Twin Ballooned Urinary Catheter "A World First", says Poiesis

USA-based urological device manufacturer Poiesis Medical has unveiled a new urinary catheter, The Duette. According to the company, the product is designed to prevent bladder complications common with traditional Foley catheters, such as cystitis, haematuria, catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and the risk of bladder cancer in repeat catheter users. The cost of treatment for these complaints in the USA alone has been estimated to be US$1-3 bn a year.

Poiesis Medical claims that the catheter is able to prevent these complications thanks to the fact that it has a second balloon which subsumes the tip of the catheter. This balloon acts as a cushion for the bladder wall during drainage and this protects the bladder's mucosal lining, its natural bacterial defense, from contact with the hard catheter tip.

According to the manufacturer, the product is the first advancement in urinary catheter design and function in 75 years.

The Duette was engineered by a practicing urologist who recognised the need for a design change to the standard Foley catheter after seeing, through cystoscopy, the bladder damage and health issues related to catheterisation.