How to clean your Artinis NIRS systems and accessories?
COVID-19 has had a major impact on all of us. For a while, universities were closed and research was put on hold. Now slowly but surely, we are going back to the labs and starting our experiments again. NIRS experiments include contact with patients and research participants, we therefore find it important to inform you about how to clean the Artinis NIRS devices. Generic hygiene precautions and cleaning instructions for our NIRS devices and accessories can be found in our user manuals. For your convenience we have gathered all the information in this blog. Please make sure to follow local guidelines of your own university or institute.
NIRS devices
All our NIRS devices can be cleaned by using a non-aggressive general purpose cleaner. We advise you to clean the NIRS device after every use, especially when it has come into contact with the research participant. When cleaning, please follow the instructions below:
Turn off the device.
Make sure that the OxyMon is disconnected from its power supply. Remove the battery from the PortaMon, PortaLite, OctaMon, OctaMon+ and OctaMon M. Turn off the Brite by holding the big round button in the middle until the lights go out.
Remove the device from the headcap or headband.
The Brite, OxyMon, OctaMon and OctaMon+ come with a headcap or headband. The electronics (light transmitters, receivers and processor housing) can be removed from the headcap or headband. This way, it is easier to reach and clean every part of the device and the headcap or headband can be washed separately.
Use a non-aggressive general purpose cleaner.
Clean the device and the optodes (transmitters and receivers) by using a soft cloth moistened with a non-aggressive general-purpose cleaner. At Artinis we use 70-80% cleaning alcohol. Pure alcohol is less effective. Hydrogen peroxide wipes are also recommended. Make sure to not spill any liquid onto the device and optodes, they are not watertight.
The PortaMon is the gold-standard NIRS research device for the measurement of muscle oxygenation that measures oxy-, deoxy- and total hemoglobin in muscle tissue. This video explains on how researchers and coaches should clean the device before attaching it to the next subject.
Optodes and optode holders
The optodes and optode holders come into contact with the patient’s skin. They can be removed from the headcap or headband and can be cleaned with a non-aggressive general purpose cleaner such as alcohol.
The optodes contain electronics, please make sure no liquid is spilled onto them, they are not watertight. Do not submerge the optodes in disinfectant or heat-dry, but use moist wipes instead and wait for them to dry, this usually happens within a couple of minutes.
The Brite is currently the only wearable multi-channel fNIRS device for brain oxygenation measurement that is wireless, user-friendly and truly comfortable in the market. This video explains on how researchers should clean the device before applying it to the next research participant.
Headcaps and headbands
Before washing the headcaps and headbands, please remove the NIRS device, optodes and optode holders.
The headcaps and headbands should be hand-washed in lukewarm water with a mild detergent / wetsuit shampoo. Dry the cap with a soft towel and hang it out to dry under the shade.
Please do not machine-wash, tumble dry, bleach or iron the headcaps. Avoid the use of a fabric softener.
The OctaMon is a truly portable 8 channel fNIRS that measures oxy-, deoxy- and total hemoglobin in a non-invasive and truly portable way. This video explains on how researchers should clean the device before applying it to the next research participant.
Contact us
If you have any further questions, please contact us via askforinfo@artinis.com.
