A biomimetic, coating-free approach to reducing catheter-associated discomfort, from insertion through removal.
Indwelling urinary catheters are indispensable in acute care, critical care, and postoperative settings, but they remain one of the most common sources of iatrogenic discomfort.
Standard smooth silicone catheters and even hydrophilic-coated devices still leave patients dealing with friction pain, pressure sensations, spasms, and delayed discomfort that can persist for days.
The Sharklet silicone Foley catheter addresses these problems at their source.
1.Reducing Friction Pain During Insertion and Micro-Movement
Principle: The Sharklet micropattern physically transforms the silicone substrate, restructuring the microscopic surface and optimizing frictional interaction between catheter and urethral mucosa. (Micro-movement during insertion or activity is a primary source of dynamic pain.)
- Standard smooth silicone / hydrophilic-coated catheter：
Full continuous surface contact. During insertion and small displacements, lateral shear triggers urethral nerve endings causing sharp pain. Hydrophilic coatings rely on an unstable water film that breaks down; friction rises and pain returns.
- Sharklet silicone Foley catheter：
Continuous contact converted to discrete point/line contact; actual contact area reduced by 50-60%. Friction coefficient stays consistently low throughout use.
Outcome：Sharklet reduces friction pain during insertion and patient micro-movement.
 2. Eliminating Static Compression Pain and Foreign-Body Sensation
Principle: Microgrooves form interconnected gaps that channel surface fluid and disperse pressure across discrete contact points, sharply reducing peak pressure against the urethral mucosa — the key driver of persistent compression pain. (A core advantage over smooth and hydrophilic catheters.)
- Standard smooth silicone / hydrophilic-coated catheter：
Catheter fully conforms to and presses against the urethral wall, creating continuous static compression. Hydrophilic coatings only smooth the surface; they do not change the full-contact morphology and cannot relieve compression pain.
- Sharklet silicone Foley catheter：
Microgrooves create discrete micro-gaps; pressure distributed across isolated contact points, eliminating high-pressure zones and reducing continuous pressure pain.
Outcome：Sharklet eliminates static compression pain and persistent foreign-body sensation.
3. Reducing Paroxysmal Sharp Pain During Turning and Movement
Principle: The Sharklet micropattern establishes a uniform, low-friction discrete contact mode that suppresses dynamic catheter movement caused by patient activity, eliminating urethral stretch and torsion. (Patient turning or bladder contraction causing catheter motion is a primary source of pain during indwelling.)
- Standard smooth silicone / hydrophilic-coated catheter：
Catheter shifts within the urethra as the patient turns; surface adhesion drags the mucosa, causing abrasion and sharp pain. Pain worsens with movement and turning.
- Sharklet silicone Foley catheter：
Catheter remains in a low-adhesion state; mucosal stretch is suppressed. Minimal contact points glide without dragging mucosa during movement, sharply reducing paroxysmal sharp pain.
Outcome：Sharklet reduces paroxysmal sharp pain during turning and daily movement.
4. Preventing Delayed Dysuria and Edema Pain in Late Indwelling Period
Principle: In the late indwelling period, Sharklet microgrooves minimize urethral mucosal micro-injury, breaking the “injury-inflammation-delayed pain” pathological chain. (Late-stage catheter pain arises from mucosal damage and inflammation.)
- Standard smooth silicone / hydrophilic-coated catheter：
Full, tight surface contact and repeated friction cause mucosal epithelial micro-injury. Bacteria and irritants penetrate wounds, triggering chemical inflammation, edema, and pain that worsens over days of indwelling.
- Sharklet silicone Foley catheter：
(1) Uniform, gentle discrete contact minimizes mucosal micro-injury;
(2) Microgroove channels improve drainage and significantly reduce bacterial colonization. Together they break the inflammation-edema-pain cycle.
Outcome：Sharklet prevents delayed dysuria and edema pain in the late indwelling period.
5. Relieving Bladder Spasm Colic
Principle: The Sharklet micropattern weakens abnormal mechanical stimulation and reflexively relieves urethral and bladder muscle spasm. (Neural-muscle reflex overreaction is a key pain driver and a main weakness of standard catheters.)
- Standard smooth silicone / hydrophilic-coated catheter：
Urethral mucosa has abundant stretch and pressure receptors. Persistent mechanical irritation from the catheter triggers frequent involuntary bladder muscle contractions, causing colicky pain, urgency, and urinary urgency.
- Sharklet silicone Foley catheter：
Microgrooves lower peak pressure and reduce the frequency and amplitude of bladder muscle contractions, lowering the frequency and intensity of spasm events.
Outcome：Sharklet relieves urethral and bladder muscle spasm colic.
6. Sustained Pain Reduction Without Rebound Across the Full Indwelling Cycle
Principle: Sharklet is an integral, molded surface feature of the silicone substrate — not a separate coating. Hydrophilic and parylene coatings are applied layers that degrade, wear, or detach over time.
- Standard smooth silicone / hydrophilic-coated catheter：
Hydrophilic and parylene coatings degrade within 1-3 days of indwelling; benefit fades and pain returns. Coating wear also causes irritation and variability.
- Sharklet silicone Foley catheter：
Integral molded microstructure does not wear, dissolve, or detach. Performance remains stable during insertion, indwelling, and removal — short-, medium-, and long-term efficacy all maintained.
Outcome：Pain reduction stays stable across the full indwelling cycle, avoiding rebound.