Managing incontinence smartly: How inContAlert’s wearable aims to support users

When bladder signals are unclear or difficult to sense, everyday life can quickly become challenging – a situation many people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis or other neurological conditions know well. The German start-up inContAlert is developing a discreet wearable designed to help users avoid missing the right moment to empty their bladder. After eight years of development, the medical device is now being tested in real-life settings for the first time.

In brief: What the inContAlert wearable can do

Provide timely notification when the bladder is full
Supports greater predictability and security in daily life
Be worn discreetly and comfortably – without pressure points or a medical look
Especially relevant for neurologically induced bladder dysfunction
Currently in initial clinical use and studies

Why this wearable is needed

Bladder sensor by inContAlert next to a smartphone showing a notification to empty the bladder

The sensor sends a notification to the smartphone when a user-defined fill level is reached – a technical approach intended to offer more confidence in daily life. © inContAlert

The idea for the bladder sensor emerged in 2017 during an international innovation challenge focused on solutions for an aging society – including concepts for smart diapers that send a signal once they are already wet. For Dr. Jannik Lockl, co-founder of inContAlert, that approach came too late: "Ideally, you’d want to know beforehand."

This is exactly the challenge many people with neurologically related bladder dysfunction face: they cannot reliably sense when their bladder is full. Medication can support bladder storage, and catheters help with emptying – but the crucial moment in between often remains unclear. If the bladder becomes overfilled, it can lead to long-term issues such as kidney damage or repeated infections.

The wearable aims to close this gap by measuring bladder fill levels and notifying users in a way that is practical for everyday life.

How the wearable works – and why everyday usability matters

The technology is based on infrared light: the sensor is worn on the lower abdomen and measures how the light is absorbed and reflected by the tissue. Similar to a smartwatch – except that the signal here needs to reach eight to ten centimeters deep to the bladder. Achieving this required several technical iterations and years of development.

Everyday usability was a priority from the start. This is why inContAlert sought early feedback from potential users – including people with spinal cord injuries or limited hand function, for whom putting on the sensor can bring additional challenges.

It was important to us that it feels like an everyday companion – something you put on in the morning and ideally forget about.

To achieve that, the team uses a soft, pressure-free textile band and a discreet design. Discretion matters to many users – the device is meant to provide support without being noticeable in daily life.

Bladder sensor with textile strap worn on a person’s lower abdomen

The belt-like textile strap illustrates how compact and discreet the sensor can be worn – an everyday benefit that many users value. © inContAlert

Who the wearable is designed for

The wearable is intended primarily for people who cannot reliably sense when their bladder is full. This includes, in particular:

people with spinal cord injuries
many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, or spina bifida
people recovering from a stroke or bladder cancer surgery

Not all individuals benefit equally: People with indwelling catheters need information about bladder volume less frequently or not as urgently. Pure stress incontinence – for example, triggered by coughing or lifting – is also not within the intended use of the wearable.

From approval to everyday use – the path toward broader access

Since mid-2025, the wearable has been approved as a medical device in the EU and can be used in everyday life. The first field application will begin at the Rummelsberg Spinal Cord Injury Center, led by Dr. Matthias Ponfick: Participants will document their daily routines for three weeks without the system, then use the bladder sensor for a similar period – a direct comparison designed to provide objective data.

In the long term, the team aims for inclusion in Germany’s assistive device catalog, which would enable reimbursement through health insurance. This requires additional clinical data to demonstrate both the medical benefit and potential cost effects.

"What matters to us is that the wearable truly helps on a day-to-day basis. We would rather advise against using it than create false expectations."

The inContAlert team builds its product development on close exchange with professionals and people with lived experience – a principle that has shaped the creation of the wearable from the very beginning. © inContAlert

Incontinence as a taboo topic – and how the start-up addresses it

Incontinence is a sensitive subject. Many people affected by it rarely talk about it – sometimes not even with their doctor. In conversations, the inContAlert team repeatedly sees how invisible the issue can be in daily life. As CEO Dr. Jannik Lockl puts it: A hearing aid is easy to notice – a full incontinence pad is not.

At REHACARE 2025, the start-up observed that many people open up as soon as there is a safe and respectful environment. They spoke about uncertainty in daily routines, planning challenges and health risks. Professionals from nursing, therapy and counseling also sought out conversations and raised specific questions about potential use cases.

For inContAlert, this dialogue is essential – not only to improve the technology in a practical, user-centered way, but also to communicate realistic use cases clearly and responsibly.

How perspectives on incontinence need to change

At least 400 million people worldwide live with incontinence – yet many rarely talk about it, often due to stigma or a lack of information. Greater openness and better education could make it much easier for people to access support.

inContAlert hopes to contribute to this by combining technical development with broader educational efforts. In the long term, greater awareness is needed of the medical, therapeutic and technological options available – and of which of these can genuinely support people in their daily lives.

Beyond assistive products, awareness matters too: how Willy makes incontinence easier to talk about

Nadine Lormis smiles in to the camera; Copyright: Victoria Emanuel

Author: Nadine Lormis | REHACARE eMag

Nadine Lormis has been writing about (digital) developments in the assistive technology sector, self-determined living and inclusion for over 15 years. As editorial director of the REHACARE eMag, she is closely networked with the community of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses – both professionally and personally.

Originally published on: December 04, 2025
Last updated on: December 16, 2025