Every instrument must be cleaned and sterilised before it is used. The instruments may only be used for their intended purpose in the surgical specialties by educated and qualified personal. The surgeon shall be responsible for the propper selection of the instruments for each application, for obtaining the appropriate training, knowledge and experience, and for their operative use. 

Geister Medizintechnik GmbH as manufacturer and seller cannot accept any liability for immediate or consequential damages caused by inappropriate application and use or by inappropriate sterilisation and maintenance of the instruments. If instruments are repaired by any companies or persons not authorized by Geister Medizintechnik GmbH to do so, all warranties are becoming null and void. 

Carefully examine each surgical instrument for breaks, cracks, deformations and malfunctions before use. It is especially essential to check areas such as blades, points, ends, stops and snaps as well as movable parts. Instruments that are worn out, corroded, deformed, porous or damaged in any other way must be sorted out. 

Instruments should be stored in a clean, dry, moisture free area. Instruments should be stored individually in their shipping carton or in a protective tray with partitions. Protect tips, edges etc. with tubing, protecting caps, gauze or fabric. Make sure that no chemicals are close to or in the storage area. 

Used materials:  Stainless steel as per DIN EN ISO 7153-1, Pure titanium as per DIN ISO 5832-2, Titanium alloys as per DIN ISO 5832-3, Light metal (Aluminium) as per DIN EN 573-3. The high-grade steels (rustproof, stainless) that are used for manufacturing surgical instruments create due to the chemical composition specific passive layers as protective surfaces. Those steels however are only to a certain extent resistant against attacks of chloride ions and aggressive waters! Chloride ions mainly cause pitting, but can also cause stress corrosion cracking. The greatest danger is water in which considerable quantities of common salts (sodium chloride) are dissolved. 

Instruments made from pure titanium or titanium alloy can be handled and treated like steel instruments and no special precautions gave to be taken. Some titanium instruments are completely or partially anodised in blue color for identification purpose. For aluminium instruments, only non-alkaline, neutral cleaning agents in combination with fully demineralized water must be used. Otherwise damages to the anodized surface are possible. Alkaline cleaning causes marks and color fading on the surface particularly of colored instruments already after just a few cycles. 

In addition to the endeavours undertaken by the manufacturer with regards to the selection of the proper materials and its careful processing, the user has to ensure continuous and proper care of the surgical instruments as well as proper preparation, cleaning and sterilisation. Refer to "Directions for the Use" for recommended cleaning and sterilization procedures. Please read them carefully!