For individuals with compromised bladder nerves due to conditions like spina bifida or surgical procedures, this technology could mean moving away from invasive catheters and hospital-based monitoring methods. This device aims to bypass current monitoring procedures with a less invasive, more comfortable solution.
The implant comprises multiple sensors measuring bladder strain, with the data transmitted to a mobile device via embedded Bluetooth technology. "The key advance here is in the development of super soft, ultrathin, stretchable strain gauges that can gently wrap the outside surface of the bladder, without imposing any mechanical constraints on the natural filling and voiding behaviors," explains John A. Rogers, a co-lead on the study. Initial tests in small animal studies and non-human primates have shown promising results for long-term, real-time bladder monitoring.