NEScientific Receives Patent Allowance for Technology That Restores Kinked Single-Use Catheters
Breakthrough is expected to reclaim millions of dollars in catheters currently lost to damage during the reprocessing cycle.
WATERBURY, Conn. — May 26, 2026 — NEScientific, a leading reprocessor of single-use medical devices, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has examined and allowed its patent application for a proprietary technology that repairs kinked catheters, enabling devices that would otherwise be discarded to be safely reprocessed and returned to clinical use. The application — titled “Method for Straightening Bent Catheters for Use” (U.S. Patent Application No. 17/846,905) — has received a Notice of Allowance and is expected to be granted as a U.S. patent in the coming weeks.
The newly patented process addresses one of the most persistent and costly problems in the single-use device reprocessing industry: catheters that arrive at reprocessing facilities with kinks or bends that render them unusable. The technology applies to a broad range of catheter types, including electrophysiology catheters, peripheral vascular catheters, and treatment-based laser catheters.
Industry estimates indicate that more than $15 million is lost annually across the U.S. reprocessing industry because a significant percentage of collected catheters are kinked and cannot be reprocessed. By restoring these devices to a usable condition, NEScientific’s technology is expected to recover a substantial share of that lost value — savings that flow directly to hospitals, outpatient centers, and ambulatory surgery centers.
“This allowance is the result of years of work to solve a problem our industry has lived with for too long. A kinked catheter has always meant a total loss — a device that gets collected, inspected, and then thrown away. Our technology changes that, and we’re proud the Patent Office has recognized it.”
— Craig Allmendinger, President & CEO, NEScientific
Single-use device reprocessing is a well-established practice that allows healthcare providers to lower supply costs and reduce the volume of medical waste sent to landfills, all while meeting rigorous safety and performance standards. Each catheter recovered through the new technology extends those benefits, helping facilities stretch tight supply budgets without compromising patient care.
“Every catheter we can recover is real money back in the hands of hospitals, outpatient centers, and surgery centers,” added Allmendinger. “At a time when health systems are under enormous pressure to control costs, reclaiming devices that were previously unusable is a straightforward way to deliver savings without asking anyone to compromise on safety or quality.”
— Craig Allmendinger, President & CEO, NEScientific
NEScientific integrated the process across its catheter reprocessing operations over the last six years, expanding the inventory of devices it can return to its healthcare partners.
About NEScientific
Founded in 2004, NEScientific, Inc. is a leading reprocessor of single-use medical devices and was the first reprocessor to receive clearance for an active, treatment-based catheter. The company continues to innovate and lead the industry with first-of-its-kind clearances. NEScientific operates a facility of more than 40,000 square feet in Waterbury, Connecticut, and does not outsource any step in its reprocessing process. The company maintains its own microbiology lab and has recently installed the industry standard for particulate testing. NEScientific is ISO 13485 registered and participates in the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP). The company provides reprocessed devices to hospitals, office-based labs, and surgery centers in every state in the U.S.
Media Contact
Grace Lurz
Marketing
NEScientific, Inc.
203-756-2111
www.nescientific.com