A curved tip intermittent catheter is referred to as a coudé or Tiemann style catheter. This is a specialized catheter designed to pass through a urethra that has abnormal or difficult anatomy. These types of catheters are mainly used by men, as the male urethra is longer and has more curvature and resistance at the prostate or bladder neck area. The tip curves upward at approximately a 30-degree angle to prevent the tip from catching where the urethra curves upwards to the bladder.
Some catheterizable stomas with difficult turns and bends may also require a coudé tip. With children especially, if a coudé catheter is selected, it is recommended to use with a “guide stripe” on the catheter or marker on the catheter funnel to help with the “12 o'clock tip up orientation”.
