Urovalve files patent for new universal catheter-inserter

Sep 17 2009

Urovalve announced today that the Company has filed a patent to protect its new product offering in development that facilitates insertion of catheters, such as a Foley catheter. The new Urovalve device is novel because it is designed not only to add sufficient rigidity to a variety of commonly used catheters—thereby enabling their insertion when penetration would otherwise be difficult—but also still allowing these catheters to remain flexible enough to negotiate the curves of the urethra.

“Our newest device, a universal catheter-inserter, is designed to enhance placement of the desired catheter in one single step, compared to the successive dilations, etc., currently associated with difficult Foley catheter insertions,” said Harvey D. Homan, Ph.D., President and CEO of Urovalve. “This innovative approach is not only expected to save time for the patient and his urologist or other healthcare professional, but also to enable selection of the most appropriate or the most comfortable catheter, compared to opting for a catheter only because it is stiff enough to be inserted.

“Our new device’s design also includes locking mechanisms to keep it captured within the catheter throughout the insertion procedure,” added Dr. Homan. “This should provide increased control for the healthcare professional, as well as significantly reduce the risk of trauma to the patient.”