Smart sensor measures bladder pressure

The device was developed as a way for people with nerve damage to detect when their bladder is full. The researchers are about to test the sensor in human patients for the first time in the hope of finding a way to make it permanently implantable. The ultimate aim is to give the device wireless connectivity so that patients can check their bladder pressure via a smartphone in the comfort of their own home. Bladder pressure is currently measured using a catheter, which is inserted into the urethra so that the bladder can be filled with water. However, this procedure can be uncomfortable for the patient and, since the bladder is filled with saline at an unnaturally high speed, the method is also unreliable. "Unlike a catheter, this sensor can be inserted under the skin", explained researcher Ingelin Clausen. "The sensor is positioned without causing discomfort to the patient, who can then move about normally without the disruptive catheter, and the risk of infection is reduced".