The purchase of two instrument repair services will make the Steris Corp. one of the nation's leading instrument care providers, according to the company.

The Mentor, Ohio-based medical manufacturer announced Tuesday that it has acquired Spectrum Surgical Instrument of Stow, Ohio, and Total Repair Express of Hillsborough, N.J., to expand its reach in American hospitals and surgery centers.

"Entering the surgical instrument repair business through these acquisitions will enhance our existing presence in hospital sterile processing and surgical departments," says Walt Rosebrough, Steris's president and CEO.

The company notes that its acquisition also gives cost-conscious surgical facilities an outsourcing option to compete with local or regional services, or in-house repairs.

David Bernard