Standard indwelling catheters do not allow male patients with adequate bladder and urethral sphincter functions to urinate naturally. The objective of this multicenter study was to assess, in up to 160 patients, clinical function and comfort with a new type of urethral catheter designed to allow normal urination through an obstructed outlet. ContiCath™ is a soft, flexible catheter with a preformed pigtail for retention within the bladder. It has external surface channels rather than a canal within a tube. A smaller diameter segment allows the patient to control urination. Early results with 37 patients who had various problems with urinary retention have demonstrated successful insertion and voiding. The researchers believe that ContiCath™ represents "a significant improvement in catheter design, allowing for resumption of voiding in the patient with outlet obstruction." They plan to discuss catheter design, flow characteristics, and urodynamic data.