Silicone Foley Catheters Lead the Upgrade Wave of Urological Consumables

In recent years, with the accelerated global aging process and the continuous upgrading of diagnosis and treatment needs for urinary system diseases, urinary catheters, as core rigid-demand clinical devices, have entered a critical stage of technological iteration and product upgrading. Among them, silicone urinary catheters, relying on excellent biocompatibility and multiple functional innovations, are gradually replacing traditional material products, becoming the preferred solution to solve core clinical problems such as infection and pain, and leading the high-quality development of the urological consumables field towards safety, comfort, and intelligence.

Clinical Pain Points Urgently Need to Be Addressed, Silicone Becomes the Optimal Solution

Indwelling urinary catheters are indispensable in scenarios such as postoperative care and intensive care. However, for a century, two major pain points—catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD)—have been plaguing clinical practice. A multicenter study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that the incidence of CRBD is as high as 55.4%, 4 to 5 times that of infectious complications. More than half of patients suffer from urethral irritation, bladder spasm and other discomfort, which seriously affects postoperative recovery and increases medical burden.

Against this background, silicone has become the mainstream choice in the industry due to its outstanding performance advantages. The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly identifies medical silicone as one of the four materials that can be permanently indwelled in the human body. Its surface friction coefficient is as low as 0.01-0.03, which can significantly reduce mechanical irritation to the urethral mucosa, and the incidence of urethritis is only 1/11 of that of latex materials. Clinical practice data from a domestic medical device enterprise shows that after long-term catheterization patients switch to silicone urinary catheters, the indwelling period can be extended to 4 weeks, allergic reactions and infection risks are significantly reduced, making it particularly suitable for the clinical needs of special populations such as the elderly, children, and those with allergic constitutions.