OM System has created a housing for the Tough TG-6 camera that can be autoclaved, making it ideal for use in the medical field.

Autoclaves are dedicated, medical-grade sterilizers that use a combination of steam and pressure to kill all forms of viruses, fungi, spores, and bacteria placed inside. The highly effective method creates a super-hot environment of 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celcius) in addition to about 15 pounds per square inch of pressure and will hold there for between 30 and 60 minutes, completely cleaning and sanitizing anything placed inside.

Autoclaves are used in the industrial and medical fields because they are 100% effective at fully cleaning objects that come into contact with biohazardous materials or fluids.

While effective, autoclaves can’t be used on everything because the harsh sterilization environment is capable of not only destroying pathogens but also the object that might want to be cleaned. Medical or veterinary professionals who might want to take photos during surgery for record-keeping or educational purposes very likely do not have a way to fully sanitize compact cameras, which means they aren’t generally used because the method that could be used to clean them was prohibitively expensive.

“Until now, many cameras used in clean areas were only compatible with gas sterilization, which was burdensome due to introduction costs, operating costs, and management processes after sterilization,” OM System explains.

The company chose to address this problem and developed the MH-STP01 housing for the Tough TG-6 camera that gives users full control of the camera but is robust enough to withstand an autoclave.

“The MH series is compatible with general-purpose high-pressure steam sterilizers, making it possible to reduce operating costs compared to cameras compatible with gas sterilization,” OM System continues. “The Tough TG-6 is also dustproof, splashproof, and shockproof, so you don’t need to take special care when handling it, giving you more freedom when shooting.”

The housing is made of lightweight PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) which OM System says is commonly used for baby bottles and other medical equipment. The company says that the design of the housing is meant to reduce the risk of equipment contamination when installing and removing the TG-6 camera as well. It comes with a guide unit that allows the camera to be loaded without touching the housing.

In addition to its use in medicine, OM System proposes that the MH-STP01 could also be used in veterinary care for education purposes as well as in food manufacturing hygiene management.

The OM System MH-STP01 will be available on September 22 for 289,800 yen, or about $2,065.