Mobile Lab Sterilizes Surgical Instruments on Site

A new all-electric mobile surgical instrument lab (eMSIL) will travel between UCLA Health (Los Angeles, CA, USA) hospitals to sterilize surgical instruments.

The eMSIL, built by Winnebago Industries (Forest City, IW, USA), will travel between the UCLA Ronald Reagan and Santa Monica campuses to collect, clean, repair, disinfect, and sterilize surgical suite instruments. It includes all the equipment needed to deliver the same level of performance, productivity, and compliance (from decontamination through sterilization) as a lab located in a building. It also includes two desks in a slide-out area, two workbenches, an industrial sink, and two stations for 5.5 gallon ultrasonic cleaners, among other custom cabinetry and equipment.


The eMSIL is based on the standard Winnebago J33SE all-electric commercial shell platform, and is powered by an all-electric EPIC F-53 ten meter long chassis which was provided by Motiv Power Systems (Foster City, CA, USA). It is designed to hold enough battery charge for eight hours of typical service, on top of the round-trip travel to and from its home facility. The vehicle has already completed significant road testing, and can deliver an expected range of 135-200 kilometers on a full charge.

“The vehicle is expected to save UCLA Health Center close to USD 750,000 a year, as compared to contracting with a third-party to service surgical instruments off-site. That adds significant value to the system's bottom line," said Ashis Bhattacharya, VP of Business Development, Specialty Vehicles, and Advanced Technology at Winnebago Industries. “The mobile medical market is a growing industry, with countless applications, from cancer screenings and primary care to opioid treatment and dental services.”

Related Links:
UCLA Health
Winnebago Industries
Motiv Power Systems