==== Search strategy ====
* Databases searched: US-G, US-A, EP-A, EP-B, WO, JP, DE, GB, FR
* Search scope: Title, Abstract or Claims
* Years: 1981-July 2008
* Search query: (ureter* OR urether* OR ureth* OR uretr*) AND (stent* OR catheter*) AND (*microb* OR *bacter*)* Results: '''103 177 patents (48 82 unique patent families)'''
==== Sample patents ====