Catheters

Catheters can be plastic or rubber tubes, and sometimes coated, that are inserted into canals, vessels, passageways, or cavities in the body to facilitate a variety of functions, such as the injection or withdrawal of fluids, maintaining open passageways, the use of an incision device or the delivery of an electrical charge. Catheters make it possible to drain or inject fluids or to access areas of the body with surgical instruments.

Most catheters are for infusion, cardiovascular, renal, hemodynamic monitoring or neurological applications. Advanced catheter technology, such as coated catheters, is being harnessed primarily by US physicians. But new markets are evolving elsewhere for high-tech devices, such as in Europe and Asia. Simpler less complex catheters, such as intravenous (IV) and urinary drainage catheters, are used in hospitals worldwide.

By far, the US remains the major market for catheters, followed by Japan and Europe. Future growth will be fueled by increasing penetration in Asia-Pacific markets. Urological catheters – Foley and urethral – suction and oximetry catheters are perhaps the top selling catheters.