CN112091828B - Method for cleaning conventional surgical instruments and device suitable for implementing said method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a method for cleaning conventional surgical instruments or tools and medical equipment, and an apparatus for implementing the method. In particular, the use of an abrasive cleaning material sprayed at high speed pressure on the instrument is contemplated for abrading and removing substances attached to the surface of the instrument, and wherein the abrasive cleaning material includes sodium bicarbonate, a compound of sodium bicarbonate, and the like.

Description

Method for cleaning a conventional surgical instrument and device suitable for implementing said method

Technical Field

This patent relates to methods and apparatus for cleaning reworkable or non-reworkable, immersible (water) or non-immersible (water) surgical tools or instruments or medical devices, and more particularly, to new blasting methods for cleaning reworkable or non-reworkable surgical devices and instruments or conventional surgical devices, whether immersible or not, and apparatus for performing such procedures.

Background

Reworkable or non-reworkable, immersible or non-immersible surgical instruments and medical devices are known in the art, as well as instruments for performing interventions or procedures on a patient's body in medical fields such as surgery, dentistry, veterinarian, and the like. For use, these instruments must be completely and thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and sterilized, i.e. there cannot be any kind of foreign bodies, bacteria or anything else on the surface of these instruments that could cause any kind of pathological reaction in the patient.

Thus, after each use, the surgical instruments and medical devices must be cleaned, sterilized, and carefully sterilized, individually packaged with sterile sealed packages suitable for quick opening by the average surgeon or medical staff to remove the tool during use.

In particular, surgical instruments and medical devices must be prophylactically and thoroughly cleaned to remove any organic residues from the metallic surfaces of the surgical instruments and medical devices before being subjected to sterilization methods and subsequent sterilization, which typically occur using high temperature steam or other chemical or thermal or physical systems (radiation).

In fact, if the organic residues are not removed before disinfection and subsequent sterilization, the molecules of the organic residues decompose during the heat treatment, forming an even more firmly adhering precipitate on the surface, which further increases the cleaning problem.

In order to protect the health of medical personnel from possible infections caused by accidental contact with infected surgical instruments and/or medical equipment, manual and automatic cleaning devices are also known in the prior art for cleaning and sterilizing medical instruments.

These devices typically operate in three steps. During the first step, the surgical instrument is cleaned with a suitable detergent or ultrasonic cleaner, and then rinsed with water. The method must ensure complete removal of the organic residues stored on the instrument.

One drawback of the known methods of using chemicals lies in the fact that: some of the chemicals commonly used in cleaning cycles are too aggressive for stainless steel of surgical instruments, resulting in a type of corrosion known as "pitting".

Furthermore, surgical instruments and medical devices often include portions with smooth surfaces, and portions with rough surfaces, such as corresponding to handles, to ensure better grip by the operator. Some surgical instruments also include voids and small indentations/roughness.

These voids or roughened surfaces accumulate organic residues that are difficult to remove by known cleaning methods due to the complexity of the surfaces and the resistance of the contaminant materials.

Manual mechanical operations often need to be performed by professional operators before cleaning operations due to the flawed effectiveness of detergent-based methods. This operation includes manually brushing the instrument, which obviously involves a risk of contracting a disease infection to the operator due to possible cuts, scratches, punctures or any other unexpected events caused by the brushing. Furthermore, scrubbing does not always ensure complete removal of organic residues, because: instruments used in such mechanical operations are not always able to reach into contaminated voids or cavities and/or sometimes fouling materials formed by dried organics become extra-adhered to surfaces as in the case of glue, fillers or tissue residues.

For this reason, systems are also known which use softening baths with or without the aid of suitable ultrasound to facilitate the mechanical and/or chemical removal of organic residues from the most complex surfaces. However, these methods are not always effective. The contaminating elements remaining in particular in the interstices and in the cavities are then further immobilized with a heat sterilization treatment and/or a subsequent sterilization treatment, so that the effectiveness of this later important stage cannot be guaranteed, putting the health of the subsequently treated patient at additional risk.

On the other hand, very aggressive chemical solutions also have a corrosive action, especially at the metal-metal or metal-plastic contact points which are advantageous conditions for causing localized corrosion phenomena. Thus, the treatments used so far involve both chemical and physical types of corrosion phenomena.

The third stage involves cleaning the instruments and medical equipment with water at a high temperature of about 90 ℃, which can produce even more significant corrosion effects corresponding to those areas that are subject to localized corrosion.

