the other hand, must handle andprocess both new medical devices and reusable medical devices of different descriptions and with varying levels of bioburden. Theyare therefore faced with the additional challenges of cleaning, evaluating, preparing, and packaging a medical device prior tosterilization. In this International Standard, alternative approaches and guidance specific to health care facilities are identified assuch.

NOTE 4 EO gas and its mixtures are effective sterilants that are primarily used for heat- and/or moisture-sensitive medicaldevices that cannot be moist heat sterilized.

NOTE 5 Although the scope of this International Standard is limited to medical devices, it specifies requirements and providesguidance that can be applicable to other health care products.

1.2 Exclusions

1.2.1 This International Standard does not specify requirements for the development, validation, and routinecontrol of a process for inactivating the causative agents of spongiform encephalopathies, such as scrapie, bovinespongiform encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Specific recommendations have been produced inparticular countries for the processing of materials potentially contaminated with these agents.

NOTE See ISO 22442-1, ISO 22442-2 and ISO 22442-3.

1.2.2 This International Standard does not detail a specified requirement for designating a medical device assterile.

NOTE Attention is drawn to national or regional requirements for designating medical devices as ?sterile?. See for exampleEN 556?1 or ANSI/AAMI ST67.

1.2.3 This International Standard does not specify a quality management system for the control of all stages ofproduction of medical devices.

NOTE The effective implementation of defined and documented procedures is necessary for the development, validation, androutine control of a sterilization process for medical devices. Such procedures are commonly considered to be elements of a qualitymanagement system. It is not a requirement of this International Standard to have a full quality management system duringmanufacture or reprocessing. The necessary elements are normatively referenced at appropriate places in the text (see, inparticular, Clause 4). Attention is drawn to the standards for quality management systems (see ISO 13485) that control all stages ofproduction or reprocessing of medical devices. National and/or regional regulations for the provision of medical devices mightrequire the implementation of a full quality management system and the assessment of that system by a third party.

1.2.4 This International Standard does not specify requirements for occupational safety associated with the designand operation of EO sterilization facilities.

NOTE 1 For further information on safety, see examples in the Bibliography. National or regional regulations may also exist.

NOTE 2 EO is toxic, flammable, and explosive. Attention is drawn to the possible existence in some countries of regulationsgiving safety requirements for handling EO and for premises in which it is used.

1.2.5 This International Standard does not cover sterilization by injecting EO or mixtures containing EO directlyinto packages or a flexible chamber.

NOTE See ISO 14937 for these types of EO processes.

1.2.6 This International Standard does not cover analytical methods for determining levels of residual EO and/orits reaction products.

NOTE 1 For further information see ISO 10993-7.

NOTE 2 Attention is drawn to the possible existence of national or regional regulations specifying limits for the level of EOresidues present on or in medical devices.

Published:

07/27/2015

ANSI:

ANSI Approved

Number of Pages:

95

File Size:

1 file , 740 KB

Same As:

AAMI/ISO 11135:2014

Note:

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