Every day, modern healthcare facilities worldwide produce a staggering amount of medical waste. Most experts estimate that 10 to 25 pounds of medical waste are generated per occupied bed, per day. This adds up to about 2 percent of the world’s total urban waste. Additionally, a portion is categorized as hazardous, meaning it is radioactive, infectious, or otherwise toxic. Such waste requires additional energy and cost to safely dispose of. Both the disposal and the sheer volume of healthcare waste are important to consider when assessing its effects on the planet and population.

How can the medical and biomedical research communities address the concerns of safety and sustainability? Priorclave North America recognizes the challenges that labs and medical facilities face daily. They walk a tightrope between safe sterilization, minimizing single-use plastics where possible, appropriate handling of advanced electronic surgical tools, and mindfully choosing equipment that is reliable, high quality, and efficient. It’s a daunting task for any industry—especially the medical community, which must prioritize safety and wellness above all else.

PNA constantly strives to support the needs of biomedical research and clinical facilities. In the Fall 2024 issue of BioMatters offered PNA CEO Barbra Wells an opportunity to discuss how organizations are seeking to strike this balance. BioMatters is Michigan’s only publication devoted to promoting the companies, innovations, products, and people in Michigan’s bioscience community.

PNA Helps Labs Rise to the Challenge

The article highlights the rapid rise of reusable advanced electronic surgical tools, and the challenges of safely sterilizing them. Before these tools are even introduced to hospitals and surgical facilities, biomedical researchers and surgical instrument manufacturers must complete intense testing. The prototypes must be tested for longevity, the lifespan of components, and the feasibility of safely and reliably sterilizing battery packs separately from the rest of the instrument.

This rigorous testing demands reliable, efficient, right-sized autoclaves for the job. In the BioMatters article, Barbra Wells explains why Blue Belt Technologies (part of Smith & Nephew) sought help from PNA to explore equipment options for its labs. Working together, Blue Belt was able to establish a faster, more sustainable prototype testing workflow.

How Can PNA Support You?

PNA President and CEO Barbra Wells notes:

“Priorclave is proud to help whenever we can. That is especially the case when it comes to the development of innovative medical technology, from prototype testing to market readiness. Our reliable, efficient autoclaves enable sustainable research that will serve healthcare providers for many years to come. Our goal is always the same: helping more researchers get more done, more sustainably, and with less effort.”

PNA is ready to help you meet your research needs, address your challenges, and ultimately, meet your goals. Contact us today—we look forward to speaking with you and answering all your questions.