[Historical comments on urinary bladder catheterisation: an urological success story].

The first sounds and tubes were made of gold, bronze and tin or instruments made of reed, straw or rolled palm leaves. Over the course of the centuries the material as well as the design evolved because of the better knowledge of the anatomy of the human body. Especially French and German pioneers of the 19th and 20th century with their new innovations led to the progress of the catheter. From the search of the right material, to the innovation of and appropriate fixation mechanism in the bladder. Only by continous promotion of the inventions over the turn of the time a perfect instrument made of the perfect material could evolve.