One of the very first and most popular types of female external suction catheters was developed by BD, a frontrunner in medical technology advancements. Their system is designed around a central flexible device they call a ‘wick’, which curves to mimic the shape of a woman’s labia. Once applied to the external genitalia, the system pumps urine away from the body through tubes and holds it in a small, closed storage canister. This system can hold up to 1800mL of urine, which is on the high end of the daily average for most women. Their at-home system is quiet and can be used either with a rechargeable battery or plugged into a traditional wall outlet.
The flexible wick is designed to be used for a maximum of 12 hours, at which time it should be removed and thrown away. It’s recommended that users replace the canister and the tubing every 2 months as well. Unlike a traditional indwelling catheter, it’s easy to use the PureWick system on your own, or with the help of a loved one.