Novel Bladder Catheterization Device

Project Summary/Abstract This project relates to the development of a novel catheterization device which will create a new method for bladder drainage. It is estimated that over one million Americans, including tens of thousands of children, have a neurogenic bladder (bladder failure) requiring use of a catheter to drain urine. This includes over 250,000 people with spinal cord injury, 120,000 people living with spina bifida, and a subset of the tens of millions of Americans living with prostate enlargement, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other neurogenerative diseases. Up to 10 percent of patients in long-term care facilities are catheter-dependent. Current bladder management methods are associated with significant morbidity and inconvenience. Developing a simple, reliable, and safe catheterization approach would provide a novel bladder drainage method in a field where meaningful innovation is necessary. The proposed project explores a novel bladder catheterization system with several innovative features. A prototype device will be developed and evaluated.