Thus, known procedures and equipment for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing medical instruments and equipment constitute various drawbacks.

Endoscopy is also widely known and widely practiced in both diagnostic and therapeutic fields, and requires the use of endoscopic instruments, devices and accessories, which require high-level disinfection and sterilization procedures for undamaged and damaged mucous membranes and tissues due to their contact.

For example, flexible or rigid endoscopic instruments are known, comprising a probe made of metallic or non-metallic material (generally plastic), equipped with lenses (cameras) and commonly used in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures.

Disclosure of Invention

To overcome the above drawbacks, a new sandblasting method using a salt complex (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) and an apparatus for performing the procedure have been studied and implemented for cleaning conventional surgical instruments, medical devices or surgical tools. The aim of the invention is to achieve a high degree of mechanical removal of substances adhering to the entire surface of the device and at the same time an efficient cleaning.

In particular, the new procedure maximizes the mechanical removal of substances adhering to the surface of the instrument and, in particular, even substances adhering to the following surfaces: special finished surfaces, threaded surfaces, knurled surfaces with conventional indentations, cavities or roughness of any size.

Another object of the invention is to ensure a durable antimicrobial effect, impeding the new proliferation of bacteria on the surface of devices comprising very small voids, grooves and/or recesses.

Another important advantage of the invention is also the significant reduction of the washing time and thus of the associated costs, because: the new product exerts both an abrasive effect, a decontamination effect and possibly also a disinfection effect and/or a biocidal effect in a single application.

Furthermore, the new procedure does not require additional operations such as manual operations to clean the voids and cavities.

Still another object of the present invention is: for safety reasons, the operation of the instrument, surgical tool or medical device to be cleaned by the operator is further restricted.

A further advantage brought about by the use of the invention is the reduction of energy consumption, because: the application of even unheated water to the product ensures the efficacy of the product and therefore does not require hot water.

Still another object is to: ensuring sufficient supply of water to efficiently reduce dust; and ensuring complete dissolution of sodium bicarbonate in order to facilitate the discharge and disposal of the waste.

These and other direct and supplemental objects are achieved by a new sand blasting method and apparatus for accomplishing this procedure that utilizes a salt compound (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) to clean conventional surgical instruments or tools.

According to one aspect of the present application there is provided a method for cleaning a conventional surgical tool or instrument or medical device, characterized in that the method comprises using an abrasive cleaning material sprayed onto the instrument at high speed pressure for abrading and removing substances adhering to the surface of the instrument itself, and wherein the water-based abrasive cleaning material comprises a salt compound, wherein the concentration of water is greater than the concentration required to dissolve the salt compound used, or the concentration of water is greater than the concentration noted for dissolution of the salt compound itself, wherein water is added during or after the spraying of the cleaning material in order to completely dissolve the salt compound before being sent to discharge or disposal.

Alternatively, the salt compound is sprayed in an amount ranging from 50 to 300 g/min.

Optionally, said spraying of cleaning material occurs in a closed compartment and further comprises emitting UV radiation onto an inner surface of said compartment.

Optionally, the salt compound comprises an alkaline bicarbonate and/or an alkaline carbonate and/or a chloride salt.

Alternatively, the salt compound includes sodium bicarbonate salt, sodium bicarbonate salt compound, and the like.

Optionally, the abrasive cleaning material comprises the salt dissolved in water beyond a saturation limit, thereby forming a solution comprising the salt in dissolved form and/or the salt in undissolved form, the solution being adapted to be sprayed and propelled against the instrument to be cleaned under high velocity pressure, and wherein the water is heated or unheated.

Optionally, the abrasive cleaning material further comprises: one or more additives having a disinfecting effect and/or biocidal effect, and/or one or more additives having a decontamination effect and/or disinfecting effect, and/or one or more medical products of particular action.

Optionally, the method further comprises: the spray pressure of the abrasive cleaning material is adjusted based on one or more materials from which the apparatus is made.

Alternatively, the spray pressure can be adjusted and modified between 0.5bar and 12bar depending on the material or materials from which the instrument is made.

Optionally, for treating the plastic surface of the instrument, the spray pressure is between 0.5bar and 3 bar.

Optionally, for treating the metal surface of the instrument, the spray pressure is between 1.5bar and 8 bar.

Optionally, the salt compound has a predetermined particle size that depends on the type of surface of the surgical tool and instrument to be cleaned and the type of characteristic dimensions of conventional grooves, slots, voids and roughness of the surface.

