Why It Pays to Recycle Electrophysiology (EP) Catheters

If you’re a medical professional, you already know about the remarkable recent advances in cardiac testing. Thanks to new technology and equipment, it’s more possible than ever before to obtain detailed data about the functioning of a patient’s heart – a depth of information that was impossible to obtain only a few years ago.

It’s all due to Electrophysiology (EP) studies that are becoming far more common – tests that monitor the electrical activity within a patient’s heart to determine the cause of arrhythmia and other problems.

Physicians insert a platinum EP catheter into a blood vessel that leads to the patient’s heart.

Here are some facts about these remarkable new tests, adapted from American Heart Association guidelines:

• EP studies can help determine whether a patient is a candidate for a pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, ablation, medication, or surgery.
• EP studies are not conducted in physician’s offices. They take place in hospitals’ electrophysiology labs or catheterization labs.
• Most patients require only mild sedation to comfortably undergo EP studies.
• During EP procedures, physicians insert a thin catheter into a blood vessel that leads to the patient’s heart, and then position the end of the catheter in the heart. The electrode catheter that is used, which usually contains platinum, allows physicians to send electrical signals to the patient’s heart and record the activity there.

The Boom in EP Testing

As you probably know too, patients are undergoing more EP studies than at any time in the past. In fact, a boom is taking place in the number of EP studies that are taking place. It is not uncommon for some hospitals to perform hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of these procedures every year. The result is that patients today are living longer and enjoying a better quality of life.

The boom in testing has also triggered a surge in the manufacturing of platinum EP catheters, catheter tips and other supplies. As a result, platinum is more in demand than it was before. The need for recycled platinum has also increased and the dollar value of used and recycled platinum scrap is rising steadily.

If you work in a hospital or diagnostic facility that performs EP studies, it’s a wise idea to inventory the used EP catheter tips and other supplies that you might have on hand. The demand for platinum is strong, prices are up, and you could be able to recycle and refine this precious metal for more money than was possible in the past.

How to Get Started Recycling Your Platinum EP Catheters

Don’t wonder whether you are throwing away money along with your medical waste – get a check-up from Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners. Call 800-426-2344 to hear our prescription for your financial health and well-being.