Types of Catheters: A Guide to Choosing and Buying the Right One
May 31, 2026 · 13 min read · Edaochi Medical
"Catheter" covers a wide range of very different product families: from the Foley urinary catheter to the central venous catheter, including respiratory suction catheters and drainage catheters. For a procurement team, clinic or distributor, the challenge isn't clinical — it's catalogue: knowing which type matches each use, what to order it as, and what specification defines each family. This is a selection and buying map: it classifies the main catheter types by system (urinary, respiratory, vascular, drainage), explains how they differ, and links to the size-specific guides. Written for nursing staff, hospital procurement, pharmacies and medical-supply distributors.
Catheter families: a map by body system
The most useful way to organise the catalogue is by the body system the device is meant for. This table summarises the main families and where to go deeper:
| Family | Examples | Typical gauge | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary | Foley, Nelaton, Coudé | French (F6–F24) | Bladder drainage, retention, surgery |
| Respiratory | Suction catheter, Yankauer | French (F6–F18) | Suction airway secretions |
| Vascular | Peripheral IV, CVC, PICC | Gauge (G) / French | Infusion, medication, monitoring |
| Drainage | Drainage bag, chest/abdominal catheter | Variable | Drain urine, fluid or air |
Two things to keep in mind before going into each family:
- The gauge scale changes per family: urinary and suction are measured in French (Fr) — the higher the number, the thicker; peripheral vascular catheters are measured in Gauge (G) — the higher the number, the THINNER, the opposite way round. Confusing the two is the most common buying error.
- Material by dwell time: PVC for short-term, high-turnover use; silicone for long-term use and latex-allergic patients.
Urinary catheters: Foley, Nelaton and Coudé
This is the highest-volume family. Measured in French (Fr) and chosen by size, tip type, number of ways and balloon.
- Foley catheter: a balloon indwelling catheter; it stays fixed in the bladder and drains continuously into a bag. The general-purpose choice in wards, surgery and ICU.
- Nelaton catheter: straight and balloon-free, single-use; for intermittent catheterisation or one-off emptying.
- Coudé / Tiemann tip: a curved tip to negotiate an enlarged prostate in older men when a straight tip won't pass.
We develop the size decision (14–16 Fr in adults), tip, 2-way vs 3-way and balloon volume in detail — with a Fr→mm conversion chart and colour code — in our guide to Foley catheter sizes and tip types. The system is completed with the bed bag (2000 ml) or a leg bag for the ambulatory patient; how to choose between them is covered in our urinary drainage bag guide.
Respiratory suction catheters
Suction catheters remove secretions from the airway in ICU, anaesthesia and the ER. They are also measured in French (Fr), and size choice is critical: a catheter too thick for the endotracheal tube generates excessive negative pressure and hypoxaemia.
- Common sizes: F12–F16 in adults; F6–F10 in paediatrics/neonates.
- Atraumatic tip and side holes to avoid injuring the mucosa.
- Suction control (thumb-port valve) to suction only on withdrawal.
- Yankauer: rigid, for oropharyngeal (mouth) suction, distinct from the flexible tracheal catheter.
The sizing rule by endotracheal tube and the replacement protocol are detailed in our suction catheter sizes and types guide. For the ER there's the all-in-one suction kit that saves time and ensures asepsis.
Vascular catheters: peripheral IV, CVC and PICC
These access the bloodstream to infuse fluids, medication or nutrition, or to monitor. Here the scale is usually Gauge (G) for peripherals (the higher the number, the thinner).
| Type | Access | Dwell time | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peripheral IV (cannula) | Arm/hand vein | Short (72–96 h) | Fluids, routine medication |
| CVC (central venous catheter) | Central vein (jugular/subclavian) | Medium | ICU, vasoactive drugs, CVP |
| PICC | Peripheral vein → central | Long (weeks/months) | Chemotherapy, long antibiotics, TPN |
Buying notes:
- The peripheral IV is very high-volume and low unit cost; chosen by gauge according to vein size and required flow.
