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It will soon be possible to carry out advanced and personalized urine analyzes at home, thanks to a small connected module to be placed inside the toilet bowl, unveiled exclusively at CES 2023. The results will be available on its smartphone, via a dedicated application.
It is Withings, a benchmark in connected health, which is innovating once again with this real connected urine analysis laboratory. Depending on who it is for, this unique process, dubbed U-Scan, allows women to track their menstrual cycle and anyone to take care of their nutritional health.
The module to be installed here takes the form of a roller 9 cm in diameter, in which it is necessary to install interchangeable analysis cartridges which measure the biomarkers. The device is synchronized with the Health Mate application, which provides the analysis results.
Concretely, the urine flows to a collection point where the automatic triggering of a pump leads a sample into a small test capsule where the chemical reaction is read by an optical sensor. At the end of each measurement, the remaining liquid is of course purged and the system cleaned automatically with each flush. Even stronger, U-Scan can identify the user through low-energy radar sensors built into the reader that detect the speed, distance and dispersion of the urine stream.
The U-Scan Cycle Sync cartridge predicts the menstrual cycle and determines the ovulation window based on hormonal detection as well as key biomarkers of hydration and nutrition as well as pH levels. The U-Scan Nutri Balance cartridge will analyze the level of pH, vitamin C and ketone. It will help users monitor their metabolic intake to optimize their daily hydration and nutrition. On the smartphone, the mobile application will be able to recommend workouts and recipes to achieve the identified goals. Withings obviously specifies that these analyzes obviously do not replace medical advice.
This project took four years of research and development and the device is suitable for any (Western) toilet.
U-Scan is scheduled to be released in Europe in the spring of 2023, along with its refill cartridges. A starter kit will be offered from 499.95 euros. Each cartridge is designed to deliver approximately three months of measurements.
Last year, still at CES, Withings created a stir by presenting Body Scan, a scale capable of calculating the fat mass of any part of the body, performing an electrocardiogram and even preventing diabetes by analysis of foot nerve activity. As a reminder, the Withings offer includes a whole range of health-oriented products, whether hybrid watches, but also connected scales, a smart thermometer or even a sleep sensor.
It should be noted that American researchers have recently set up a stool analysis system, in particular to monitor patients suffering from intestinal disorders.