Alternatively, the salt compound has a particle size between 10 and 700 μm.

Alternatively, the salt compound has a particle size between 70 and 600 μm.

Alternatively, the salt compound has a particle size between 150 and 500 μm.

According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning a conventional surgical instrument or medical device according to the aforementioned method, characterized in that the apparatus comprises:

At least one closed sandblasting compartment adapted to house one or more of the instruments to be cleaned, the sandblasting compartment further comprising a housing having at least one access door for introducing an instrument to be cleaned;

At least one system for feeding abrasive cleaning material, the system in turn comprising an abrasive material reservoir, a conduit through which a pressurized water stream lifts or pushes abrasive material from the reservoir and delivers the abrasive material to an injector nozzle positioned within the compartment, wherein the injector nozzle injects the abrasive material at high velocity within the sandblasting compartment onto the tool to be cleaned;

at least one UV lamp adapted to emit UV radiation within said sandblasting booth.

Optionally, the compartment includes at least one opening with a sleeve glove to allow an operator to maneuver the spray nozzle and/or instrument to be cleaned within the compartment.

Optionally, the apparatus includes one or more supports for the surgical instrument within the compartment, the supports being adapted to restrain and hold the instrument in place during blasting.

Optionally, the spray nozzle and/or the support for the instrument to be cleaned can be moved in an automated manner, translated and/or rotated in three spatial directions.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises: means for rinsing and/or blowing the apparatus after sandblasting; an extraction system for removing abrasive material from the compartment based on positive or negative pressure; and a filtration system for air exiting the compartment and recovering material used in at least one particular container.

Detailed Description

The new cleaning procedure provides for the removal of adherent and tough adherent substances from the surface of the instrument to be cleaned by grinding, thanks to a high-speed jet directed against the surface of the instrument to be cleaned by a mixture of water and ground cleaning material.

In particular, the abrasive cleaning material includes at least one salt compound, such as sodium bicarbonate salt, sodium bicarbonate salt compound, and the like.

According to other examples, the present methods provide for the use of basic bicarbonate (such as, for example, liHCO ₃、NaHCO₃、KHCO₃、NH₄HCO₂) and/or basic carbonate (such as ,Li₂CO₃、Na₂CO₂、K₂CO₃、(NH₄)₂CO₃) and/or chloride salts (such as NaCl, KCl, NH ₄ Cl) and the like.

The salt compound is physically used in a wet process wherein the salt compound is dissolved in water beyond the saturation limit to form a solution comprising dissolved salt and undissolved salt, which is suitable for being propelled against the instrument to be cleaned at high speed and pressure.

The portion of the solution where the salt dissolves performs the actual cleaning function, dissolving and leaching the organic material present on the surface of the instrument.

In contrast, the undissolved portion of the salt acts as an abrasive material. The method provides for spraying of the compound for the salt in an amount preferably ranging from 50 to 300 g/min.

The method provides for spraying of salt that occurs with water, where the water is present in an amount greater than that required for the set or prescribed solubility of the salt compound used.

The water may be propelled in whole or in part simultaneously with the propulsion of the salt compound, or the water may be propelled in whole or in part after the propulsion of the salt compound.

The relatively large amount of water introduced into the aspirator pre-positioned vessel allows for efficient removal of dust from salt compounds during spraying and also ensures that the salt is sufficiently dissolved, thereby facilitating the outflow and discharge of waste materials.

In the particular case where the compound of the salt is sodium bicarbonate, which is known to have a solubility of about 10% by weight, the water used must be at least in excess in order to ensure complete solubility of the compound of the salt upon discharge.

The new cleaning procedure provides for the removal of substances adhering and stubborn to the surface of the object to be cleaned by means of grinding, high-speed spraying of the ground cleaning material against the object to be cleaned, with controlled particle size determination, depending on the type of surface to be cleaned.

It is also possible to provide sequential or even simultaneous spraying for cleaning materials having two or more different particle sizes to further improve cleaning efficiency.

In particular, the new method for cleaning conventional medical tools, equipment and surgical instruments with salt-containing compounds (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) is particularly efficient where the abrasive material has a particle size/particle size of between 10 and 700 μm.

In the case of an instrument comprising the following surface, the sodium bicarbonate salt compound is fine-grained, i.e. has a particle size between 10 and 250 μm: the surface has knurls, grooves, recesses, recessed edges and roughened areas with feature sizes generally ranging from 50 to 250 μm.

