Primary Function: The STERIS Amsco Century Large Autoclave series is engineered for the high-pressure steam sterilization of a diverse range of laboratory items, including instruments, glassware, and media, ensuring stringent aseptic conditions critical for scientific experiments. These robust steam sterilizers are designed for fast, efficient, and reliable sterilization of heat and moisture-stable materials, as well as porous loads.

Advanced Capabilities: Equipped with a state-of-the-art Century control system, these autoclaves feature user-friendly color touchscreen displays with integrated printers, providing continuous cycle monitoring, comprehensive messages, help screens, and programming prompts for ease of operation. They offer multiple cycle configurations including pre-vacuum, gravity, flash, express, liquid, leak test, and daily air removal (Bowie-Dick) tests, catering to various sterilization needs.

Design and Safety: The units boast durable 316L stainless steel construction for chambers, jackets, and doors, ensuring longevity and compliance with bioprocessing standards. Safety features include insulated door covers, easily accessible emergency stop buttons, pressure relief valves, and control lockout switches. Door options include power vertical sliding doors, often foot-pedal activated for hands-free operation, or hinged doors with quick-turn handles, optimizing laboratory space and user convenience.

Applications: Sterilization of biological waste, culture media, and laboratory tools in microbiology, cell culture, and molecular biology research. Additionally, they are ideal for sterilizing animal cages and are crucial in clinical diagnostics, biotechnology labs, biomedical engineering, gene editing, and biopharmaceutical production, including cleanroom environments.

Current Availability: New units are typically available by quote from STERIS or authorized distributors. Refurbished models, such as the V116, V120, V148, and V160, are frequently available from medical equipment suppliers, with prices for used units varying (e.g., around $14,500 for a used large Century model).