Your FREE CIS Flashcards 2026 – 100+ Cards

Heavy surgical scissors with short, thick blades for cutting tough tissue, fascia, and suture.

Surgical scissors with long, thin, delicate blades for fine dissection of soft tissue.

Blade shape: Mayo is short and thick (tough tissue/suture); Metzenbaum is long and thin (delicate tissue). Not length.

Small, fine hemostatic forceps with serrations that run the full length of the jaw; for delicate vessels.

A hemostatic forceps whose serrations extend only partway (about halfway) down the jaw.

A hemostat that looks like a Kelly but has serrations running the full length of the jaw.

Serration pattern: Kelly is serrated about halfway down the jaw; Mosquito is fully serrated and finer/smaller.

Atraumatic tissue (thumb) forceps with fine rows of interlocking teeth that grasp vessels/tissue without crushing; used in vascular surgery.

Tissue forceps with a single fine tooth (or fine serrations) at the tip, used for delicate grasping such as skin closure.

Tweezer-style, spring-handled forceps with NO ratchet that grasp tissue — e.g., DeBakey and Adson.

Ringed, ratcheted clamps that occlude bleeding vessels (Mosquito, Kelly, Crile); identified by their serration pattern.

A needle holder with straight, plain cross-hatched jaws and straight ring handles.

A needle holder with a grooved/serrated jaw and a curved (angled) handle, designed for deep OB/GYN work.

A ratcheted instrument with short, stout, cross-hatched jaws that holds the suture needle without it rotating.

A handheld retractor with a deep, curved blade used to retract large amounts of tissue.

A handheld, double-ended retractor with flat blades of two depths.

A retractor that holds itself open (e.g., Weitlaner, Balfour), freeing hands and exposing the surgical site.

A forward-cutting rongeur used to bite away bone in spinal surgery.

A heavy instrument with spring or box-lock jaws that bites away bone.

A curved partial-occlusion vascular clamp used to occlude part of a large vessel.

A grasping clamp with sharp, short toothed tips for holding tough tissue securely.

A grasping clamp with smooth, rounded, fenestrated tips that hold delicate tissue without crushing.

The hinged pivot joint where the two halves of a ringed instrument meet; a frequent site of retained soil.

The locking mechanism on hemostat/needle-holder handles that holds the jaws closed at set positions.

An industry convention flagging a tungsten-carbide insert in the instrument's jaws or blades.

A very hard material inserted into jaws/blades for longer-lasting grip or cut; flagged by gold handles; avoid chlorine products.

The workhorse instrument metal; protected from corrosion by passivation (a chromium-oxide layer).

A chemical process that builds a protective chromium-oxide layer on stainless steel so it resists corrosion.

A lightweight, strong, non-magnetic metal for microsurgery/ophthalmic instruments; often anodized (colored).

An electrochemical (often colored) protective finish applied to titanium and aluminum.

A device labeled for one patient and one procedure; must not be reprocessed unless legally remanufactured.

A hybrid combining a reusable component with limited-use or disposable parts; each tracked to its own use count (e.g., bipolar cords, breast sizers).

Surgical-grade instruments use higher-quality steel and finish for repeated reprocessing; floor-grade are lower quality and not for the sterile field.

Track to the patient, use the correct washer cycle, document sterilization, and quarantine until the biological indicator is read.

A bone-cutting/chiseling instrument (orthopedic) tested for a sharp, undamaged edge.

Laser etching, mechanical etching, color tape, or dipping — applied so they don't harbor soil or impair function.

Tiny, delicate (often titanium) instruments; processed with meticulous cleaning and rinsing to prevent TASS.

Reposable/limited-use instruments with defined use counts; require specific disassembly and washer cycles per IFU.

Examination under good light and magnification for cleanliness AND function before assembly.

Any visible soil, bioburden, adhesive, or staining fails the instrument — it returns to decontamination.

Sharpness, jaw and tip alignment, working ratchets and box locks, and no cracks, pitting, corrosion, or chips.

A thin optical/video probe used to inspect inside lumens and channels for retained soil, debris, scratches, or moisture.

A device that checks the coating on electrosurgical instruments for breaks, cracks, or pinholes.

A coating defect lets current escape and burn tissue away from the surgical site — an injury the surgeon may not see.

