SCICAN
Swipe of a Wipe Cleans What Can’t Be Seen
DPS readers rely on SciCan’s OPTIM surface disinfectants to keep their operatories safe and compliant, including the 1-step OPTIM OS1 wipes
Nobody ever cries over spilled milk. It’s just a quick swipe of a wipe and we’re on to the next thing. But in dentistry, just because a surface is clean does not mean it’s disinfected, and “cleaning is the necessary first step of any disinfection process.”* And that’s where OPTIM OS1 wipes step into the picture.
Wipe Away Bacteria in 1 Easy Step
OPTIM OS1 is a 1-step cleaner-disinfectant wipe with superior wettability that removes soil and hard-to-kill organisms. A cost-efficient addition to any practice, the durable wipes clean and disinfect twice the surface area of the leading quats-alcohol wipes with just 1 wipe, and they do so without exposing staff to harmful VOCs or the risk of irritant-induced occupational asthma.¹
Free of fragrance and dyes, OPTIM OS1 wipes feature a proprietary LAS Active System, which combines a powerful surfactant base with fast-acting disinfection to kill over 40 organisms—including bacteria, viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and emerging pathogens—in just 1 minute on hard, nonporous surfaces.
“The LAS Active System sounds like a complex chemical process, but it’s actually very simple yet brilliant,” shared Marie T. Fluent, DDS, CDIPC, FACD, a dental infection control consultant who has a clever way of describing LAS.
“ …OPTIM OS1 wipes the entire micelle away, cleaning and disinfecting in just 1 motion.”
—Marie T. Fluent, DDS, CDIPC, FACD
“When a fly touches a Venus flytrap plant, the trap shuts, and the plant secretes an enzyme to kill and digest the insect,” she explained. “With the LAS Active System, when the surfactant molecule encounters a debris or microorganism on the surface, the tail of the molecule entraps the debris by forming a micelle, and then penetrates the bacterial cell membrane to kill the bacteria. Then, OPTIM OS1 wipes the entire micelle away, cleaning and disinfecting in just 1 motion.
Clean & Disinfect with Confidence
Most practices encounter a wide range of microorganisms every day—none of which can be seen by the naked eye.
“If a wipe can kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as is the case with OPTIM OS1, it will also kill other microorganisms team members are likely to encounter on surfaces,” said Dr. Fluent. “That’s because other viruses, bacteria, and fungi generally require lesser contact times to be effective.”
Emphasizing the value of SciCan’s expertise in the infection control space, Dr. Fluent recalled when SciCan rep Christina Masengale helped a practice prioritize safety and ensure compliance. “I was blown away with her familiarity with the office and choke points within their protocols. I knew that I could trust her to make the most informed decisions for this practice,” she shared.
For more information
Water pump. For STATIM 1000 & 2000 units, 120V.
Water Pumps
Identifying Pump Types
Fluid-O-Tech Pump
The Fluid-O-Tech pump is generally factory fitted to older units with revision 3.x/4/x controller boards up to approximately 1994-1995. It is a small rectangular pump with a diode plug attached to the top. The pump rests on a vibration-damping pad on the bottom of the chassis and is held in place with a wire bracket. The pump is secured to the bracket by a cable tie at each end. The black lead is attached to controller board J1-5 (LINE) and the white lead is attached to controller board J1-6 (NEUTRAL).SciCan Pump
The SciCan pump is generally factory fitted to units with revision 2.x/5.x/6.x and some early 7.x controller boards from 1995 up to mid 2008. It has a similar footprint to the Fluid-O-Tech pump, however the diode is now integrated into the pump. The pump is mounted on two vibration damping rubber brackets. Each bracket is secured to the chassis with two screws. The black lead is attached to controller board J1-5 (LINE) and the white lead is attached to controller board J1-6 (NEUTRAL).Ulka Pump
The Ulka pump is factory fitted to units with revision 7.x controller boards only from mid 2008 onwards. It is slightly smaller than the SciCan pump and can be identified by the configuration of the wires on top of the pump. The two visible connections are located adjacent and parallel to each other whereas the two visible connections on the SciCan pump are opposing each other and have a thermal switch connecting them. The pump is mounted on two vibration damping rubber brackets. Each bracket is secured to the chassis with two screws. The black lead is attached to controller board J1-5 (LINE) and the white lead is attached to controller board J1-6 (NEUTRAL).Note: Important information on pump interchangeability:
- The Fluid-O-Tech pump is no longer available, but units with this pump can be retrofitted with the SciCan pump ONLY.
- The SciCan pump and Ulka pump are NOT interchangeable. They are both still available. If replacing the pump during maintenance or servicing, the same pump must be fitted to ensure the unit works correctly.
*https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5217.pdf
Acute antimicrobial pesticide-related illnesses among workers in healthcare facilities,
CA, LA, MI, TX, 2002-2007. CDC Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
May 14, 2010.
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