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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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A ureteral (also spelled ureteric) catheter is a thin, flexible tube used to pass fluids to or from the ureter, the tube that carries urine from a kidney to the bladder. It is a different device from the urethral (Foley-type) urinary catheter that drains the bladder. This page separates the two, shows how the FDA classifies ureteral catheters, and lists the tip types and sizes one manufacturer publishes. Who uses it: urology clinic and operating-room staff, supply buyers and students trying to tell the two catheter families apart.
What is a ureteral (ureteric) catheter?
Under 21 CFR 876.5130, a urological catheter is a flexible tubular device that is used to pass fluids to or from the urinary tract, and the regulation lists ureteral catheters, disposable ureteral catheters and ureteral catheterization trays among the devices it covers. A manufacturer data sheet for one product line (Teleflex Rusch ureteral catheters) lists its applications as maintaining drainage, infusion of contrast media for studies and ureteral dilation.
Does urine go through the ureter?
Yes. MedlinePlus states that urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder in two thin tubes called ureters, and that muscles in the ureter walls tighten and relax to force urine down and away from the kidneys. The urethra is the separate passage that carries urine out of the bladder, which is why a ureteral catheter and a urethral catheter are not interchangeable terms.
Ureteral catheter vs urinary (Foley-type) catheter
Search results for this term often mix the two families. The table keeps them apart using the regulatory text and the sources cited below.
| Device | Where it sits or acts | Purpose stated in source | FDA regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ureteral catheter | Ureter | Drainage, contrast infusion, ureteral dilation (manufacturer data sheet) | 21 CFR 876.5130; product codes EYB and FGF are Class II |
| Urinary catheter (including indwelling) | Bladder | MedlinePlus: a tube placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder; an indwelling catheter is one left in the bladder | Urological catheters are covered by 21 CFR 876.5130, which describes devices inserted through the urethra |
| Ureteral stent | Ureter | Separate device type | Product code FAD, Class II, 21 CFR 876.4620 |
For the bladder-drainage family, see what a Foley catheter is and the urinary catheter types guide. For the stent, see ureteral stent sizes.
How the FDA classifies ureteral catheters
The FDA’s device classification database lists these ureteral entries under 21 CFR 876.5130 unless noted (read 2026-11-07):
| Product code | Name | Class |
|---|---|---|
| EYB | Catheter, Ureteral, Gastro-Urology | 2 |
| FGF | Catheter, Ureteral Disposable (X-Ray) | 2 |
| EYA | Stylet (Ureteral) | 1 |
| EYI, EYJ, EYK | Ureteral adaptor, holder and connector | 1 |
| EZN | Dilator, Catheter, Ureteral (21 CFR 876.5470) | 2 |
The regulation itself states that the urological catheter and accessories are Class II, with Class I for the ureteral stylet (guidewire), the stylet for gastrourological catheter, the ureteral catheter adapter, connector and holder.
Tip types and sizes
Tip shape is the main way ureteral catheters differ. One manufacturer’s data sheet (Teleflex Rusch, document 2012-1428) describes its line as plastic, sterile, single-use, X-ray opaque, color coded for left and right, 65 cm (26 in) long, with calibration marks at 1 cm and 5 cm increments and a Luer fitting adapter enclosed.
| Tip type | Eyes (drainage holes) | Sizes listed |
|---|---|---|
| Whistle | 2 staggered | 3 to 6 Fr |
| Round | 2 staggered | 3 to 6 Fr |
| Olive | 2 staggered | 3 to 6 Fr |
| Blassucci Spiral | 2 staggered | 4 to 6 Fr |
| Braasch Bulb | 1 | Shaft and bulb sizes vary by product; see the manufacturer listing |
The same sheet also lists a Cone tip that is open-ended with no eyes. Fr is the French scale for catheter outer diameter; see French to millimetre conversion. For the whistle shape specifically, see whistle tip catheter. The sheet also notes an amber latex connector for joining ureteral catheters to drainage systems, so latex content is a specification to read in a product’s instructions for use.
Safe use and handling basics
Ureteral catheters are placed by clinicians as part of urologic procedures, and the manufacturer’s instructions for use govern each product. General points from the data sheet: the products are supplied sterile and for single use, and the left/right color coding is part of the product design. Selection, placement and removal are clinical decisions that belong to the treating team and are not covered here.
Common mistakes
- Treating ureteral and urethral catheters as the same product when searching or ordering; they act in different parts of the urinary tract.
- Reading a French size as a length or inner diameter; it is an outer-diameter scale (see catheter parts and catheter lumen).
- Overlooking latex components listed in a product’s specification.
FAQ
What is the medical definition of a urinary catheter?
MedlinePlus defines a urinary catheter as a tube placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder. An indwelling urinary catheter is one that is left in the bladder.
Does pee go through the ureter?
Yes. Urine travels from each kidney to the bladder through a ureter, according to MedlinePlus.
What is the most likely reason a client would have a urinary catheter?
MedlinePlus lists urinary incontinence, urinary retention, surgery on the prostate or genitals, and conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and dementia. A clinician decides the reason for any individual patient.
What not to do while wearing a catheter?
This depends on the catheter type and the patient, so follow the care instructions given by the treating clinician and the product’s instructions for use. This page does not give personal care advice.
Sources
- 21 CFR 876.5130, Urological catheter and accessories, Cornell LII (law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/876.5130), read 2026-11-07.
- openFDA device classification API (api.fda.gov/device/classification.json), read 2026-11-07.
- MedlinePlus, Ureteral disorders (medlineplus.gov/ureteraldisorders.html), read 2026-11-07.
- MedlinePlus, Urinary catheters (medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003981.htm), read 2026-11-07.
- Teleflex, Rusch Ureteral Catheters data sheet 2012-1428 (teleflex.com), read 2026-11-07.