In a preferred and more efficient embodiment, the sodium bicarbonate salt compound has a particle size between 20 and 200 μm.

In the case of a device comprising the following surface, the sodium bicarbonate salt compound has a large size fraction with a particle size between 10 and 700 μm: the surface has knurls, cavities, and roughened areas with dimensions substantially greater than 250 μm.

In another possible embodiment, the sodium bicarbonate salt compound has a particle size between 70 and 600 μm.

In a possibly preferred embodiment, the sodium bicarbonate salt compound has a particle size between 100 and 500 μm.

The new procedure is particularly suitable for cleaning of said surgical instruments and medical devices having any type of surface.

The new method is particularly suitable for cleaning the surgical instruments and medical devices, because: the new method has no corrosive effect on the material from which the device is made and no abrasion or surface modification of the device is present.

The basic and unique characteristics of sodium bicarbonate are: sodium bicarbonate has a much lower hardness than sand, and sodium bicarbonate is fully soluble and biodegradable.

Sodium bicarbonate is between 2.5 and 3 on the mohs scale for empirical evaluation of material hardness, while sand, which mainly comprises silica compounds, is on average between 6 and 7.

This results in: the abrasive action of the sand also affects the metallic surfaces of the surgical instruments and medical devices, and the residue is insoluble and therefore can clog in the void, causing damage and becoming a contaminant itself. In contrast, the grinding action of sodium bicarbonate breaks down and removes impurities that have a lower hardness and are deposited on the surgical instrument, while the grinding action of sodium bicarbonate does not affect the metal surface having a higher hardness.

Furthermore, by varying the bicarbonate injection pressure, bicarbonate can also act against smaller materials such as plastics, either by merely reducing the kinetic energy supplied or by reducing the operating pressure.

The new program thus also provides for: the spray pressure of the salt compound or bicarbonate compound is also adjusted based on the hardness of the bicarbonate itself and the particle size measurement.

The hardness and characteristic dimensions of agglomerates composed of sodium bicarbonate are in fact of limited intrinsic variability, mainly due to the speed of the bicarbonate production process. The new procedure allows to vary the ejection pressure of the compound of the salt and thus the ejection speed of the compound of the salt even depending on the type of object and the material from which the object is made.

The spraying pressure is preferably between 0.5bar and 12bar, and is adjustable and modifiable even during the blasting process itself. In particular, in the case of surgical instruments in which plastic parts are present, the pressure is maintained between 0.5bar and 3bar, considering that the grinding action must be limited to residues deposited on the instrument without affecting the plastic surface.

In contrast, for a partially steel surgical instrument, this pressure is maintained between 1.5bar and 8bar, considering the metal surface is harder. In addition, sodium bicarbonate has hygienic, antibacterial and antifungal effects.

In addition, sodium bicarbonate is not dangerous to operators and is not harmful to the environment. Sodium bicarbonate is biodegradable and 100% soluble. Thus, sodium bicarbonate is not a contaminant and no particular limitation is put on storage, handling, and operation.

According to one possible embodiment, the new method foresees that the abrasive cleaning material may comprise, in addition to the salt compound and water, one or more additional agents having disinfecting and/or biocidal capabilities, for example in a concentration of between 0.1 and 25%. In this way, both the cleaning operation and the disinfecting operation of the instrument and/or medical device can be performed in one single step.

The cleaning material may further comprise one or more additives having a decontamination effect and/or a disinfection effect and/or one or more specific action medical products.

The water used may be heated or may even be at room temperature, because: the use of sodium bicarbonate, in particular with the addition of disinfectants and/or biocides, ensures excellent cleaning and sanitizing.

Thus, by optimizing and improving the durability of medical instruments and equipment and accelerating the reprocessing operations, the new procedure also allows energy consumption and operating costs to be controlled, with concomitant significant improvements in the quality of the results and thus in the quality of the sanitation, all under extremely improved conditions.

The elimination of the scrubbing method results in the elimination of the risk to the operator of possible infections caused by accidental punctures, abrasions or cuts that may occur during the rinsing operation, with a concomitant significant reduction in costs associated with accidents.

The improved effectiveness of the cleaning method also results in a significant reduction in the rate of infection of subsequently treated patients, with a concomitant reduction in the associated costs, due to better and more efficient cleaning of the surgical instrument.

The method may include a final step in which the instrument is rinsed with cold water (that is, unheated water), and/or the instrument is blown in a defined environment.

