Improvements in Male External Catheter

The Male External Catheter has come a long way

The earliest known male external catheter was used in ancient times in the form of a reed. The modern day version of the catheter began in the 19th century, invented by Benjamin Franklin. Catheters up till then were rigid tubes with different types of wires and adjustments holding it in place. They didn’t provide the adherence of modern day catheters, but began to introduce the idea of the “fitted” catheter.

The flexible catheter was invented in the nineteenth century by Dr. N.B.Sornborger. This introduced the idea of plastic in the catheter. The abrasions of earlier catheters were damaging to the penis and urethra. The introduction of Sornborger’s catheter eliminated unwanted leakages, and created a more comfortable alternative that led to the use of Silicone and latex. and today the catheter most commonly used in hospitals–the disposable catheter—-was created by David S. Sheridan. The flexible catheter enables a man to have greater control when urinating than a rigid, inflexible one.

Urinary incontinence is a common and embarrassing problem in millions of males (and some females) today. It occurs when a man is unable to control his bladder, and involuntarily urinates. They can range from a full bladder or minor leakage. The use of catheters has offered improving convenience for those afflicted with bladder problems. Catheters are drainage devices that help with these involuntary urinations, and they have improved overtime.

A male external catheter, a.k.a. the condom catheter, is a tube made from flexible materials such as latex and silicone. The external catheter is attached to a plastic bag into which the urine drains. The catheter is fitted on to the male member like a condom, so that the urine flows cleanly through the tube without messy spills. The bag must be emptied regularly, and after washing a long-term catheter it may be used again. A Male external catheter like the condom catheter have helped to reduce the inconvenience of catheters in the past.

Sheridan was known as the “Catheter King.” The reason for the success of his disposable catheters was their cheapness. When catheters were expensive to create, he used a machine to shape plastic at virtually no cost. This allowed his catheters to be cheap and disposable. It was a revolutionary step because the inexpensive, disposable catheter didn’t carry the risks of improperly washing that a long term catheter did. There are different causes of involuntary urination, all due to the area around the bladder. The kidney drains bladder into the sac, and when the bladder is full nerves tell the muscles around the bladder to loosen. The urine flows down the male member through a tube called the urethra. Urinary incontinence may occur due to a damaged urethra, muscles squeezing the bladder involuntary, or a blockage of urine that results eventually in leakage. To avoid more expensive care, a male external catheter is the most commonly used tool to control—-though not prevent—-urinary incidents.