Reusable semi-critical medical devices (MDs) must be reprocessed with final disinfection after each use.

Numerous MPs, such as transvaginal/transrectal ultrasound (US) probes, are not liquid-tight due to their design and are usually reprocessed using manual wipe cleaning and disinfection.

Wiping procedures are not considered to be validatable and are therefore increasingly regarded by the authorities as inadmissible for reprocessing.

The aim of the research project is to develop a disinfection process based on plasma-activated organo vapor that allows the disinfection of all non-liquid-tight US probes and other semi-critical MP.

By injecting water into the jet of an atmospheric pressure plasma, short-lived inorganic reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be efficiently formed, which react with subsequently injected organic additives to form organic ROS with a long lifetime, making them suitable for disinfecting US probes up to 200 cm long.

Based on a thermostated treatment chamber, the flow of organic ROS around all surfaces of the MP to be disinfected and thus the disinfection is ensured.

A process is provided that allows the disinfection of non-liquid-tight US probes and other semi-critical medical devices within 30 minutes.

The validatable automated disinfection process improves safety for patients, users and third parties. Liability risks due to inadequate reprocessing are reduced.