Image: Withings
Withings today unveiled U-Scan – a smart, hands-free home urine lab for advanced biomarker analysis from the comfort and privacy of your own bathroom.
U-Scan is designed as a versatile platform consisting of a technologically advanced pebble-shaped reader and interchangeable analysis cartridges designed to assess specific biomarkers without the need for external sample pickup or strips. Then, with seamless syncing with the Withings Health Mate app, it provides a wealth of actionable insights based on daily readings.
Owned by former smartphone giant Nokia, Withings is a connected wellness brand focused on integrating advanced health tracking into everyday life. It describes U-Scan as “a miniaturized health lab that sits hygienically in every toilet bowl to unlock the wealth of health information in everyday urine.”
U-Scan is designed to provide accurate snapshots of various health metrics by analyzing urine. According to Withings, it performs three tasks:
- Automated sampling – using an advanced reader in a toilet bowl
- Biomarker analyzes – within a miniaturized urine laboratory tailored to specific use cases
- Actionable Advice – Science-Based Guided Insights
U-Scan has already been recognized as a CES 2023 Innovation Award honoree in three categories: Smart Home, Fitness & Sports, and Digital Health.
Withings will launch U-Scan for the first time in Europe in Q2 2023 with two different types of consumer cartridges, Nutri Balance and CycleSync.
Nutri Balance offers a detailed metabolic guide to hydration and nutrition, complete with diet coaching via the connected app, while CycleSync offers advanced, highly accurate monthly cycle tracking and synchronization for women. Each cartridge is designed to support up to three months of readings.
U-Scan is available as a starter kit with one U-Scan reader and one cartridge for €499.95. Users can subscribe to automatic cartridge refills or purchase them separately from Withings. Future medical cartridges for U-Scan will be available pending regulatory approvals in Europe.
U-Scan will also be available as U-Scan for Professionals, a research and analytics platform for healthcare professionals, from Withings Health Solutions, the company’s business-to-business division.
“U-Scan’s ability to perform daily urinalysis from home enables Withings to take its mission of helping consumers to fully utilize urine data to a whole new level,” said Mathieu Letombe, CEO of Withings, in a statement iPhone in Canada.
“It is one of the most exciting and complex products we have ever announced. We are starting this journey with U-Scan Cycle Sync and Nutri Balance and look forward to continuously announcing more cartridges and medical applications of the technology.”
U-Scan won’t be available in the US at launch, but Withings plans to launch it in the US after FDA approval. It’s not yet known when U-Scan will be available for Canadian toilets, but we’ve reached out for Canadian pricing and availability – stay tuned for updates.