Why Is Cobalt-60 Used To Sterilize Medical Equipment?

The reason why Cobalt-60 is the most suitable for radiation processing is because of the relatively high energy of their gamma rays and fairly long half-life which is 5.27 years.

Why should cobalt-60 be used?

What is it used for? Co-60 is used medically for radiation therapy as implants and as an external source of radiation exposure. It is used industrially in leveling gauges and to x-ray welding seams and other structural elements to detect flaws. Co-60 also is used for food irradiation, a sterilization process.

Why is cobalt-60 used in Sterilisation?

Cobalt-60 is type of ionizing radiation. Gamma rays from a source penetrate the targeted material and knock electrons from orbit. For sterilization applications this has the effect of disrupting DNA, which renders any microorganisms present nonviable.

Are radioactive isotopes used to sterilize medical equipment?

Radiation is a safe and cost-effective method for sterilizing single-use medical devices such as syringes and surgical gloves. One of its key advantages is that it allows already-packaged products to be sterilized.

Why is cobalt-60 used for food irradiation?

In many countries, food irradiation with cobalt-60 is routinely used to prevent sprouting or rotting, to delay ripening, and to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Why cobalt-60 is used in gamma knives?

Gamma Knife and Cancer Treatment
Stereotactic Radiosurgery using Cobalt-60 therapy allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation to tumours, while limiting damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and organs.

What can cobalt be used for?

Cobalt is commonly used in electroplating because of its appearance, hardness, and resistance to oxidation. Cobalt compounds have been used for centuries to create a rich blue color in glass, glazes, ceramics, porcelain, pottery, tiles, and enamels.

How does radiation sterilize medical equipment?

Radiation is used to sterilize medical instruments by first sealing a clean, but not bacteria-free, instrument in an air-tight bag. The bag and instrument are then placed in a very large field of radiation that can penetrate the bag—for example, gamma radiation, x rays, or high-energy electrons.

How are gamma rays used to sterilize medical equipment?

Gamma irradiation is a physical/chemical means of sterilization, because it kills bacteria by breaking down bacterial DNA, inhibiting bacterial division. Energy of gamma rays passes through the equipment, disrupting the pathogens that cause contamination.

What is cobalt-60 and Cesium 137 used for?

Irradiators utilizing radioactive cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) or cobalt-60 (⁶⁰Co) gamma-ray sources have been used for biological applications for many decades. These applications include irradiation of much of the nation’s blood supply and radiation biology research.

How does sterilize medical equipment work?

Medical devices are sterilized in a variety of ways including using moist heat (steam), dry heat, radiation, ethylene oxide gas, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and other sterilization methods (for example, chlorine dioxide gas, vaporized peracetic acid, and nitrogen dioxide).

Can nuclear energy be used to sterilize equipment?

Sterilization through ionizing radiation, a nuclear technique at the service of health. Radiation has bactericidal properties: it kills germs that cause disease and neutralizes other harmful organisms. This makes it a very useful application to sterilize materials.

What type of electromagnetic wave is used in hospitals to sterilize medical equipment?

Sterilization by ionizing radiation, primarily by cobalt 60 gamma rays or electron accelerators, is a low-temperature sterilization method that has been used for a number of medical products (e.g., tissue for transplantation, pharmaceuticals, medical devices).

Is irradiation used to preserve food?

Food irradiation (the application of ionizing radiation to food) is a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Like pasteurizing milk and canning fruits and vegetables, irradiation can make food safer for the consumer.

Is cobalt-60 used in radiography?

Cobalt-60 sealed sources are used throughout the industrial radiography industry to detect structural damage to metal parts.

Is cobalt-60 used in brachytherapy?

HDR Brachytherapy Started with Cobalt-60
Since its introduction, Co-60 has achieved tremendous success and has continued to evolve to support modern HDR brachytherapy needs. In 2003, BEBIG Medical successfully designed and introduced the first miniaturized Co-60 source.

Why is cobalt used in radiotherapy?

The main reason for its wide use in radiotherapy is that it has a longer half-life, 5.27 years, than many other gamma emitters. However, this half-life still requires cobalt sources to be replaced about every 5 years.

How does a cobalt-60 work?

Cobalt-60 systems, like the Gamma Knife, deliver radiation beams through 192 circular pinholes in a fixed helmet worn by the patient. The pinhole radiation meets at the tumor site, delivering a high dose, while the surrounding healthy tissue and critical brain structures receive minimal radiation.

How many electrons does cobalt-60?

27 electrons
Answer and Explanation: If the atom of cobalt-60 is neutrally charged, meaning that it is neither positively nor negatively charged, then there will be 27 protons and 27 electrons++ in the cobalt-60 atom.

Why is cobalt used in jewelry?

Cobalt is an alternative metal that has gained popularity in contemporary jewelry design, from necklaces and bracelets to wedding rings. It is extremely durable, and has a natural white luster, comparable to white gold and platinum, which makes it a popular choice for men’s and women’s jewelry.

Why is cobalt used in medical devices?

Cobalt (Co) alloys have been used for over seven decades in a wide range of medical devices, including, but not limited to, hip and knee implants, surgical tools, and vascular stents, due to their favorable biocompatibility, durability, and mechanical properties.