U-Scan

Main article: Smart Toilets

2022: Product Announcement

On January 5, 2023, Withings unveiled a new U-Scan gadget that allows customers to track what happens to their health through urine testing.

The U-Scan device is designed to be installed in a home toilet. While urine testing is perhaps the most common in health care settings, urine is rarely used for health monitoring at home. The gadget is installed in the toilet - each flush cleans it, rebooting it for the next samples. The gadget synchronizes with the Withings application and can monitor water balance, acidity, vitamin C levels and many other indicators.

The U-Scan consists of two parts: a reader and a replaceable cartridge. The reader is the part to which the user uses for the intended purpose, and the cartridge is located inside. The U-Scan features a thermal sensor to distinguish urine from toilet water, as well as a low-energy radar that detects who is urinating by movement and distance between urine trickles.

Withings CEO Mathieu Letombe said that all the owners of the device need to do is urinate normally, but it is on the U-Scan, and not directly into the water. Nothing needs to be done to activate the device, and the cartridges have enough tests for the day. Once the reader detects the materials, U-Scan uses a microfluidic circuit to take a small sample. The remaining portion is then discarded and the entire device is "cleaned" when the patient washes off the water. According to the product description, a pair of gloves and a cleaning agent are also included.

For cartridges, Withings focuses on two uses: reproductive health and nutrition. The Cycle Sync cartridge measures luteinizing hormone (LH), pH level and hydration level with urine specific gravity. Tracking LH levels can help determine which part of a person's menstrual cycle a person is in, as well as define an ovulation window. Withings argues that the pH level can serve as an indicator of whether your diet is too acidic (not enough vegetables) or basic (not enough protein).

The Nutri Balance cartridge also measures pH and hydration levels in addition to ketones and vitamin C. Ketones are the acid produced in the body when fat is broken down and can serve as an indicator of metabolic health. Too much ketone in the blood can cause ketoacidosis, a serious condition in which the blood becomes too acidic. At the same time, tracking vitamin C can help people improve iron absorption, according to Withings.

Once the tests are complete, the results are sent over Wi-Fi to the Withings app and the cartridge switches to the next test capsule. Each cartridge holds about 100 tests and is designed for about three months. In the app itself, users also get actionable tips to improve health based on the findings.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Withings is still waiting for FDA approval, which may take some time, with the shortest deadlines set for April 2023. Dates may be increased, but not later than January 2026.^[1]

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