Coloplast Self-Cath Plus Tapered Tip Coudé Intermittent Catheter

SKUs: 4608 | 4610 | 4612 | 4614  |  16" Male Length  |  Coudé Tip with Guide Stripe  |  Hydrophilic Coating  |  Prescription Required  |  FSA Eligible  |  Latex Free

A 16" male intermittent catheter designed for patients with urethral obstruction where a standard straight-tip catheter cannot advance. The tapered coudé tip is angled to navigate around an enlarged prostate or urethral stricture. A guide stripe provides continuous visual alignment to keep the tip oriented correctly throughout insertion. The hydrophilic coating activates immediately on water contact, eliminating the need for a separate lubricant. An uncoated grip zone near the funnel provides secure handling even when the catheter surface is wet. Fire-polished eyelets. Color-coded funnels by French size. Single-use. Prescription required. Sold individually, 15/pack, or 30/pack.

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Coudé catheters require a prescription that specifically indicates coudé tip. French size and length are also prescribed. Do not substitute a coudé for a straight-tip catheter without clinician direction. Questions? 1-866-218-0902

Key Features

• Tapered coudé tip — angled tip designed to navigate around prostatic obstruction, urethral stricture, or elevated bladder neck
• Tapered profile — narrows toward the tip for easier passage through tight urethral segments
• Guide stripe — a longitudinal color stripe on the catheter body indicating coudé tip orientation throughout insertion
• Hydrophilic coating — activates immediately on water contact; full lubrication without a separate lubricant packet
• Uncoated grip zone — a non-hydrophilic section near the funnel end for secure handling even when the catheter body is wet
• Fire-polished eyelets — smooth, rounded drainage openings for minimal urethral trauma
• Flexible medical-grade PVC
• Color-coded funnel end: Blue (8Fr), Black (10Fr), White (12Fr), Green (14Fr)
• 16" (40cm) male length
• Funnel end for drainage into toilet or collection container
• Single-use disposable — do not reuse
• Prescription required | FSA eligible | Latex free

Clinical FAQs

What is a coudé tip catheter and when is it clinically indicated?

Coudé (from the French word for "bent") refers to a catheter with an angled or curved tip — typically a 30–45 degree deflection from the catheter body. Standard straight-tip catheters can advance without difficulty through a normal male urethra. However, when the urethra is obstructed — most commonly by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH/enlarged prostate), urethral stricture, or an elevated bladder neck — a straight tip meets resistance it cannot navigate around and stalls. The coudé tip's angled geometry allows it to deflect and pass the obstruction by orienting the tip away from the obstruction and following the natural curve of the urethra through the prostatic segment. Coudé catheters are specifically prescribed by a urologist when straight-tip catheterization is failing or causing repeated trauma.

What does the guide stripe do and how do I use it?

The guide stripe is a continuous longitudinal line printed along the catheter body from tip to funnel. Because the coudé tip is angled, the orientation of that angle must be maintained correctly throughout insertion — rotating the catheter after insertion would redirect the tip in the wrong direction and could cause trauma or fail to navigate the obstruction. The guide stripe allows the user to see at a glance which direction the coudé tip is facing throughout the entire insertion process without having to look at the tip itself. The standard technique: position the guide stripe facing upward (toward the ceiling/anterior) during insertion, which orients the coudé tip in the direction of the natural urethral curve through the prostatic urethra. Confirm the correct orientation with your prescribing clinician or continence nurse before first use — incorrect orientation will not navigate the obstruction effectively.

What is a hydrophilic coating and how is it different from siliconized or uncoated?

A hydrophilic coating is a polymer layer bonded to the catheter surface that absorbs water and becomes extremely slippery on contact. Unlike a siliconized catheter (which has a thin silicone treatment that passively reduces friction) or an uncoated catheter (which requires a separate lubricant applied before each use), a hydrophilic catheter only needs water to activate — dip the catheter in water or pour water over it, and the coating immediately transforms the entire surface into a low-friction, mucosa-friendly surface. The friction reduction from an activated hydrophilic coating is clinically superior to siliconized or manually lubricated surfaces, and eliminates the steps and mess of applying a separate lubricant. Research consistently shows hydrophilic catheters are associated with greater patient comfort and reduced urethral trauma with regular use compared to uncoated alternatives.

How do I activate and use the hydrophilic coating?

Wet the catheter with clean water before use. This can be done by dipping the insertion end in a cup of water, running water over the catheter from a tap, or using a no-touch technique with a water-activating sleeve if available. The coating activates within seconds of water contact across the entire surface. Do not use saline, antiseptic solutions, or lubricant jelly on a hydrophilic catheter — these can interfere with coating activation. Once wet, handle the catheter from the uncoated grip zone near the funnel to maintain control; the slippery hydrophilic surface makes the insertion portion difficult to hold directly. The catheter is ready for insertion as soon as the coating has activated.

What is the uncoated grip zone and why is it important for coudé catheters specifically?

The uncoated grip zone is a section of the catheter near the funnel end where no hydrophilic coating has been applied. When the rest of the catheter is wet and fully activated, the hydrophilic surface is extremely slippery — good for the urethra, but dangerous for handling if the entire catheter were coated. The uncoated grip zone provides a tactile, non-slip section the user can hold firmly. For coudé catheters this is especially important: controlling the guide stripe orientation during insertion requires a secure grip throughout the procedure. The user grips the catheter at the uncoated zone and holds the guide stripe consistently oriented upward throughout advancement — any grip slippage could rotate the tip and lose the correct orientation.

Can a coudé catheter be used instead of a straight-tip catheter as a general preference?

No — a coudé catheter should only be used when specifically prescribed for a patient with a urethral anatomy that requires it. For patients with a normal, unobstructed urethra, the angled coudé tip provides no benefit and may cause unnecessary trauma or discomfort if not needed. Coudé catheters are also technically more demanding to use correctly than straight-tip catheters due to the orientation requirements. If you are uncertain whether your anatomy requires a coudé tip, a urological evaluation is the appropriate step before switching catheter types. Never substitute a coudé for a straight-tip or vice versa without direction from your prescribing clinician.

What does "Self-Cath Plus" mean compared to standard Self-Cath?

The Coloplast Self-Cath line refers to the siliconized, uncoated PVC catheters (including the female straight tip covered on our Self-Cath Female product page). Self-Cath Plus designates the upgraded hydrophilic-coated version — the same catheter family with the addition of full hydrophilic coating for water-activated lubrication. The Plus designation indicates a premium product with superior lubrication characteristics compared to the standard siliconized line. For patients who require a coudé tip and also want the comfort and ease of hydrophilic insertion, the Self-Cath Plus Coudé combines both features in a single product.

Questions about coudé catheter indications, guide stripe technique, or hydrophilic activation? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902