An integrated and flexible ultrasonic device for continuous bladder volume monitoring.

Abstract

Bladder volume measurement is critical for early detection and management of lower urinary tract dysfunctions. Current gold standard is invasive, and alternative technologies either require trained personnel or do not offer medical grade information. Here, we report an integrated wearable ultrasonic bladder volume monitoring device for accurate and autonomous continuous monitoring of the bladder volume. The device incorporates flexible and air-backed ultrasonic transducers and miniaturized control electronics with wireless data transmission capability. We demonstrate the real-life application of the device on healthy volunteers with various bladder shapes and sizes with high accuracy. Apart from the lower urinary tract dysfunctions, the proposed technology could also be adapted for various wearable ultrasonic applications.