InnoCare Urologics

InnoCare Urologics manufactures the Egress AutoValve™, the first FDA-cleared urinary safety catheter designed with an automatic deflation mechanism to prevent patient injury from catheter pullout. The device is engineered to look and feel identical to standard Foley catheters, requiring no additional training or workflow changes for clinical staff. The innovation addresses a significant clinical problem: approximately 700,000 catheters are pulled out annually with balloons inflated, resulting in approximately $4.5 billion in annual treatment costs. The Egress AutoValve™ integrates a secondary deflation mechanism into the inflation lumen that remains inactive until external pulling force above a predetermined threshold is applied, at which point it automatically deflates the balloon prior to forced removal. The catheter is particularly designed for high-risk patient populations including those with cognitive impairments (dementia, delirium), ICU patients, and post-surgical patients. InnoCare received FDA clearance under a newly created product classification code (SCT) recognizing Foley catheters and accessories with additional safety features—the first device cleared under this category. The company received the 2025 American Urological Association (AUA) Innovation Award. The device seamlessly integrates into existing clinical practice without requiring new supplies or preparation protocols.