Precise irradiation without harmful chemicals

E-BEAM STERILIZATION

Electron beam sterilization is an ISO-certified process delivering precise doses, preserving the quality of medical devices and medtech without heat or extended radiation exposure

Small Batch Sterilization

Scalable integrated solutions allow medical devices and medtech to be sterilized as individual products

Greater protection for operators and the environment without radioactive or carcinogenic materials
Right-size the solution for integrated in-line or self-contained treatment
Conventional power sources offer consistency against changing legislation and permitting
Products can be released immediately following treatment.

Why Consider E-beam Sterilization in Your Automation Process

Smaller units are capable of treating individual products rather than full boxes, allowing for smaller power sources, and conveyors that are easier to shield.

Transitioning away from older technology like gamma, xray, or EO is simplified; E-beam addresses concerns including sustainability, stable access to materials, permitting, operator safety, energy use, and environmental factors.

The Benefits of Electron Beam Sterilization

With the continuing phaseout of other sterilization methods due to environmental and litigation risk, and unstable supply linked to geopolitical risk, electron beam sterilization – already a mature technology – is positioned for growth as an efficient, sustainable alternative.

Throughput	• Dependent on product material and configuration • Sterilization generally takes seconds per item
Sustainability & Environmental Impact	• E-beam technology does not rely on hazardous substances • As clean as the source of electricity used to power the system • Conventional power sources protect against changing legislation
Limitations	High density materials or non-uniform shapes can affect throughput rate
Benefits	• Can be configured to be in-line with assembly systems • In-house configurable options possible • Minimized logistics costs • No radioactive or carcinogenic materials • Immediate product release (no quarantine / cooling down period required)

Comparing Sterilization Modalities*

Comparing sterilization modalities is essential to help make informed decisions about which sterilization method is most appropriate for specific products, taking into account factors such as effectiveness, material compatibility, processing time, cost, and environmental impact.

	EtO	Gamma	X-ray	E-Beam
Source
Technology Maturity	High	High	Medium	High
Process Quantity	Pallet	Boxes	Pallet	Boxes
Processing Time	Days	Hours	Minutes	Seconds
Sustainability & Environmental Impact	Toxic gas must be contained. Limits driven by local legislation; subject to change	Synthetic radioisotopes are required for process. Safety record is good but security risks are real.	As clean as the elctricity used to power the system.	As clean as the electricity used to power the system
Benefits	• Chemical sterilant with excellent absorption • Wide materials compatibility	• Good penetration / tight Dose Uniformity Ratio (DUR) • Almost no power required	• Whole pallet processing • Tight DUR performance	• Extremely efficient; sustainably process the greatest volume per year • Best $ / capacity available
Limitations	• Residuals problematic • Litigation Risk • Environmental risk • New reagulatory risk	• Limited supply of Co-60 radioisotopes • Shifting geopolitical sensitivities	• Most technology risk (few sites operational) • Consumes most power	• Products requiring tight DUR’s are challenging • Large/ dense products can be challenging
Outlook	Slow phaseout over decades due to environmental & litigation risk	No growth: isotope supply issues & geopolitical risk	Growth: Replace gamma for DUR-sensitive products	Growth: Efficient, sustainable technology

*Reproduced with permission of NextBeam

A Look Back at ATS Life Sciences Systems’ First E-beam Sterilization Symposium

See the experts’ presentations underscoring three key benefits of E-beam sterilization:

No radioactive or carcinogenic materials – Unlike gamma irradiation or ethylene oxide sterilization, E-beam technology does not rely on hazardous substances, making it a safer and more sustainable option.
Conventional power sources protect against changing legislation – As global regulations continue to evolve, companies that adopt E-beam sterilization can future-proof their operations and maintain regulatory compliance.
Immediate product release – With traditional sterilization methods, products often require extended quarantine periods before distribution. E-beam sterilization eliminates this bottleneck, accelerating time-to-market.

Applications of Electron Beam Irradiation

ATS Life Sciences Systems is now a member of the International Irradiation Association (iia). The iia has a global reach and represents a diverse community from SME to large multi-national organizations across multiple industry sectors.

Today, advanced drug-device combination products can offer significant advantages over conventional but independently used drugs and devices. With ATS expertise in automated device and diagnostic assembly, our membership means we can continue to add value with in-line and small batch sterilization.

