Support Documents - Safety Upgrades
The Dixons range of portable autoclaves has been manufactured for over
forty years under various brand names. They have been known over the
years as 'Express' autoclaves, 'The Arnolds Autoclave', 'The Portable
Autoclave', 'The HM&S Autoclave' and 'The Macarthy Autoclave'. These
autoclaves were previously manufactured by Arnold & Sons, Basildon
(owned by the McCarthy Group). Dixons have been exclusively manufacturing
the range since 1990.
Since that time certain potential faults have come to light if users have
not followed the instruction manual carefully. At such times modifications
were made to the production models in order to make all the autoclaves as
safe as possible to use. Although the problems did not require 'total
recall' it is our policy to modify all units that come into the factory
for servicing / repair and thus render them compliant with current standards
when they leave our factory. Similarly, we would recommend that any autoclaves
serviced / repaired are treated in the same manner.
Every autoclave has a unique serial number stamped into the locking rings
of stainless steel models or the lifting handle boss of aluminium models.
This allows the age of the unit to be established. Simply contact this
office with the serial number and we will give you the date of manufacture.
The modifications carried out since 1990 that should be carried out on all
models are as follows:
Insulation Resistance
The insulation resistance of the old wiring (white sheathing) did not meet
new electrical regulations. The modified wiring has coloured sheathing, a
tufnol plate behind the mains in terminal block and a long brass nut holding
it in place.
Safety Valve
The old two setting safety valve (knurled adjuster sticking out of the top)
used a metal ball to make the seal which, if not maintained correctly, could
stick. The safety valve was completely redesigned. The current design is
a single setting only and used a silicon seal. A separate datasheet is
available with more information on safety valve adjustment.
Pressure Gauge And Thermometer
The old style pressure gauge had a temperature scale marked on it as well
as pressure. Some users were assuming they were achieving sterilising
temperature, by taking the temperature reading from the pressure gauge,
when in fact they had trapped air in the autoclave. This meant that the
pressure reading was correct but the temperature in the autoclave would
have been somewhat lower. The current pressure gauges only read pressure.
A dial thermometer is now also fitted to ensure correlation of temperature
and pressure thereby showing the correct removal of air from the autoclave.
The dial thermometer is a 3/8" BSP fitting. Some autoclaves may need a hole
drilled and tapped in the lid to take the dial thermometer.
Residual Pressure Relief Valve
The ratchet locking mechanism of the stainless steel autoclaves was replaced
with the current wing nut versions. Following an incident with one of the old
style models a residual pressure relief valve was fitted to ensure that the
lid could not be removed before all the pressure had been released from the
pot. A separate datasheet is available with more information on the ratchet
locking mechanism.
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We have taken over the reusable needle range previously manufactured by Bignell Surgical...
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Dixons Surgical Instruments Ltd was founded in November 1948 by Frank W Dixon in
Caledonian Road, London. It's aim was to supply the major UK Trade
Houses with high quality surgical instruments...
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Dixons run a Quality System to
BS EN ISO 9001:2000
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