DFree U1P: 100 grams of quality of life for incontinent people
The Internet of Things usually appeals to young and hip people. Senior citizens can play along, but the market pays little attention to them. Unless, of course, a company like DFree shows that they are thinking about people with incontinence.
Then and when something comes along that doesn't affect most of us. But the thing is so obviously good that nobody can deny its usefulness and purpose. One of these is the DFree U1P at the CES in Las Vegas. The 100 gram device is simple and incredibly useful. But only if you suffer from incontinence.
The ultrasound device connected to an app does nothing other than tell you, as an incontinent person, when it's time to go to the toilet.
The problem with incontinence
Incontinence mainly affects senior citizens. As we get older, the bladder muscle becomes less efficient and the odd embarrassing mishap can occur. Until now, the remedies for this were quite old-school
.
- Catheter: A tube attached to a collection bag is inserted into the urethra. This is painful and uncomfortable.
- Diaper: You will be out of the nappy age at some point and should no longer come in.
However, as the trend at CES is for technology to support people's everyday lives in all kinds of ways, sometimes more generally and sometimes quite specifically, the company Dfree has tackled the problem with all the tools of modern technology. The company wants to give incontinent people back their quality of life and leave their dignity intact. After all, nappies and catheters are undignified and take away independence or are sometimes even dangerous.
Ultrasound measures the level
The result is a device consisting of two parts. The technology is not really new, as every pregnant woman has already had an ultrasound scan. This technology is the key to measuring the amount of urine in the bladder
The application is simple:
- Apply gel to the skin at the level of the waistline
- Place the sensor
- Patch over the sensor
- Clip the battery pack to the belt
The battery pack contains a transmitter that sends data to your smartphone. The display shows the urine level and when the measurement was taken. It also shows the battery status of the device, as it lasts for around 24 hours and can be fully recharged within four hours.
When the level in the bladder reaches a critical point, a warning is issued on the smartphone to remind you to go to the toilet.
That's actually all there is to say about the DFree U1P. It doesn't do much more, but that's enough. However, it's not really the technical finesse of the U1P that impresses. None of it is really new. It's the idea that makes the device so charming. Imagine having to worry about wetting your trousers every time you go out in public. And now imagine that there's a little device that solves the problem for you.
Super, right?
You can find all articles about CES 2019 here.
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