An Israeli company specialises in innovative sensors and measurement devices. They have developed heat flow measuring technology. The essence of the technological innovation is a unique configuration of heat flow sensor (patent US and 4 pending) that allows measurement of heat conductivity of a body from only one side of it, regardless the temperature. The company offers to use the technology for medical (skin, lung, blood sugar, urology, cardiology, etc.) and other (agriculture, construction, etc.) applications. The technology is currently implemented to detect & locate lung liquid, to assist in lung cancer diagnosis, detection of melanoma (skin cancer), monitoring, recording and transmitting blood sugar levels for diabetes.
The first application of this unique sensor is urological. The users are patients that suffer from overactive bladder and urinary incontinence and cannot manage their life in a healthy, productive and active way (uncontrolled urine leakage).
A wearable device is offered, which continuously measures the amount of urine in the bladder (the amount of urine is proportional to the bladder's heat conductivity) and gives an indication to the patient.
The device consists of a compact sensor attached to the lower abdominal wall, and a small electronic control unit that receives the signals from the sensor and calculates the amount of urine in the bladder. After setting, once and for all the individual urine amount thresholds (% of full bladder volume), the device will give a signal (sound, vibration, light) to the patient when it is the time to visit the toilet, before urine leakage occurs.
This is the only device that measures the amount of urine in a bladder anywhere and at any time, allowing a patient to live a productive and active life. The new device is fully passive, compact, lightweight, inexpensive, non-invasive, wearable and easy-to-use.
The only current alternative method for measuring the volume of urine in the bladder is ultrasound imaging, which is non-ambulatory, requires big, heavy device, a professional to operate, and is very expensive. This alternative is just for clinical use and does not solve the daily problems of patients who suffer from urinary incontinence.
Some other applications are detection of melanoma (skin cancer) and detection and location of lung liquid to assist in lung cancer diagnosis.

Innovative Aspects:
1. An innovative unique configuration of heat flow sensor.
2. An innovative system of heat flow measuring. The innovations allow:
1. To measure heat conductivity of a body from one side of it (regardless the temperature), so no need for ultrasound imaging technology.
2. To use fully passive, very compact, wearable and easy-to-use device making a patient:
a) independent of treatment in his daily life,
b) capable to use the device continuously anywhere and at any time.
3. To reduce consumption of medicines & need for operation.
4. To offer the market an inexpensive product thus affordable for all patients.

 

Patents/Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted

Type of Organisation: