Incontinence management for the elderly: Development of a radar-based bladder volume monitor

Supporting independent living in the context of an aging population is one of the key societal goals of Europe´s Horizon 2020 research funding framework. Urinary incontinence is often the primary cause of early institutionalization, and no solution currently exists to allow for the independent management of the condition. Urinary incontinence affects up to 35% of people over the age of 60. Frequent urination or urgency to void the bladder can increase the risk of falls by 26% and bone fracture by as much as 34% in elderly populations. Those suffering with urinary incontinence would greatly benefit from a system that could monitor the bladder. Therefore, an opportunity exists for a bladder-state sensing system, based on Ultra Wideband (UWB) radar. This paper details the first step in the development of such a device; the creation of detailed 3D anatomically and dielectrically representative electromagnetic models, and the processing of simulated radar signals using state-of-the-art classifiers.