Medical Devices

Biography

Biography: Frederic Stichelbaut

Abstract

High-energy X-rays are produced by 5 to 7 MeV electron beams striking high-Z metallic targets made of Tantalum or Tungsten. The resulting X-rays have similar penetrating power as gamma rays produced by Cobalt-60 sources. Both X-rays and gamma irradiations are very effective for the sterilization of large loads of low-density products such as medical devices. The IBA Company has launched in the recent years the development of industrial irradiators allowing an efficient use of X-rays for the sterilization of medical devices on pallet. The proposed systems have been developed thanks to the use of state-of-the-art Monte Carlo simulation codes to optimize both their throughput and dose uniformity figures. This effort resulted in the installation of the first full X-ray facility in Danïken, Switzerland, operated by Synergy Health. Thanks to the unique TT1000 RhodotronTM accelerator developed by IBA, this facility uses a 7 MeV, 700 kW electron beam to generate X-rays used exclusively for medical devices sterilization. With 700 kW beam power, the Synergy Health facility can process up to 150,000 m³/year of low bulk density products. For a pallet load with density of 0.15 g/cm³, this X-ray system reaches a remarkable dose uniformity ratio better than 1.2.