CRCST Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The function of an ultrasonic cleaner is to clean instruments using high-frequency sound waves in a liquid solution. This cleaning method operates by generating ultrasonic waves, which create microscopic bubbles in the cleaning solution. These bubbles rapidly expand and contract, a process known as cavitation, which results in the effective removal of dirt, debris, and contaminants from the surfaces of instruments.

This method is particularly beneficial for cleaning complex surgical instruments with intricate designs and crevices that would be difficult to clean with traditional methods. The use of sound waves allows the cleaning solution to penetrate into small spaces and around complex geometries, ensuring thorough cleaning without causing damage to the instruments. Ultrasonic cleaning is often used in sterile processing departments to prepare instruments for sterilization after their initial manual cleaning.