[LINC Medical] has now brought out the Optitip® catheter, which again is open tipped, with the balloon when inflated being almost level with the tip of the catheter, a further drainage hole lies beneath the balloon. This makes the catheter particularly helpful for those patient with large amounts of sediment. For example, one of my patients (a long-term user of suprapubic catheters) trialled the Optitip® and finds it not only very comfortable, but also that infection rates have dropped by 80% in the nine months of using it.
Small changes make big differences
The Optitip™ catheter has been designed with a balloon that is closer to the tip. This prevents damage to the bladder mucosa that can result from standard catheter tips which may suck against the bladder wall. An eyehole has been added below the balloon to drain residual urine.