NIH guidelines recommend sterilizing instruments for small animal surgery. Hot glass bead sterilizers are ideal for this application.

STAYS COOL TO THE TOUCH - The chassis stays cool, even at the end of a full day of operation. The air above the unit is cool enough to insert an instrument into the well without discomfort. Insert the surgical instrument into the well, sterilization of the inserted parts by dry heat (250° C) takes 2-5 seconds. The handles of the instruments, outside the heat, do not get hot. The metal in the beads is heated only on the surface, not to the depth, so cooling is quick after removal. Within 30 seconds, the surgical instruments are cool enough to use.

The beads will eventually, after extensive use, be worn or broken to powder, which will settle to the bottom of the well. When you notice it is difficult to push the instruments in deep enough, replace the beads.