The method may further comprise the use of UV radiation, emitted UV radiation, in order to maintain a high level of sanitation of the working environment or of the confined environment (compartment) by the bacteriostatic action induced by the radiation.

For the implementation of the new method for cleaning surgical instruments and medical devices, the use of a device is foreseen, said device comprising a closed sandblasting compartment adapted to house one or more instruments to be cleaned.

The sandblasting booth constitutes a defined and protected environment in which the operator can perform all cleaning and sanitizing operations without being faced with dangerous conditions for himself and for operators present and working in the same structure, such as for example possible aerosol pollution caused by the use of compressed air in the cleaning operations or pollutants removed from the objects treated by direct contact.

In the compartment there may be one or more supports for the surgical instruments and medical devices adapted to restrain and hold in place the object during the cleaning process.

The support may be fixed or mobile, for example the support may be rotated and/or translated so as to expose the entire surface of the instrument to the jet of the injector nozzle.

According to one possible embodiment, the injector nozzle is movable, i.e. the injector nozzle is translated and/or rotated in three spatial directions in order to direct the jet over the entire surface of the instrument to be cleaned.

The tool to be cleaned may in turn be constrained to the fixed or movable support, or the tool to be cleaned may in turn be manually held by an operator.

The injector nozzle may be manually movable or automatically movable.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the injector nozzle is fixed within the compartment, so concomitantly the jet is constantly oriented in the same direction. In this embodiment, the object to be cleaned may be manually held by an operator so as to expose the entire surface of the object to be cleaned to the jet. Alternatively, the support for the object to be cleaned is motorized and mobile, translating and/or rotating, thereby fully automating the procedure.

The apparatus further comprises at least one system for feeding abrasive material, the system in turn comprising an abrasive material reservoir, and wherein a pressurized water stream pulls or pushes abrasive material from the reservoir through at least one conduit and delivers the abrasive material to an injector nozzle positioned within the compartment. Abrasive material is sprayed at high velocity through the sprayer nozzle in the sandblasting booth and onto the object to be cleaned.

The apparatus preferably further comprises means for adjusting the abrasive material injection pressure between 0.5bar and 12 bar.

In a preferred embodiment, the new appliance further comprises an appliance for adjusting said pressure to a preset value, for example between 0.5bar and 3bar for treating a surgical instrument with a plastic surface and between 1.5bar and 8bar for treating a surgical instrument with a metal surface.

In one possible embodiment, the reservoir is removable to enable the supply of sodium bicarbonate compound with a desired particle size measurement, as the case may be, depending on the type of instrument to be cleaned. Alternatively, the new device may comprise two or more receptacles each containing a compound of the sodium bicarbonate salt having a specific particle size, and wherein each of the receptacles is connected or selectively connected to the injector nozzle or the injector nozzle of the receptacle itself.

The apparatus may further comprise one or more means for automatically selecting from which reservoir the abrasive material to be ejected is picked up, wherein the selecting may comprise selecting one or both of the two or more reservoirs for ejecting material having different particle sizes one or both.

The apparatus may further comprise: an abrasive material vacuum suction system in the compartment; and a filtration system for air exiting the compartment and recovering material used in at least one suitable container.

The jet bay, which may be of any shape and size, includes a housing having at least one access door for insertion and removal of surgical instruments and medical devices.

The compartment housing further comprises: one or more glass control windows; one or two openings with sleeve-attached gloves to allow an operator to maneuver the sandblasting nozzle and/or rotate the object to be cleaned within the compartment; and an exhaust opening at the bottom of the compartment.

The compartment bottom is for example shaped to promote waste outflow.

The cleaning operation with bicarbonate can thus be carried out simultaneously manually by one or more operators inside the compartment or automatically inside the compartment by means of suitable equipment or suitable automated mechanical systems.

The new device further comprises one or more UV lamps adapted to emit UV radiation at least inside said sandblasting booth so as to strike the surface of said sandblasting booth.

The compartment preferably includes at least one opening with a sleeve glove to allow an operator to maneuver the spray nozzle and/or the instrument to be cleaned within the compartment.

The spray nozzle may be fixed with a constant spray orientation, or it may be moved in an automated manner, translating and/or rotating in three spatial directions, so as to orient the spray over the entire surface of the object to be cleaned.

