Catheter 101
CatheterReview.com reviews publicly available information on catheters and manufacturers of catheters to provide the content included on this website. We strive to provide unbiased assessments of catheters, catheter manufacturers, and related topics. The opinions expressed herein are our own. Please contact us if you think any information provided is inaccurate.
Catheter Types
No-Touch/Closed Catheters
If no-touch or closed catheter systems had a personality, they’d be the bubble boys (and girls) of the catheter world. These catheters are distinguishable by two factors: they’re typically covered in head to toe – or from tip to funnel – with plastic, and they’re very, very expensive, being reimbursed under a completely different reimbursement code (A4353) than the other catheters covered on this site (A4351). It can be hard to secure coverage for these […]
Read MoreCompact Catheters
Compact catheters are catheters that are designed to take up as little room as possible. They’re usually very discreet and very small. You’ll likely have to put in a bit more work when using them – some catheters telescope or unwind like a fishing line – but honestly, if the product is well-designed, you probably won’t notice. Compact catheters are also usually pre-lubricated, because it would defeat the point for you to need to carry […]
Read MoreUncoated Catheters
Uncoated catheters are the vanilla ice cream of the catheter world. Dependable (because they’re so simple), these catheters usually don’t feature the bells and whistles of your no-touch/closed catheter systems. That being said, there is subtle variation in these from manufacturer to manufacturer, and the type and stiffness of the material ends up having a large impact on the final user experience with these catheters. It’s generally much easier to secure insurance coverage for these […]
Read MoreHydrophilic/Ready-to-Use Catheters
Standard hydrophilic and ready-to-use catheters are pre-lubricated, unlike their uncoated counterparts. We’re calling them “standard” here because many of the more advanced/expensive catheter types – no-touch/closed catheters or compact catheters – come with a hydrophilic coating by default. Hydrophilic catheters and ready-to-use catheters both come with a lubricious coating already deposited on the surface of the catheter. The primary difference between the two is that hydrophilic catheters typically come with a wetting pouch of saline […]
Read MoreManufacturers
Wellspect
Wellspect Healthcare is a Swedish company that used to be affiliated with the massive multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which was founded in 1999 through the merger of two companies, Astra AB and Zeneca Group. Astra AB operated Astra Tech, which focused on medical devices. The combined AstraZeneca sold off Astra Tech, which includes what would eventually become Wellspect Healthcare to Dentsply, an American dental equipment maker, in 2011. Astra Tech […]
Read MoreHollister
Hollister® Incorporated is an American company that was founded in 1921 by a 23-year-old named John Dickinson. Beginning as a printing company, Hollister®’s offerings evolved to include medical products, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that they started getting involved in the ostomy space. Their involvement in continence products came thereafter, and they now own manufacturing and distribution facilities on 3 continents. Hollister®’s company values include Dignity of the Person, […]
Read MoreCure Medical
Cure Medical was founded by Bob Yant in Newport Beach, California in 2007, making it one of the younger companies that are covered on this site. Bob is a quadriplegic with a C-5 level injury; his personal experience with spinal cord injury (SCI/D) and catheters have played a large role in shaping the values and commitments of Cure Medical. Bob has been a long-time advocate for people with SCI/D – […]
Read MoreBard/Becton Dickinson
C.R. Bard, Inc. was founded in 1907 in New York City (though it wasn’t formally incorporated until 1923). Bard is one of the original innovators in the catheter space, introducing the foley catheter in 1934 and the first latex balloon catheter in 1960. The company began expanding outside of catheters in the 1960s, and became publicly traded in 1963. The company was recently acquired by Becton Dickinson in 2017, in […]
Read MoreConvaTec
ConvaTec is a global medical products and technology company that specifically focuses on products for the management of chronic conditions, including incontinence. Their company purpose is to improve the lives of the people that they touch, and they make products that deliver on a promise of mobility, confidence, and freedom. ConvaTec values caring for people, driving innovation and excellence, and earning trust. ConvaTec has been making urinary catheters since 2008, […]
Read MoreColoplast
Coloplast® is a Danish company that was founded in 1957 by Aage Louis-Hansen, a civil engineer and plastics manufacturer, who developed an idea by Elise Sorensen, a nurse, into the world’s first ostomy bag. Their mission is to make life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs, specifically by listening to them and their nurses. Coloplast® values closeness to all customers (end users and healthcare professionals), passion to make a […]
Read More