Hollister Apogee Essentials Coudé Tip Intermittent Catheter

SKUs: 10826 (8Fr) | 11026 (10Fr) | 11226 (12Fr) | 11426 (14Fr) | 11626 (16Fr) | 11826 (18Fr)  |  16" Male  |  Coudé Tip  |  Guide Notch  |  Uncoated PVC  |  No-Touch Sleeve  |  Prescription Required  |  FSA Eligible  |  Latex Free

The coudé-tip version of the Hollister Apogee Essentials open intermittent catheter. The angled coudé tip navigates prostatic obstruction, urethral stricture, or elevated bladder neck. A guide notch on the catheter body indicates tip direction for correct orientation before and during insertion. The same no-touch protective sleeve, ultra-smooth eyelets, and enhanced grip funnel as the straight-tip Essentials line. Uncoated — requires a separate water-based lubricant. 16" male. Six French sizes. Prescription required. FSA eligible. 30/pack.

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Coudé tip and French size are prescribed by your urologist. Questions? 1-866-218-0902

Key Features

• Coudé tip — angled tip for navigating the prostatic curve, urethral stricture, or elevated bladder neck in male patients
• Guide notch — a tactile notch on the catheter body or funnel end indicating the direction the coudé tip faces; orient notch upward before and during insertion
• Protective tip and sleeve — no-touch insertion technique; catheter insertion surface is not handled by fingers before urethral entry
• Ultra-smooth eyelets — polished drainage openings that minimize urethral trauma during insertion and withdrawal
• Enhanced grip funnel — textured funnel end for secure handling during insertion and drainage
• Uncoated PVC — requires separate water-based lubricant before use
• Firm catheter body — provides directional control when advancing through prostatic resistance
• 16" (40cm) male length
• Six French sizes — 8Fr through 18Fr
• Single-use — do not reuse
• Open catheter — drains to toilet or collection container
• Prescription required | FSA eligible | Latex free

Clinical FAQs

What is the guide notch and how is it different from a guide stripe or raised indicator?

Coudé tip catheters require that the user orient the angled tip correctly — upward (anteriorly) — before and throughout insertion, so the tip follows the natural curve of the male urethra rather than pressing against the urethral wall. Different manufacturers use different mechanisms to help the user identify tip direction without looking directly at the tip. A guide stripe (such as on the Coloplast Self-Cath Coudé Olive Tip) is a printed colored line running the length of the catheter — a visual indicator. A raised indicator (such as on the Bard Bardia) is a physical bump that can be felt by finger. The guide notch on the Apogee Essentials Coudé is a small cutout or indentation molded into the catheter body — it can be both seen and felt, providing a tactile and visual cue for tip orientation. To use: locate the guide notch by feel or sight, orient it to face upward before insertion, and maintain that orientation throughout the full insertion depth. Do not rotate the catheter once insertion has begun.

How does this open-catheter coudé compare to the Apogee Plus Coudé Closed Kit (B12CB) also in the MDS catalog?

Both are Hollister coudé-tip catheters designed for prostatic obstruction navigation. The differences are format and supplies. The Apogee Essentials Coudé is an open catheter: it drains to a toilet or receptacle, is uncoated and requires a separate lubricant, and comes without any supply kit items. It is the cost-effective standard option for patients who catheterize at a toilet. The Apogee Plus Coudé Closed Kit (B12CB, B14CB, B16CB) is a closed-system kit: pre-lubricated gel catheter, integrated 1500mL sealed collection bag, plus gloves, underpad drape, PVP antiseptic swab sticks, and gauze — all in one package. The Closed Kit is for patients requiring closed-system drainage (no toilet access), strict antiseptic prep protocol, or enhanced infection control. If you catheterize reliably at a toilet and source your own supplies, the Essentials Coudé is the appropriate open-catheter choice. If you need closed-system access or prefer the full supply kit format, the Apogee Plus Coudé Kit is the alternative.

Why does this coudé line offer 8Fr through 18Fr when most coudé lines start at 12Fr?

The broader French size range reflects the range of clinical needs that require a coudé tip beyond typical BPH management. Patients with urethral strictures may require smaller French sizes (8Fr, 10Fr) to pass through the narrowed lumen — and if the stricture geometry requires a coudé-guided approach, a small-Fr coudé catheter is needed. The upper end (16Fr, 18Fr) accommodates patients with larger prescribed French sizes who also require coudé tip navigation. The 6-size range from 8Fr to 18Fr makes this one of the broadest open-catheter coudé lines in the MDS catalog, giving prescribers appropriate options for the full range of anatomy. As always, French size is prescribed — do not self-select a size based on preference.

Does requiring a separate lubricant change how a coudé catheter is used compared to a siliconized or pre-lubricated coudé?

The core coudé insertion technique is the same regardless of lubrication type: orient the guide notch upward, insert gently maintaining orientation, advance without rotating. The practical difference with an uncoated catheter is that a separate water-based lubricant must be applied to the tip and a short section of the insertion end before each use, adding one step to the preparation sequence. This lubricant step must not be skipped on an uncoated coudé catheter — inserting an unlubricated coudé tip through prostatic resistance causes significantly more urethral friction and trauma risk than with a lubricated surface. Single-use sterile lubricant packets applied immediately before insertion are the preferred format. Do not use oil-based or petroleum-based lubricants on PVC catheters.

Questions about coudé tip selection, guide notch technique, or open vs. closed-system coudé options? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902