Background

• 1995 – 2005: A medical hygiene research project within the GRED Group

In response to numerous demands made by its customers (radiologists, cardiologists, nurses, etc.…), the GRED Group decided in 1995 to dedicate a team of engineers to finding non-chemical solutions for the disinfection of medical devices.

The instructions given to the head of the project were to create a non-polluting machine delivering effective (ILD, HLD), rapid, and economical disinfection, with no operational constraints.

A first prototype, Antigermix (link to C1) was produced in 1997, and a second one in 2003. The initial ex-vivo studies, carried out in 2004-2005, were very promising and the project was well under way.

• 2005-2008: Creation of Germitec – Antigermix qualification approval and industrial-scale production

The Antigermix prototype was finalised, and Germitec was created in 2005. The qualification approval and industrial-scale production of Antigermix could begin. Germitec works in collaboration with various public and private partners, such as AVSIS, ALTEN, and Biotech-Germande laboratory, as well as fifteen or so other world-renowned scientific and technical consultants.

This commitment of Germitec and its partners lead to the production of the first constraint-free automated disinfection unit for external and endocavitary ultrasound probes, based on UVC radiation. Antigermix S1 was produced in France to guarantee the necessary level of quality.

Finally, in line with its commitment to quality and expertise, GERMITEC gained two important certifications: ISO 9001 version 2000 (quality management of businesses) and ISO 13485 version 2003 (quality management systems specific to the design, development and production of medical devices).
Germitec is audited by the French national metrology institute LNE (Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d’Essais, GEMED division).

• Since 2008: Germitec has been developing its industrial know-how and continues to innovate

The very first Antigermix was launched on the market in 2008. Today, Germitec sells to numerous customers, i.e. public or private hospitals and medical practices. Antigermix is widely acclaimed by its users and praised by the international scientific and medical community.

Germitec is still very active in research and innovation, with several on-going projects, such as other Antigermix systems based on UVC disinfection for other types of probes and medical instruments.