Perhaps one of the most important and widely used inventions in medical history is the simple catheter. This seemingly insignificant system may not appear to be the flashiest or life saving medical tool but in the long run the impact it has had on medicine and patient care has been vast. Yet even with such a claim, many people don’t understand even the basics of the catheter.

The catheter technology itself may have been developed as early as 1868 when Dr. N.B Sornborger first put it into use. The term “catheter” was derived from the Syrian word for reed. This hollow tube structure was most likely the inspiration for the name. By the dawn of the 1900’s the catheter had evolved into the current form that we know and use today.

The structure of the catheter system and the basic elements of its use haven’t changed much since it was first invented. While the materials and methods may have been altered to be more effective over time, the structure itself has remained virtually untouched. The catheter needle, the tubing and the filter have all been relatively untouched by scientific advance.

Despite being largely the same in terms of components, catheters may be employed for a variety of reasons and come in different formats. In some cases a catheter may be a temporary system known as an indwelling catheter. In more serious situations, the catheter may be needed permanently. This kind of catheter system is known as a permcath.

The overall goal of the catheter system has remained relatively the same since its basic conception. The purpose of the entire system is the either remove or introduce a liquid into or out of the body. The means and method that it achieves this goal can vary but in all cases the final goal remains the same.

The method of catheterization may change depending on the situation at hand and the reason for the catheterization in the first place. In less serious situations catheters may be used to simply help facilitate the drainage of fluids from the body when a patient cannot do so for themselves but in more dire situations a patient may actually have the catheter intervene in their digestive system.

While the primary use of a catheter may be specifically to drain fluids away from the body, in some cases a catheter may be used to administer medicine or helpful fluids to the body. This is done primarily when a patient is no longer able to get his or her own nutrients without assistance.

With so much versatility and so many uses it’s easy to see why the catheter for women is one of the most employed medical systems and tools currently in circulation. The dynamic nature of Catheter Product as well as its many uses and employments make it a critical aspect of modern Medicaid Medical Supplies>.

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Filed under: Blood Pressure

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