ETO (Ethylene Oxide) sterilization of cameras and lenses

[rsosa]

I was wondering if anybody has tried to sterilize their cameras and lenses with ETO. It is supposed to use low temperatures and is a gas that kills everything that has life.

It is used for delicate devices (endoscopy optics for example) in the surgical field for sterilization.

If I have a lens that has been cleaned from fungus, what about giving it a treatment for the remaining spores living inside it?

any thoughts?

 

[Murray Kelly]

I was wondering if anybody has tried to sterilize their cameras and lenses with ETO. It is supposed to use low temperatures and is a gas that kills everything that has life.

It is used for delicate devices (endoscopy optics for example) in the surgical field for sterilization.

If I have a lens that has been cleaned from fungus, what about giving it a treatment for the remaining spores living inside it?

any thoughts?

From what I remember, the ETO process generates a lot of heat despite what you may think. I don't know why. Maybe this has changed since I was told that, many years ago.

As for endoscopy sterilisers the process is wet. I.E. the agent used is an aldehyde of some sort (I have become allergic to it after 40 years) and I wouldn't put one of my cameras thru any of the machines I've seen.

 

[maddoc]

Ethyleneoxid is proven carcinogen and highly explosive when mixed with air at elevated temperatures. Otherwise, it would be a rather good fungicide.

 

[dave lackey]

Personally, I wouldn't bother but YMMV.

 

[rpsawin]

Naw...60 seconds in the microwave and ain't nothin' moving.

 

[rsosa]

But I read in many places old lenses were put in ovens for re cementing.
Ok forget about the camera, what about lenses?

I plan obviously on giving the lens to a professional ETO service, it is quite cheap around here if you compare it to the benefits of theoretically have a spores free lens.

I know many people put "soft" materials inside the ETO instead of the autoclaves
If only someone had a experience (good one) with lenses 🙂

 

[Roberto V.]

Did you get the Summitar cleaned already? Great lens, isn't it? 🙂

 

[hans voralberg]

Naw...60 seconds in the microwave and ain't nothin' moving.

You're gonna get yourself a pretty mini firework with that!

 

[Freakscene]

You need to completely disassemble the lens, give it the ETO treatment, clean the residues (there will be some - they are biologically inert, but not optically inert), and reassemble. Given that there is no residual protection, a proper CLA of the lens will be an equivalent way to prevent fungus from growing in the future.

Marty