Our history

Innovation is part of our heritage and a key driver to our continued operational excellence.

The story of Wellspect

Wellspect was formerly part of Swedish Astra Tech, which had a dental business and a healthcare business. In 2011, Dentsply Sirona (previously Dentsply International), the world’s largest manufacturer of dental implants acquired Astra Tech. The dental business was merged into Dentsply, while a new monolithic brand was developed for the healthcare business which became known as Wellspect HealthCare.

Making a real difference is tied to the history of our company. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of intermittent urinary catheters, Wellspect has been at the forefront of innovation since 1983 with its LoFric® brand, which introduced the first hydrophilic-coated catheter, revolutionizing the catheter market and radically transformed the experience for individuals who catheterize. 

We also pioneered the development of Navina™, an innovative transanal irrigation system designed to support individuals living with chronic bowel disorders.  

With advanced Surity™, available in the U.S., we provide reliable urinary incontinence care designed to restore comfort, rest, and confidence for people living with severe urinary incontinence and for their caregivers. 

Innovation continues to be a cornerstone of our business and underpins our mission to make a real difference. 

Our Heritage

  • Our milestones

    1948   Company founded as a hospital wholesaler named AB  Sjukvårdsutensilier

    1957   Astra AB acquired the company

    1976   Shift from wholesaler to medical device manufacturer with in-house R&D

    1983   The launch of LoFric - the world’s first hydrophilic catheter

    1990   Dental Implants was introduced as a business division

    1992   The name Astra Tech was introduced

    1998   Launch of LoFric® Hydro-Kit 

    2005   Launch of LoFric® Primo™ 

    2009   Launch of LoFric® Sense™ 

    2011   DENTSPLY International Inc. acquired Astra Tech AB 

    2012   The Wellspect HealthCare organization was formed  

    2013   Launch of LoFric® Origo™ 

    2016   DENTSPLY International Inc. and Sirona merger 

    2016   Launch of Navina™ Systems 

    2019   Launch of LoFric® Elle™ 

    2020   Launch of Navina™ Fecal Incontinent Insert 

    2023   Launch of Navina™ Mini 

    2026   Launch of Surity™ Urinary Incontinence Management System  

  • The history of LoFric

    Born in Sweden 1983, LoFric was the world’s first hydrophilic catheter – a true revolution at the time. With LoFric, self-catheterization became a real, viable option for people with bladder problems. For more than forty years, LoFric has improved the everyday for thousands of people around the world, helping them to lead a more balanced and independent life.

    Learn more about our LoFric products

  • The history of Navina

    With its strong medical heritage within bladder management, Wellspect realized the need for innovative bowel care and developed a complete range of products for bowel care in 2016, under the name Navina. Since then, Navina bowel care products have helped thousands of people with chronic constipation and bowel leakage, while also enabling them to secure independence.

    With Navina™ Smart and its accompanying electronic pump, Wellspect modernized the transanal irrigation (TAI) therapy- making it more precise and easier to follow-up.

    Learn more about our Navina products

  • The history of Surity

    The reality of urinary incontinence can be challenging. The Surity™ product offer was created to address practical challenges around dryness, comfort, and caregiver support within the urinary incontinence segment.  

    Launched in 2026, Surity™ is designed to restore comfort, rest, and confidence, and marked our entry into a new category, bringing people suffering from severe urinary incontinence, and their caregivers, a reliable and comfortable urinary incontinence management solution.

    Learn more about Surity Opens in new window