# US 12,708,737 B2 · Method for straightening bent catheters for use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,708,737 B2 - Document ID: US12708737B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/846,905 - Filed: 2022-06-22 - Published: 2022-12-22 - Granted: 2026-08-18 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-22 - Assignees: Northeast Scientific, Inc. - Applicants: Northeast Scientific, Inc. - Inventors: Craig D. Allmendinger; Jeffrey J. Porter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12708737B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) - A61M 25/0009: {Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes} - A61M 2025/0019: {Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement} - A61M 2205/0233: Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention - A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The invention involves a system and method for straightening and refurbishing medical catheters. The system includes the steps and equipment to repair bends and kinks which prevent proper usage of the catheter for a medical procedure. The system and method further checks electrical conductivity and resistance if needed. The catheters are then cleaned and repackaged for shipment and use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters comprising: providing an overview of the method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters including parts and documents (14), equipment required (16), setup and procedure (18) and inspection requirements (20); supplying a process flow chart (24) outlining an overview of the steps required to repair the particular medical catheter; wherein the equipment required (16) refers to the equipment required to repair the bends and kinks of a particular medical catheter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters of claim 1 wherein the documents (14) lists the documents that are needed and/or required for refurbishing a medical catheter, wherein the catheter is intended to be put back into commerce as a usable product or discarded as not usable and tracked for disposal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters of claim 2 wherein the catheter (50) is placed in a mold (44), the mold (44) being constructed from a high temperature resistant material to include an outer diameter (42), an inner diameter (46) sized to abut outer diameter of the catheter, and a length (48) sufficient to cover the bend or kink. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters (50) of claim 3 wherein the mold (44) is constructed as a split mold including two or more mold halves (52) constructed to assemble into a full loop around the catheter (50). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters (50) of claim 4 wherein the mold halves (52) include alignment keys for aligning the mold halves (52) with respect to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters of claim 3, including the step of positioning the mold (44) and medical catheter (50) within an induction coil (58), the induction coil (58) being constructed and arranged to heat the catheter (50) to a sufficient temperature to activate the shape memory of the polymer forming an outer sheath of the catheter (50). ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters of claim 3, including the step of positioning the mold (44) and medical catheter (50) within an induction coil (58), the induction coil (58) being constructed and arranged to heat the catheter (50) to a sufficient temperature to reform the polymer forming an outer sheath of the catheter (50). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters (50) of claim 6 including the step of controllably cooling the catheter sheath using air provided by a blower (60) after being heated to provide the desired material flexural properties for the catheter (50). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters (50) of claim 7 including the step of controllably cooling the catheter sheath using air provided by a blower (60) after being heated to provide the desired material flexural properties for the catheter (50). ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters (50) of claim 3 including the step of pulling the catheter (50) through a set of straightening rolls (64), the straightening rolls (64) including a plurality of rollers (66) arranged in perpendicular planes with respect to each other, the rollers (66) each including a groove (68) sized to accept and guide the outer diameter of the catheter, the rollers (66) positioned to bend the catheter (50) back and forth in a decreasing manner as it passes over the rollers (66) to straighten the catheter (50) when exiting the straightening rolls (64). ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The method for refurbishing bent or kinked medical catheters (50) of claim 3 including the step of checking electrical conductivity to determine if the catheter retains electrical conductivity.