At this year’s CES announcement, Withings unveiled a ‘breakthrough’ at-home biomarker analysis platform. The upcoming smart health product, dubbed U-Scan, is advertised as a ‘miniaturized health lab’ and can be hygienically placed in the bathroom to ‘draw rich health information from your daily urine’. increase.
Withings U-Scan has been named a CES 2023 Innovation Award Winner in the Smart Home, Fitness & Sports, and Digital Health categories.
The company describes its new smart health platform as follows:
“Containing over 3000 metabolites, urine is an extraordinary witness for assessing and monitoring human health. We urinate on average seven times a day, but urinalysis is typically done only once a year.Withings U-Scan will be the future of biomarker assessment from the comfort and privacy of your personal bathroom. We aim to change this by enabling the implementation of
As shown above, U-Scan consists of a technology-packed pebble-shaped reader that works with replaceable analytical cartridges that read specific biomarkers. This eliminates the need to urinate in traditional strips or cups.
In addition to the hardware, Withings offers the U-Scan Nutri Balance, which it describes as “a detailed metabolic guide to hydration and nutrition,” and the U-Scan Cycle Sync, “for women’s monthly cycle tracking and synchronization.” We are planning to offer.
Launch of Withings U-Scan
Withings will launch a consumer version of U-Scan first, with medical-grade models planned for the future.
The U-Scan launch is planned for Europe in Q2 2023, with a starter kit priced at €499.95. It includes 1 cartridge that lasts for 3 months, and you can purchase more or subscribe to an auto-refill subscription if you want.
The company is working with the FDA to obtain US approval and a launch date is pending approval.
Read our Withings review to learn more about Apple Health-enabled products.
Learn more about how your Withings U-Scan works here.
1, 2, easy as pee – how it works
While easy to use, U-Scan overcomes myriad technical and chemical challenges. Developed with in-vitro diagnostics experts, it took four years to develop and resulted in a family of 13 patent applications. As a complete system, U-Scan performs his three tasks:
- Automated sample capture – using a sophisticated reader inside the toilet bowl
Measuring just 90 mm in diameter, the rechargeable U-Scan reader is designed to distinguish between external liquids and urine and automatically funnel the sample for analysis. The pebble-shaped design allows urine to flow efficiently to the urine collection port. When the temperature sensor detects the presence of urine, the pump is activated, initiating fluid movement of the sample within the microfluidic circuit.
After collection, the urine sample is injected into the test pod and the chemical reaction is read by the optical module. At the end of each measurement, the circuit returns to the idle position and any remaining liquid is drained through the waste outlet. The system is then cleaned after each flush.
U-Scan can distinguish between different users with the Stream ID feature. A low-energy radar sensor embedded in the reader identifies characteristics of an individual’s urine flow by measuring multiple variables to detect flow movement and distance. Stream ID information can be found in the app.
- Biomarker analysis – Inside a small urine lab tailored to your specific use case
The rotating, cylindrical U-Scan Cartridge is a small chemical evaluation chamber containing dozens of miniaturized test pods that can provide reliable results.
As soon as the reader sends the sample to the injection point, the U-Scan will start chemical analysis. Automatically send results over Wi-Fi and rotate the cartridge to expose the next test pod to the injection point. Each cartridge is designed to support reading for up to 3 months.
This modular system is purposely designed to enable Withings to continuously develop and support the analysis of biomarkers associated with various medical conditions and health conditions. Combined with measurements from the Withings ecosystem, U-Scan is an exciting tool that will bring even more insight to users and potentially help prevent disease, improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs. .
- Actionable Advice – Guided Insights Backed by Science
The accompanying Withings app provides results, actionable insights, and guidance designed to help people build healthier habits. In Europe, U-Scan Cycle Sync results appear in the Withings app, a central location for cycle tracking, coaching and journaling. Cycle prediction and ovulation windows based on hormone detection are displayed along with key hydration and diet biomarkers, specific gravity and pH levels to help women manage all aspects of their cycle. Developed in the USA. Its capabilities will be announced in the future when the solution becomes available following FDA clearance.
In Europe, the U-Scan Nutri Balance app displays analysis for specific gravity, pH, vitamin C and ketone levels. Monitor your metabolic intake to help optimize your daily hydration and nutrients. It not only shows results like carb balance and pH levels, but also recommends workouts, meal suggestions and recipes to help you reach your identified goals. U-Scan Nutri Balance is under development in the United States. Its capabilities will be announced when the solution becomes available following FDA marketing approval.
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