Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the main complication associated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and are facilitated by post-void residual urine and trauma to the mucosa during voiding. The risk of UTI may be diminished by reducing the residual volumes and preventing microtrauma caused by mucosal suction through the eyelets of conventional eyelet catheters (CEC). A new micro-hole zone catheter (MHZC) was developed and tested in an ex vivo porcine lower urinary tract model and in vivo, in pigs, against a CEC. It was shown that, irrespective of the micro-hole diameter, the new catheter ensured increased flowrates and significantly lower residual volumes at the first flow-stop. Furthermore, with a micro-hole diameter of 0.4 mm, mucosal suction was virtually eliminated, regardless of the insertion depth or simulated intra-abdominal pressure mimicking sitting or standing humans. Pressure profile experiments and endoscopy studies indicated that the bladder gradually folds against the drainage tip of the new catheter, without blocking the flow, and, unlike with the CEC, sharp pressure variations and flow-stops did not occur during voiding. The MHZC outperformed the CEC in all tested scenarios and decreased residual volumes, thus potentially decreasing the risk of UTIs.

Within recent years, researchers have looked into using polycaprolactone (PCL) as a synthetic biodegradable scaffold for tissue engineering purposes. This study investigated the mechanical properties of an electrospun PCL, while being exposed to physiological fluids at 37°C (in vitro conditions) with and without the influence of cell in-growth. The molecular weight and mechanical properties were monitored during the degradation. Incubation in physiological fluids for 3–16 weeks showed an improvement in mechanical properties and no reduction in molecular weight. It was also shown that cells did not deteriorate the mechanical properties of PCL after 16 weeks. The viability of the cells decreased over time, however, without influencing the mechanical properties of the scaffold. A relation between reduction in molecular weight and the mechanical properties of electrospun PCL was seen between 2–29 days in buffer (pH 12). The accelerated study showed a linear decrease in both elastic modulus and yield stress as a function of degradation time.

Background/Objectives: To perform a physicochemical characterization of urine and sediment in intermittent catheterization (IC) users and evaluate the impact of IC with micro-hole zone catheters (MHZC) and conventional two-eyelet catheters (CEC). Methods: Analysis of anonymized urine samples collected from four IC user groups with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD): Newly diagnosed individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) from an inpatient SCI clinic (A), and community-based IC users with SCI (B), multiple sclerosis (MS) (C), or other conditions than SCI or MS (D). Urine analysis included physicochemical properties, bacterial load, and sediment size, both after collection and following passage through MHZC and CEC. Results: Urine samples from 53 participants were analyzed (groups A: 11, B: 11, C: 9, D: 22). The physicochemical properties of urine were similar to reference values despite the prevalence of bacteriuria ranging from 54.5% to 77.3%. The median [99th percentile] sediment size in the total group was 8.6 µm [50.7 µm] and 8.5 µm [54.1 µm] for group A, 9.2 µm [40.3 µm] for group B, 7.9 µm [48.3 µm] for group C, and 8.9 µm [50.3 µm] for group D. Following catheter passage, the median sediment size for the total group was 8.9 µm with the MHZC and 8.9 µm with the CEC. Conclusions: This two-part study initially presented a novel approach to characterizing urine samples, including sediment from IC users, and, thereafter, an in vitro experiment using the samples to test sediment passage through MHZC and CEC. The results indicated similar urine properties and sediment sizes across groups and did not suggest differences or issues relating to urine and sediment passage through these IC technologies for these groups.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the main complication associated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and are facilitated by post-void residual urine and trauma to the mucosa during voiding. The risk of UTI may be diminished by reducing the residual volumes and preventing microtrauma caused by mucosal suction through the eyelets of conventional eyelet catheters (CEC). A new micro-hole zone catheter (MHZC) was developed and tested in an ex vivo porcine lower urinary tract model and in vivo, in pigs, against a CEC. It was shown that, irrespective of the micro-hole diameter, the new catheter ensured increased flowrates and significantly lower residual volumes at the first flow-stop. Furthermore, with a micro-hole diameter of 0.4 mm, mucosal suction was virtually eliminated, regardless of the insertion depth or simulated intra-abdominal pressure mimicking sitting or standing humans. Pressure profile experiments and endoscopy studies indicated that the bladder gradually folds against the drainage tip of the new catheter, without blocking the flow, and, unlike with the CEC, sharp pressure variations and flow-stops did not occur during voiding. The MHZC outperformed the CEC in all tested scenarios and decreased residual volumes, thus potentially decreasing the risk of UTIs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess sediments in complicated and uncomplicated urine samples and the ability of conventional and micro-hole intermittent catheters to drain these sediments. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded, cross-over study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Adult healthy volunteers (male and female) and patients regularly using intermittent catheterization were enrolled. Urine samples from these study participants were collected with a conventional eyelet catheter and a micro-hole zone catheter, on separate days. In addition, complicated urine samples defined as urine containing large numbers of visible casts and mucus collected from patients visiting a urology department in Copenhagen Denmark were collected with a conventional catheter with extra-large eyelets. METHODS: All urine samples from patients and healthy volunteers were analyzed within 48 hours of collection. The number and size distribution of sediments in uncomplicated urine was evaluated using automated light microscopy. Sediments in complicated urine also were assessed with conventional light microscopy. Laboratory-based drainage tests were performed for complicated urine using both types of catheters. RESULTS: Similar types of sediments were found in all urine samples, with sizes from 2 to 195 μm in clear urine and 2 to 131 μm in cloudy urine. More sediments were found in cloudy and complicated urine compared with clear samples. In complicated urine, the number of sediments in some instances was large enough to obstruct flow in some micro-hole catheters, and a few conventional catheters as well. CONCLUSIONS: Most urine samples can be successfully drained through micro-hole zone catheters, but care should be exercised in recommending these catheters to patients with complicated urine, containing large numbers of visible sediments.