Neuw Smooth: Smart Care for Neurogenic Bladder

What it does

This design addresses the issues faced by patients with neurogenic bladder, such as inconvenient bladder pressure monitoring, poor pressure measurement experience, disorganized management of water intake and urination timing, and high operational costs.

Your inspiration

Through interviews with medical staff, we found that current invasive testing methods cause significant discomfort and inconvenience for patients. Traditional water column methods are cumbersome and provide a poor experience, while advanced equipment is costly and limits widespread use. Due to cost and time constraints, doctors struggle to test every patient and provide precise, customized hydration and urination plans. Therefore, we aim to optimize the pressure measurement methods and improve the planning of hydration and urination schedules through targeted design improvements.

How it works

Patients first wear the bladder pressure monitoring belt and attach the electrodes to the designated lower abdominal area as prompted by the app. Initially, they follow a preset hydration plan. The app queries their urge to urinate based on changes in bladder pressure, screening and recording any bladder sensation abnormalities. Utilizing collected data such as bladder pressure, fluid intake, time, and perception of the need to urinate, the app generates a personalized urination and hydration plan through machine learning algorithms. Over the first three days, patients wear the device and follow the plan for hydration and urination. The app records patient feedback and fine-tunes the plan as needed. After three days, patients remove the device and independently follow the final plan as prompted by the app. If any issues arise with the plan later on, they can re-wear the device for adjustments.

Design process

1.Design Requirement Research: Visited a rehabilitation hospital and found that limitations in equipment, experience, and funding prevent measuring bladder pressure for each patient, leading to inaccurate hydration and urination plans and potential risks. Focus shifted to optimizing bladder pressure measurement and designing personalized plans. 2.Technology Research and Selection: Investigated bladder pressure testing methods and chose to measure skin surface impedance. 3.Technical Feasibility Verification: Tested with 5 fresh pig bladders, recorded impedance values at different pressures, and used machine learning to establish a relationship, verifying feasibility. 4.Product Appearance Design: Designed a belt-style device with an extendable electrode at the bottom. Combined with app guidance, it helps patients place electrodes on the lower abdomen, minimizing movement impact. 5.Modular Design: The main unit is separable from the belt for easy charging, enhancing usability. The limiter helps users stick the electrode accurately. 6.App Design: Created a simple app with low-fidelity prototypes and tested it to ensure functionality and ease of use.

How it is different

Non-Invasive Monitoring: Our wearable belt measures bladder pressure via skin surface impedance, avoiding discomfort and risks of invasive methods. Personalized Plans: Machine learning algorithms generate tailored hydration and urination plans based on real-time data and patient feedback, dynamically adjusting for changing conditions. User-Friendly Design: The simple app interface and modular device design ensure ease of use, with clear instructions and convenient charging options. Affordable and Scalable: Leveraging modern wearable tech, our solution is accessible and practical for various settings, from hospitals to home care. In summary, our design stands out by combining non-invasiveness, personalization, ease of use, and affordability, offering a comprehensive solution that overcomes limitations of traditional methods.

Future plans

Clinical Trials Following pig bladder tests, we'll conduct hospital trials. Using miniaturized sensors, we'll collect real-time data from patients with long-term catheters to refine our algorithms and enhance predictive accuracy. App Enhancement We'll refine the app's interface and functionality based on user feedback, focusing on intuitiveness and seamless device integration. Continuous testing will guide further improvements. Partnerships We'll partner with medical institutions for trials and expert feedback, ensuring our solution meets clinical needs and paving the way for regulatory approval and market adoption.

Awards