Sensor Care Maintenance, and Infection Control
Learn how to maintain optimal XDR sensor performance and properly disinfect your XDR sensor.
Your XDR sensor is a sensitive electronic device but is engineered to be reasonably sturdy. To ensure the longevity and proper function of your XDR sensor, please adhere to the following handling and maintenance instructions:
Physical Protection:
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Prevent Impact Damage: Avoid dropping the sensor or subjecting it to any form of impact. Repeated shocks, even from seemingly minor drops, can cause internal damage. Handle the sensor with care at all times.
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Gentle Positioning: Position the sensor carefully in the patient's mouth. Instead of instructing patients to "bite," use gentler phrasing like "slowly close" or "gently close" to discourage biting on the sensor or cable. Avoid sensor placement that encourages such closure. Repeated biting can damage the sensor over time.
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Cable Care: The sensor cable should not be kinked or excessively bent. A good rule of thumb is to never bend the cord more sharply than the curvature of a nickel. Exercise caution when uncoiling the cord and avoid any sharp bends or twists.
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Prevent Cable Strain: Never pull or tug on the sensor cable. When disinfecting the sensor, always wipe the cable towards the sensor plate to avoid putting strain on the connection. Do not use rubber barriers on the cable, as these can also contribute to strain.
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Proper Storage: When storing the sensor, do not hang it solely by the sensor plate. If hanging the sensor and cord on a hook, use multiple hooks to create a wider hanging surface and distribute the weight of the cord. This prevents accidental tugging on the cord, which can weaken the connection to the sensor plate.
Electrical Protection:
- Minimize Static Discharge: Static electricity can damage the sensor's sensitive electronics. Be mindful of static discharge, especially in dry environments. If you experience static shocks yourself, take precautions to minimize static buildup before handling the sensor.
Chemical Protection:
- Keep the USB Connector Dry: Never expose the sensor's USB connector to any liquids. Moisture can cause corrosion and short circuits. Ensure the connector is completely dry before plugging it in.
Temperature Protection:
- No Heat Sterilization: Never place the sensor in a heat sterilizer (autoclave). The high temperatures will irreparably damage the sensor. Sterilization should only be performed on compatible accessories like sensor holders, using appropriate methods.
Infection Control
Since heat sterilization will damage the intra-oral sensor unit, alternate methods of contamination control should be employed.
Following CDC and ADA guidelines, we recommend encasing the XDR sensor (and patient-contacting cable portion) in a new, FDA-approved disposable plastic cover for each patient. Extend these barrier precautions to other potentially contaminated items like the computer keyboard and mouse. Sterilize sensor holders (e.g., XDR, Rinn, Snap-a-Ray, Eezee Grip, TrollByte) between patients using CDC-recommended heat or cold sterilization.
Disinfect the sensor itself after each patient, adhering to CDC guidelines for semi-critical items that cannot be heat-sterilized or high-level disinfected as seen below.
“Digital radiography sensors and other high-technology instruments come into contact with mucous membranes and are considered semi critical devices... To minimize the potential for device-associated infections, after removing the barrier, the device should be cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant (intermediate-level) after each patient.”
References:
I. CDC and MMWR Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings