Resources for Researchers
These resources are designed to help researchers understand the science on regulated SUD reprocessing—from the earliest academic research to the latest LCAs.
AMDR maintains a comprehensive bibliography of peer-reviewed articles and other scientific literature on reprocessing. Featuring nearly 100 studies conducted over 25+ years, it includes articles about the safety of reprocessed SUDs and the environmental, economic, and operational benefits they deliver to healthcare. A further 60+ studies explore reusable devices and other subjects relevant to circular and affordable healthcare.
Have we missed an article? Please contact AMDR.
Case studies move beyond projections to show how successful reprocessing programs actually work and what they accomplish in practice. They track the metrics that help hospitals make the case for starting or expanding reprocessing programs, and identify best practices to optimize them.
This page features case studies from health systems around the world that highlight the real benefits of regulated SUD reprocessing.
LCAs evaluate a product’s total environmental impact across its full life cycle, from extraction of raw materials to manufacturing, transport, use, and disposal. Many researchers regard well designed, peer-reviewed LCAs as “gold-standard” science—and LCAs of reprocessed SUDs consistently find them favorable to original counterparts.
AMDR’s guide to reprocessing LCAs gives a full overview of this important body of research.
AMDR’s free CO₂ calculator estimates emissions reductions using peer-reviewed life cycle assessments of reprocessed vs. original SUDs. Hospitals can reduce Scope 3 emissions by up to 65% with reprocessed devices—stats like that help earn certification from the Joint Commission.
Try our calculator to see just how much you can help the climate by using reprocessed devices.
Additional Information
AMDR’s Action Alerts and Technical Tips offer awareness and advice on important industry developments that could impact your facility’s ability to deliver affordable, sustainable healthcare. Each Alert and Tip breaks down complex legal, regulatory, or market issues into clear guidance for hospital leadership, supply chain and procurement staff, and commercial reprocessors.
Whether it’s about anti-competitive conduct or a regulatory shift, you’ll find what’s at stake—and what to do next—right here.
Decades of scientific research, government oversight, and routine clinical use around the world have consistently demonstrated that, under strong regulatory frameworks, reprocessed “single-use” devices are safe.
This page explains how rigorous regulation and industry integrity ensure the safety and quality of reprocessed devices—and how they can reduce broader harms such as greenhouse gas emissions, costs, pollution, and supply-chain vulnerabilities.
Modern medical devices come from all over the world. They rely on fragile global supply chains and scarce materials, making healthcare vulnerable to disruptions—a reality made painfully visible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This page explains why regulated reprocessing is a key strategy for resilient, sustainable healthcare supply chains. By extending the life of our devices and keeping them out of the waste stream for longer, reprocessing conserves critical resources and protects patient access during crises.