Urethral pressure profilometry: a low compliant recording system with perfused catheter

A new catheter for recording the urethral closure pressure profile (UCPP) in men and women in introduced. The measuring system utilizes perfusion and saline as a transmission medium. The dynamic response of the whole catheter system as a unit was studied in vitro, and profile studies of the female urethra were performed in vivo using a solid catheter equipped with micro-transducers as a reference. The small transmission volume and low-compliant perfusion gave a sufficient bandwidth for recordings of the UCPP. No significant difference was found in closing pressure and functional length in the UCPP of women between the new catheter and the solid catheter.