Cutting scissors/osteotomes through a size-appropriate material (gauze, index card, dowel rod, leather, rubber band) all the way to the tip.

The blade cuts cleanly at several points along its length to the tip; snagging or failing to cut means reject/sharpen.

A device that verifies powered and cabled instruments conduct electricity correctly.

Scheduled inspection, testing, and servicing — including PM of the inspection/testing tools themselves (borescope, insulation tester).

A dull, damaged, or out-of-spec instrument is tagged and sent for PM/repair, NOT assembled into a set.

Instruments are cleaned and inspected both before AND after PM/repair so a vendor return is verified clean before reuse.

Apply a water-soluble, steam-penetrable 'instrument milk' to hinges per IFU — never oil/petroleum, which blocks the sterilant.

Build trays to the count sheet, even weight distribution, within weight limits, with delicate tips protected.

Hinged instruments are assembled open and unlocked so the sterilant reaches every surface, including the box lock.

Placed in the hardest-to-reach spot of the set (often the center) where sterilant penetration is most challenged.

Placed on the outside of every package to distinguish processed from unprocessed packs.

Tip alignment is the most critical check — even slight misalignment ruins precision.

Check that the ratchet engages and releases smoothly and holds the jaws closed; a ratchet that won't hold is rejected.

Inspect for lens clarity and absence of fogging or scratches that degrade the image.

Verify battery charge/continuity and smooth operation before the set is released.

Sets are kept within weight limits with even distribution so the load sterilizes and dries properly (common benchmark ~25 lb).

An FDA-required code that identifies a specific medical device through distribution and use; feeds instrument tracking.

Manual or electronic system that records, locates, and traces every instrument/tray and stores repair histories.

A number letting staff trace a package to the sterilizer used, the cycle date, and the load (cycle) number — the basis of recall.

A structured method that finds the underlying cause of an error so it can be permanently corrected, not just the symptom.

A visual tool that maps the possible causes of a problem into categories to support root cause analysis.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis — a proactive method that identifies how a process could fail and the impact of each failure.

Process-improvement frameworks used in SPD to reduce waste, variation, and turnover; paired with KPIs and action plans.

A planning tool listing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to guide process improvement.

Measured benchmarks (e.g., tray accuracy, turnaround, IUSS rate) used to monitor and improve quality.

Random sampling, rounding, customer surveys, and storage checks used to verify the process is performing.

Vendor-owned sets that must be cleaned, inspected, and sterilized on arrival per their IFUs — never assumed sterile or clean.

Every loaner set is decontaminated on arrival; a vendor delivery is never accepted as already clean or sterile.

Loaner sets should arrive well before the case (with count sheet + IFUs) so time pressure does not force IUSS.

Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (formerly 'flash') — for items needed right away; minimized and tracked as a quality metric.

Huddles and conflict resolution between Sterile Processing and the OR that prevent delays, errors, and IUSS.

In-services, certification, and documented competencies kept current per facility requirements and renewal frequency.

The manufacturer's validated, FDA-cleared method for reprocessing a specific device; legally binding and reviewed periodically.

Training/competency variability, attention to detail, adaptability, and safety culture that drive consistency and error reduction.

Multiple layers of checks so that if one step is missed, another catches it — building resilience to human error.

Keeping count sheets, repair histories, and UDI data current through manual and electronic system updates.

Cleaning must always precede disinfection and sterilization — soil shields microbes; 'if it is not clean, it cannot be sterilized.'

A protective layer of microbes and soil that forms when soil dries on an instrument; it resists cleaning and disinfection.

Keeping instruments moist right after use so soil does not dry into biofilm before reprocessing.

The imploding of microscopic bubbles in an ultrasonic cleaner that dislodges fine soil from hinges, box locks, and lumens.

Uses cavitation to remove fine soil AFTER gross soil is removed; instruments must be open and fully submerged.

Do not mix dissimilar metals (e.g., stainless and titanium/chrome-plated) in one ultrasonic load — galvanic/electrolytic damage.

A detergent containing enzymes that break down organic soil; activity is temperature-dependent and used per IFU.

Choose a pH compatible with the instrument — too alkaline or too acidic damages the metal/finish.

General tap water used for flushing and the early stages of cleaning.

