Wearable Ultrasound Devices for Continuous Bladder Monitoring: Emerging Utility and Current Limitations in...

Area of Science:

• Neurourology
• Medical Ultrasound Technology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Continuous bladder filling monitoring is vital for managing neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction and enabling clean intermittent catheterization.
• Wearable ultrasound devices offer a novel approach to bladder monitoring, distinct from traditional bladder scanners.
• First-generation wearable devices primarily track fullness trends and provide alerts, lacking precise volume measurement capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current wearable ultrasound technologies for bladder monitoring in neurourology.
• To assess the clinical performance and regulatory status of these devices.
• To identify evidence gaps and future directions for wearable bladder monitors.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of studies identified through searches in PubMed, Embase, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar.
• Analysis of clinical data, focusing on pediatric populations and neurogenic bladder conditions.
• Examination of device regulatory classifications and technological advancements.

Main Results:

• Wearable devices like SENS-U show high sensitivity (85%-90%) for detecting bladder fullness thresholds in pediatric functional voiding dysfunction.
• Performance in neurogenic bladder populations is concerning, with low accuracy (46%) and high false positives (13%) reported for devices like DFree.
• Limited prospective validation studies exist for adult neurogenic bladder populations; regulatory approvals vary significantly.

Conclusions:

• Current wearable bladder monitors are suitable only for pediatric functional voiding dysfunction under medical supervision.
• Routine clinical use in neurogenic bladder populations is not recommended due to insufficient diagnostic accuracy.
• Future advancements, particularly B-mode deep learning devices, may overcome current limitations and improve clinical utility.