WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - Alliance Medical Corporation, a privately held reprocessor of single-use medical devices (SUDs), said on Thursday that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reprocess several market-leading trocars and cannulas.

Alliance said it received FDA clearance to reprocess devices manufactured by Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., U.S. Surgical Auto Suture, Core Dynamics and Apple Medical, among others.

The firm reprocesses devices for several national purchasing organizations, including VHA, Amerinet, Broadlane and University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). It also serves several integrated hospital networks such as Banner Health and the Henry Ford Health System.

Alliance, which is based in Phoenix, Arizona, said hospitals that reprocess devices used during laparoscopic procedures -- including trocars and cannulas -- could save an estimated $205 per procedure. Based on historical averages, the company added that facilities using its full complement of reprocessing services often save more than $24 per surgical procedure.

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