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Spaulding’s Classification of Devices12
| Critical | Medical device that is intended to enter a normally sterile environment, sterile tissue, or the vasculature | High | Surgical instrument, cardiac catheter, implants, needle, ultrasound probes used in sterile body cavity | Sterilization by steam, plasma, or ethylene oxide |
| Semicritical | Devices that are intended to come in contact with the mucous membrane or nonintact skin | High/intermediate | Flexible endoscope, respiratory therapy equipment, manometry probes, diaphragm-fitting rings, laryngoscope blades | Sterilization desirable, high-level disinfectants |
| Noncritical | Devices come in contact with intact skin | Low | Blood pressure cuff, stethoscope | Intermediate or low-level disinfectant |