Development of a novel indwelling catheter for urethral surgery

This study aimed to develop an indwelling catheter that can be used for urethral flushing, urethral secretion drainage, local urethral drug delivery, and urine drainage. We designed a new indwelling catheter type that has a balloon, 4 peripheral grooves, and a C-shaped groove on its surface. In addition, there is a flushing channel, a balloon channel, and a urine drainage channel in the catheter body. However, the most critical characteristic is that the flushing channel and the 4 peripheral grooves are connected with the C-shaped groove, and the flushing liquid can reach the C-shaped groove through the flushing channel and then flow out through the peripheral grooves, while the balloon channel leads to the balloon. Generally, our design is to add 4 peripheral grooves, a C-shaped groove, and a flushing channel to the indwelling catheter that is applied clinically nowadays. We designed a new type of indwelling catheter, which is multifunctional, and we had acquired a national patent in China. In theory, the new catheter type cannot only be used for urine drainage, bladder irrigation, but also for urethral flushing, urethral excretion drainage, and local urethral drug delivery at the same time. This new indwelling catheter can theoretically reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection and facilitate urethral secretion drainage or flushing out, which is especially suitable for the treatment and nursing of patients who underwent urethral operation. However, the new catheter have not been produced and tested clinically, and this is our next step.