The latest launch from Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) is designed to support wheelchair riders on the go.
The PureWick Portable Collection System by BD (NYSE: BDX) was described as “a discreet, first-of-its-kind, battery-powered personal urine management device designed for wheelchair users to help improve mobility around and outside the home” in its Nov. 12 press release.
The noninvasive system “uses gentle suction technology that draws voided urine away from the body through tubing that is connected to a collection canister for easy disposal,” the announcement said. The device can be mounted on a wheelchair or placed bedside, and BD’s series includes separate system starter sets for women and men.
The carrying bag conceals the system in public, while the system’s quiet operation is designed to be non-disruptive. Its portable power supply — with battery life up to eight hours — and lightweight design make the system easy to take along. Caregivers and consumers can check indicators to know when to recharge the system and empty the collection canister.
“Urinary incontinence is a common yet under-discussed condition that impacts 25 million Americans and can have profound effects on confidence, social engagement and quality of life, especially among those with mobility challenges,” said Mike Cusack, worldwide president of urology and critical care at BD. “With the launch of the PureWick Portable Collection System, we have an opportunity to help people regain their confidence and independence by delivering a discreet, accessible solution that empowers individuals to participate more fully in everyday activities.”
A 2024 study published by Neurourology and Urodynamics used the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) registry to examine the most common health concerns of people living with SCI. Study authors reported the top three issues to be bladder management (39% of participants), followed by pain (16.4%) and bowel management (11.6%). Study participants specifically called out bladder management — not bladder management methods or urinary tract infection rates — as their top health issue.
The study — Bladder management is the top health concern among adults with a spinal cord injury — was also published by the National Library of Medicine.