- The CVC usually ships as a kit (1, 2 or 3-lumen catheter + guidewire + dilator + drape), because placement is a full sterile procedure.
- The PICC is a specialised insertion and higher value; a low-competition niche.
To choose the CVC by lumen count and type (tunneled vs non-tunneled), see the central venous catheter (CVC) guide. Managing the full IV line (catheter, connectors, stopcocks, dressings) is covered in our IV supplies guide for infusion clinics (in Spanish).
How to choose and what to check before buying wholesale
For a clinic or distributor building a catheter inventory, the practical method is:
- Define by system: list the procedures you do (bladder catheterisation, suction, IV lines, CVC) and build the range by family, not by single product.
- Get the gauge scale right: French for urinary and suction; Gauge for peripheral IV. Don't mix the two logics.
- Cover the core and the edges: in urinary, F14/16/18 as the core + Coudé for urology; in suction, F12–F16 + paediatric; in vascular, a multi-lumen CVC kit.
- Material and latex: PVC for short-term; a latex-free silicone line for long-term and allergic patients.
- Full system and compatible connector: catheter + bag, or catheter + connectors, from the same supplier to avoid incompatibilities.
- Sterilisation, packaging and documentation: sterile (EO), individual pack with indicator, and a manufacturer with ISO 13485 for device registration.
- MOQ, samples and private label (OEM): accessible minimum order and private-label packaging for distributors.
Edaochi Medical manufactures and supplies the main families — Foley urinary catheter (F6–F24), suction catheters, central venous catheter (CVC) kit, urinary bed bags and leg bags — with quality documentation, low minimum order, samples for evaluation and a private-label (OEM) option. Tell us which system you need to equip and we'll build the box-price and MOQ quote on WhatsApp in under 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of catheters?
Catheters group by body system: urinary (Foley, Nelaton, Coudé), respiratory suction catheters, vascular (peripheral IV, central venous catheter/CVC, PICC) and drainage catheters. Each family has its own gauge scale and specifications, so what defines the choice is the system it goes to, the size and the material — not just the name.
What types of urinary catheter are there?
The main ones are the Foley (balloon, indwelling, for continuous drainage), the Nelaton (straight, balloon-free, single-use for intermittent catheterisation) and the Coudé/Tiemann tip (curved, to negotiate the prostate in older men). They are measured on the French (Fr) scale and the usual adult size is 14–16 Fr.
Why is catheter size measured differently for each type?
Urinary and suction catheters are measured in French (Fr), where a higher number is thicker (1 Fr = 1/3 mm). Peripheral IV catheters are measured in Gauge (G), where a higher number is THINNER. They are inverse scales, and confusing them is a common buying error — always check the unit for each family.
Which vascular catheter is used for long-term treatment?
For long treatments (chemotherapy, weeks of antibiotics, parenteral nutrition) a PICC is used, inserted via a peripheral vein and reaching a central vein. For medium-term ICU use, a central venous catheter (CVC) is used, usually as a multi-lumen kit. The peripheral IV (cannula) is for short-term use only (72–96 h).
When do you choose a silicone catheter over PVC?
PVC is economical and used for short-term, high-turnover needs. Silicone is more biocompatible, latex-free and resists encrustation better, so it's chosen for long-term use (weeks of bladder catheterisation) and latex-allergic patients. Many institutions keep both lines depending on the patient.
Does Edaochi offer all families, and with private label (OEM)?
Yes. Edaochi Medical supplies the main families — Foley catheter (F6–F24), suction catheters, central venous catheter (CVC) kit, urinary bed bags and leg bags — with quality documentation (ISO 13485), low minimum order, samples for evaluation and private-label (OEM) packaging for distributors. A box-price and MOQ quote is delivered on WhatsApp in under 24 hours.
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