Treated, purified water (RO/DI) used for the final rinse to avoid mineral and contaminant deposits.

The standard defining water-quality categories and parameters (utility, critical, steam) for processing medical devices.

Fluid-resistant gown, gloves, and face/eye protection — full standard precautions in the highest-risk zone.

Proper rack placement so spray reaches all surfaces; hinged instruments open, lumens connected to irrigation ports.

QA tests (e.g., protein/ATP residual) on instruments and equipment that confirm cleaning actually removed soil.

Prions resist normal sterilization; suspected contact requires enhanced processing (extended steam parameters ± chemical treatment); single-use preferred.

Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome — sterile eye inflammation from residues on ophthalmic instruments; prevented by thorough cleaning and rinsing.

Ophthalmic, robotic, powered, and flexible-endoscope instruments each follow specific disassembly and washer cycles per IFU.

Used to confirm internal channels/lumens are free of soil and debris — a channel that is not visibly clean is reprocessed.

A cleaning-toolbox chemistry used to remove tape adhesive/residue from instruments without damaging the finish.

Plan and prioritize the workload, run verification tests, and identify process gaps before they reach a patient.

The package must let the sterilant in during the cycle and keep microbes out afterward.

Woven or non-woven wrap (square or envelope fold) for trays/sets; check for holes/tears and method compatibility.

A paper-and-plastic package for small, light items; write only on the plastic side and seal fully.

A reusable sterilization container; inspect filters, gaskets, valves, and latches each use.

Packaging must match the sterilization method — cellulose works for steam but is banned in hydrogen peroxide/gas-plasma cycles.

A flash-spun polyethylene (non-cellulose) material used to package items for low-temperature sterilization.

Moisture dilutes sterilants, blocks penetration, causes wet packs, and can abort low-temperature cycles.

Internal channels are dried (air-purge or drying cycle) because trapped water is hard to remove and aborts low-temp cycles.

A second wrap placed perpendicular to the first gives complete, sequential coverage and aseptic opening.

Write only on the clear plastic side — ink on the porous paper can bleed through and the paper is the sterilant's entry point.

Routine checks of seal integrity, temperature, and seal-strength/dye-penetration so pouches do not fail.

Inspected each use and maintained per IFU; a missing filter or worn gasket is a sterile-barrier failure.

Position the internal chemical indicator where the sterilant is hardest to reach (often the center of the pack).

Wrap instruments and textiles separately because they need different sterilization handling.

Stay within weight and density limits so the sterilant penetrates and the load dries.

A sterilant-penetration aid inserted into a lumen helps the sterilant circulate inside the channel.

Ranks devices by infection risk: critical (sterilize), semicritical (high-level disinfect), noncritical (low-level disinfect).

A device entering sterile tissue or the vascular system (most surgical instruments) — must be sterilized.

Destroys all microorganisms except small numbers of resistant spores; the minimum for semicritical items.

Minimum effective concentration (MEC), contact time, and temperature — all must be met and monitored.

The lowest concentration at which a high-level disinfectant still works; verified with test strips before each use.

The minimum time a surface must stay wet with the disinfectant for it to be effective.

A vial/strip of resistant spores that, after incubation, proves a cycle actually killed microorganisms — the only direct proof.

A chemical indicator confirms the sterilant reached the item (a process check); only the BI proves the load was sterilized.

Means the load is NOT sterile: recall to the last negative BI, quarantine, remove the sterilizer, document, investigate, reprocess.

The critical factors are time and temperature held for the cycle (e.g., gravity ~30 min @121°C; prevacuum ~4 min @132–135°C).

Aeration removes residual toxic EO gas from items after the cycle so they are safe to handle and use.

A low-temperature method (e.g., STERRAD) that needs no aeration; cellulose and moisture are not allowed.

Cellulose-based materials (paper, linen, cotton) are incompatible with hydrogen peroxide/gas-plasma sterilization.

The professional standards (AORN guidelines, AAMI ST79) the specialist applies to disinfection and sterilization.

Packaging errors, sterilizer faults/failure codes, poor loading, wet packs, and failed biologicals.

Pulling every load back to the last negative BI when a failure is found, located via lot control numbers.

Whether an instrument is sterilized or high-level disinfected is decided by how it is used (Spaulding), not convenience.