CompactCath is a discreet, hygienic urinary catheter for people who need to self-catheterize on a daily basis. Unlike traditional catheters, CompactCath is packaged in a 2"x2" packaging and is easy to hide, easy to use and easy to dispose of. CompactCath is being developed by an interdisciplinary team from Stanford University. Learn more about CompactCath today and please check back soon for updates! Intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) is a method of voiding urine from the bladder where an individual inserts a thin, hollow tube (a catheter) into his/her urethra, through the sphincter muscle, into the bladder. The method is used for conditions that result in inadequate bladder emptying, such as spinal cord injuries, bladder exstrophy, spina bifida, tumors, etc. People who need to self-catheterize need to do so every 2-6 hours depending on fluid intake and bladder capacity. Infrequent or improper ISC may result in urine leakage or infections in the urinary tract, bladder, and/or kidney. Traditional urinary catheters are packaged in a linear form with bulky, noisy, transparent packaging that doesn't fit well into the lives of active, independent users. With CompactCath, the catheter is packaged in a nonlinear form, greatly reducing the size of the packaging. The catheter is easy to deploy, functions the same as regular catheters, and can be easily retracted into its case after use for easy, discrete disposal. Furthermore, CompactCath allows the users to handle the catheter without touching it directly, greatly reducing the risk of infection. Our team is currently working on getting CompactCath through the FDA approval process to bring it to market.
