Catheter design has not significantly changed since 1935, which is in part why there are a host of urinary-tract infections and annual costs to hospitals related to the medical device.
It’s also the impetus behind Portela Soni Medical LLC, a medical-device startup looking to make a safer, more affordable catheter that reduces the number of catheter-associated, urinary-tract infections. The number of such cases each year exceeds 560,000, costing medical facilities on average $1,007 per case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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“Imagine a toothbrush that’s left in the mouth for a few days,” said Francisco Portela, company founder and CEO. “Eventually, you’ll see the bacteria grow on it … and you might get an oral infection. A similar process happens with these devices.”
The company, which started in January, says initial tests of its catheter yields a greater than 75 percent reduction in bacterial growth.
“Health is the most important thing you have,” Portela said. “When you don’t have it, you hope the technology out there is helping you as much as possible.” •
