Abstract: A method of operating a sterilizer includes imaging a load of instruments to obtain an optical image and/or thermal image of the load, and selecting a sterilization cycle to be performed by the sterilizer based on one or more characteristics of the load determined from the image of the load. The characteristics may include the number of instruments, the presence of a diffusion-restricted space, the volume of the load, and the temperature of the load. The method may further include adjusting the sterilization cycle based on the characteristics of the load.

Abstract: A contacting-type conductivity sensor is provided. A first insulating layer has a proximal surface to contact a liquid sample, and an opposite, distal surface. A plurality of electrodes is disposed on the proximal surface of the first insulating layer. Each of a plurality of conductive vias is electrically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of electrodes, where each via defines a conductive path from the proximal surface to the distal surface of the first insulating layer. A plurality of traces is disposed adjacent the distal surface of the first insulating layer, and each of the plurality of traces is electrically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of conductive vias. A plurality of conductors is provided where each conductor is electrically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of traces. A cover layer is coupled to the first insulating layer.