An important use of ethylene oxide is the sterilization of medical equipment, including personal protective equipment used by healthcare professionals and hospitals. It is estimated that ethylene oxide sterilizes 20 billion medical devices each year, helping to prevent disease and infection. Ethylene oxide is particularly important for medical equipment and articles that cannot be exposed to high heat or steam. Medical devices that use ethylene oxide sterilization include heart valves, pacemakers, surgical kits, gowns, drapes, ventilators, syringes, catheters, ophthalmologic instruments, ampoules for spinal anesthesia, and equipment for intravenous infusions.