The apparatus also preferably includes one or more supports for surgical instruments and medical devices within the compartment, the supports being adapted to constrain and hold the instruments in place during blasting, and wherein the supports are fixed or moved, rotated and/or translated in an automated manner so as to expose the entire surface of the instruments to the jet of the injector nozzle.

The apparatus further comprises: means for rinsing and/or blowing the apparatus after sandblasting; an extraction system for removing abrasive material from the compartment based on positive or negative pressure; and a filtration system for air exiting the compartment and recovering material used in at least one particular container.

Accordingly, reference is made to the foregoing description for the purpose of the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. A method for cleaning conventional surgical tools or instruments or medical devices, characterized in that the method includes the use of an abrasive cleaning material, which is sprayed at high speed pressure onto the instrument to abrade and remove material attached to the surface of the instrument itself, and wherein the water-based abrasive cleaning material includes a salt compound, wherein the concentration of water is greater than the concentration required to dissolve the salt compound used, or the concentration of water is greater than the concentration marked for the salt compound to dissolve itself, wherein during the spraying of the cleaning material, water is added to completely dissolve the salt compound before it is sent for discharge or disposal, wherein the salt compound is in a range of from 5 0 to 300 g/min, and water is pushed in sufficient amount to effectively reduce dust and to completely dissolve the salt compound at the same time or after the salt compound is pushed, the salt compound includes sodium bicarbonate salt, sodium bicarbonate salt compound, etc., wherein the abrasive cleaning material includes the salt dissolved in water in excess of the saturation limit, thereby forming a solution including the salt in dissolved form and/or the salt in undissolved form, the solution is suitable for being sprayed at high speed pressure and pushed against the instrument to be cleaned, wherein the water is heated or unheated, and wherein the instrument is rinsed and/or blown dry after sandblasting with the water-based abrasive cleaning material. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the spraying of the cleaning material occurs in a closed compartment and further comprising emitting UV radiation onto an interior surface of the compartment. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the salt compound comprises alkaline bicarbonate and/or alkaline carbonate and/or chloride. 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that the abrasive cleaning material also includes: one or more additives with disinfection effect and/or biocidal effect, and/or one or more additives with decontamination effect and/or disinfection effect, and/or one or more medical products with specific effects. 5. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising adjusting a spray pressure of the abrasive cleaning material based on one or more materials from which the device is made. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the injection pressure can be adjusted and modified between 0.5 bar and 12 bar depending on the material or materials made of the device. 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that for treating the plastic surface of the device, the spray pressure is between 0.5 bar and 3 bar. 8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that for treating the metal surface of the device, the spray pressure is between 1.5 bar and 8 bar. 9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the salt compound has a predetermined particle size, which depends on the type of surface of the surgical tools and instruments to be cleaned and the type of characteristic sizes of the conventional grooves, grooves, voids and roughness of the surface. 10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the salt compound has a particle size of between 10 and 700 μm. 11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the salt compound has a particle size of between 70 and 600 μm. 12 . The method according to claim 11 , characterized in that the salt compound has a particle size between 150 and 500 μm. 13. An apparatus for cleaning conventional surgical instruments or medical equipment according to the method of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus comprises: at least one closed sandblasting compartment, the sandblasting compartment being suitable for accommodating one or more of the instruments to be cleaned, the sandblasting compartment further comprising a housing having at least one access door for introducing the instruments to be cleaned; at least one system for feeding abrasive cleaning material, the system further comprising an abrasive cleaning material reservoir, a conduit, a pressurized water flow through the conduit to lift or push the abrasive cleaning material from the reservoir and convey the abrasive cleaning material to an ejector nozzle positioned in the compartment, wherein the ejector nozzle ejects the abrasive cleaning material at a high speed onto the instruments to be cleaned in the sandblasting compartment; and at least one UV lamp adapted to emit UV radiation in the sandblasting compartment. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the compartment includes at least one opening for a cuffed glove to allow an operator to manipulate the spray nozzle and/or the instrument to be cleaned within the compartment. 15. A device according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that it comprises one or more supports for the surgical instruments within the compartment, the supports being adapted to restrain the instruments and hold them in place during blasting. 16 . The device according to claim 15 , characterized in that the spray nozzle and/or the support for the instrument to be cleaned can be moved in an automated manner, translated and/or rotated in three spatial directions. 17. A device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it includes: an apparatus for rinsing and/or blowing the equipment after sandblasting; an extraction system for removing abrasive cleaning materials from the compartment based on positive or negative pressure; and a filtration system for air to leave the compartment and recover the used materials in at least one special container.