Data logger for dental or medical autoclave

A data logger for use with a dental or medical autoclave, the data logger comprising:

• an outer casing;
• a microprocessor disposed within the outer casing and coupled to an input for receiving sterilization data transmitted from the autoclave;
• a memory disposed within the outer casing operably coupled to the microprocessor for receiving and storing data transmitted from the autoclave to the microprocessor;
• and
• a touchscreen in communication with the microprocessor by way of a wired or wireless connection, the touchscreen providing a means for displaying data received from the autoclave and for inputting data into the memory.

A method of logging data from the operation of an autoclave, the data comprising the temperature, pressure and time of sterilization of a sterilization process carried out in the autoclave, the method comprising:

• with a bar code scanner, scanning a pre-printed bar code and storing identification data related to the bar code in a memory,
• associating the bar code with a specific instrument load to be sterilized together in the autoclave,
• operating the autoclave through a sterilization process to sterilize the instrument load,
• recording the date of the sterilization process and the temperature, pressure and time of the sterilization process in the memory and associating the recorded date, temperature, pressure and time of sterilization with the scanned bar code.