Urethral catheterization is commonly performed during elective procedures, inpatient hospitalizations and long-term patient management, with more than 30 million indwelling catheters used annually in US. Urethral catheter trauma (UCT) occurs most commonly during the catheter insertion, when the tip of the catheter punctures the urethral wall, or the balloon is prematurely inflated before the catheter is fully advanced into the bladder. Catheter placement in male patients is substantially more challenging, and any resulting trauma can severely impact the patients and increase the risk of long-term morbidity.

To reduce catheter-induced trauma caused by both false passages and incorrect balloon inflation, inventors at Stanford have designed a new indwelling urinary catheter called EasyCath. This catheter features several key improvements over the standard Foley design, including: 1) a force-sensing volume cell to prevent false passage; 2) a two-way graduated catheter with a third tubular lumen for fluidic communication with the volume cell; and 3) a volume cell inflation (VCI) syringe. This low-cost, effective, and easy-to-use device addresses the major shortcomings of currently available urinary catheters and has the potential to reduce catheter-induced trauma in elderly men.

Stage of Development
Research – User Testing