A PureWick is a non-invasive external catheter that sits outside the body and uses gentle suction to wick urine away from the skin into a collection canister. Unlike a traditional catheter, nothing is inserted into the urethra or bladder. The system was originally designed for women in hospital settings but is now available for home use and comes in both female and male versions.
How the System Works
The PureWick system has three main parts: the external catheter (the “wick” itself), tubing, and a free-standing collection canister with a low-pressure suction pump. The wick is a soft, flexible strip made of absorbent gauze-like material. When placed against the body, it draws urine through the wicking material and into the tubing, which carries it to the collection canister. The continuous low-pressure suction keeps urine moving away from the skin rather than pooling.
The female version looks like a soft, contoured strip that tucks between the labia and gluteal area. It stays in place through contact with the body’s natural contours rather than adhesive. The male version wraps around the penis and uses an adhesive seal to minimize leakage.
Who Uses a PureWick
The PureWick is primarily used by people with urinary incontinence who want to avoid internal catheters. That includes bedbound patients in hospitals and nursing homes, people managing incontinence at home, and older adults dealing with nighttime urination that increases their fall risk from repeated trips to the bathroom. It has also been used for end-of-life patients who need comfortable, low-intervention care.
Women with internal (indwelling) catheters face a disproportionately high risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections compared to men. The PureWick offers an alternative that eliminates that risk entirely since nothing enters the urinary tract. Some male patients with penile retraction have used the female version, though the male-specific device now addresses that gap.
Placement and Positioning
For the female version, placement involves separating the legs and labia, then aligning the soft gauze side of the wick from the gluteal cleft forward, tucking it so the wicking material contacts the skin. The pubic bone serves as the anatomical landmark for positioning. Mesh underwear can help hold the device in place for patients who move during sleep.
A few important rules: never insert the tip into the body, avoid pushing or pulling the collection tip against the skin during placement or removal, and don’t use the device alongside a bedpan. For the male version, you peel it off from head to foot to avoid skin injury, and barrier creams or lotions should not be applied to the skin where the adhesive sits.
Replacement and Cleaning Schedule
The wicks themselves are single-use. The female version should be replaced every 8 to 12 hours, while the male version lasts up to 24 hours. Either should be replaced immediately if soiled with blood or feces (or semen, for the male version).
The reusable parts, including the collection canister, canister lid, tubing, and base unit, need cleaning and disinfecting after each use or at minimum once daily. The canister and tubing should be replaced entirely at least every 60 days, or sooner if you notice residual urine buildup, cloudiness, discoloration, cracks in the canister, or tears in the tubing.
Benefits Over Internal Catheters
The biggest advantage is infection prevention. Internal catheters create a direct pathway for bacteria into the bladder, making urinary tract infections one of the most common hospital-acquired infections. Because the PureWick never enters the body, that pathway doesn’t exist. It also reduces the risk of skin breakdown that comes from prolonged exposure to moisture, which is a persistent problem with adult diapers and absorbent pads.
For caregivers, the system simplifies overnight care significantly. Rather than changing wet bedding or diapers multiple times per night, the PureWick continuously moves urine into the canister. For patients who can still get up but risk falling on nighttime bathroom trips, it eliminates the need to get out of bed at all.
Limitations to Know About
The PureWick only manages urine. It does not address fecal incontinence. Positioning can take some practice, and the device may shift if someone moves frequently in bed. It also requires a power source for the suction pump, which limits true portability. The ongoing cost of replacement wicks adds up since each one is discarded after a single use.
Self-placement is possible. A study of 71 healthy female volunteers evaluated self-placement compared to placement by a healthcare provider, exploring whether the system could work in community and home settings without professional assistance.
Insurance and Medicare Coverage
Medicare covers external urinary collection devices for beneficiaries with permanent urinary incontinence or permanent urinary retention. “Permanent” doesn’t mean the condition will never improve. If the treating practitioner’s judgment indicates the condition is long-term and indefinite, that standard is met.
Coverage requires a face-to-face encounter with a provider and a written order prior to delivery. Claims without these will be denied. Notably, Medicare does not cover incontinence products like diapers, disposable underpads, or reusable pads, as these are not classified as prosthetic devices. The PureWick falls under the category of external urinary collection devices, which is a covered category, though specific coverage details can vary and are worth confirming with your supplier before purchasing.