Electron beam sterilization is an ISO-certified process delivering precise doses, preserving the quality of medical devices and medtech without heat or extended radiation exposure. Small batch sterilization allows:

Scalable integrated solutions allow medical devices and medtech to be sterilized as individual products
Greater protection for operators and the environment without radioactive or carcinogenic material
Right-sizing of the solution for integrated in-line or self-contained treatment
Conventional power sources offer consistency against changing legislation and permitting
Immediate release of products following treatment

DOWNLOAD PDF

Why MedTech Industry Leaders Are Choosing E-beam*

*Content reproduced with permission of NextBeam

Precise and Efficient

E-beam provides precise irradiation in seconds, leaving no harmful chemical residuals. Right sizing the E-beam solution allows for treating individual products, rather than boxes, and smaller power sources and conveyors that are easier to shield.

Enhanced Material Compatibility

E-beam’s quick dose delivery minimizes material degradation, making it ideal for sterilizing radiation-compatible medical devices without prolonged oxidative exposure.

Sustainable & Safe

E-beam sterilization uses conventional power, offering a safer and greener alternative to Gamma and Ethylene Oxide (EO), without carcinogenic or radioactive materials.

Reliable Results

This ISO-certified process delivers precise, batch-scale sterilization, preserving the quality of medical devices without heat or extended radiation exposure.

To learn more about this technology, get to know our partners

Quality Without Compromise

All of our processes meet the highest-grade industry benchmarks for quality, designed from the ground up to adhere to ISO 13485, ISO 11137, and ISO 9001 standards for medical device manufacturing, radiation sterilization, and quality management systems.

Visit NEXTBEAM website

Where Advanced Accelerator Science and real-world Solutions Converge

RadiaBeam is unique in the particle accelerator field due to the synergy between the research and commercial sides of our business. Each enhances the other. We apply multi-disciplinary expertise at the frontiers of science to produce solutions that work. We transform ideas into physical reality.

Visit RADIABEAM website

Sterilize, treat, or test without high-risk isotopes or chemicals

ATS Life Sciences Systems is working with industry experts to provide sustainable and reliable solutions to manufacturers of medical devices and medtech. Scalable and configurable solutions allow for end-of-line treatment or integrated assembly and sterilization on the same chassis.

These irradiators are based on innovative particle accelerator technology, an electronic source, making them an effective replacement for radioisotopes and toxic gases (Ethylene Oxide), and producing more adequate energy than X-ray tubes for effective penetration. Electron beam irradiators deliver high energy for a wide range of applications safely, uniformly, and efficiently.

Right-size to self-contained, compact irradiators in various configurations

Self-contained irradiators can be configured to fit various applications including:

surface irradiation
in-line irradiation of medical devices/medtech
energy variability
types of output (electrons or X-rays)
dosing schemes
types of beam spreading, and
beam orientation.

MEDICAL DEVICE STERILIZATION

Replace high-risk eO with high-energy electrons

Replacement of Ethelyne Oxide (EO) has become a priority for medical device sterilization facilities where unsafe levels of EO released into the environment can impact worker and public safety. EO off gassing from ‘hot pallets’ post-aeration can continue at every point in the supply chain: transportation, distribution centers, and destination warehouses. An E-beam alternative is a clean and safe irradiation solution.

A new level of safety and processing efficiency

Linac-based electron beam sterilization solves the growing health concerns around use of Ethylene Oxide (EO) and rising costs and limited supply of Co-60 gamma irradiation. Unlike EO, products can be released immediately and without the decreasing capacity issues of gamma irradiation. Safe, high-performance E-beam solutions are available with the flexibility to offer components or complete irradiator systems for medical device sterilization.

**Content courtesy of RadiaBeam

Resources

Case study

Innovation in Action: A Look Back at ATS LSS First E-Beam Sterilization Symposium

ATS Life Sciences Systems hosted its first-ever E-Beam Sterilization Symposium to explore the future of sterilization technology. The event showcased the advantages of E-beam sterilization, such as safety, regulatory adaptability, and faster product release, setting a new standard for industry collaboration.

Ready to make the transition to more sustainable sterilization?

Learn how this technology can safeguard your high-volume single-use devices, and highly-engineered devices. Future-proof your production by understanding E-beam today.