Wearable Bladder Monitoring Device May Help Predict UTIs in Women With MS

At the 2025 Annual Meeting of The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), researchers presented promising data on the use of wearable ultrasound (US) technology to monitor urinary retention in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study evaluated the use of  the DFree device (Dfree; San Diego, CA), which provides on-demand postvoid residual (PVR) volume readings remotely, with the goal of identifying patients at increased risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs)—a common and potentially serious complication in people living with MS.

The study, led by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, enlisted 22 women who had been referred for pelvic health physical therapy. Baseline standard clinical PVR measurements were obtained for participants by averaging 3 readings taken within a 5-minute interval. Additionally, electronic medical records were reviewed to identify any instances of UTIs, whether self-reported or confirmed by culture, occurring within 1 year prior to the study.

Participants wore the Dfree device, which consists of a wearable sensor along with a portable US device, for 3 to 5 days monthly over 3 months. The wearable device transmitted bladder fullness data to a mobile app, enabling clinicians to remotely review urine retention patterns. Of the participants, 86.4% collected usable data and 42.1% reported at least one UTI. Linear regression analysis found that higher PVR value obtained through the remote device significantly predicted UTI incidence, aligning with clinic-based PVR measurements.

The results suggest that a wearable bladder ultrasound device could potentially be a valuable tool for at-home monitoring of incomplete bladder emptying and the early identification of patients at risk for UTIs. Further research is warranted to establish predictive thresholds and assess integration into routine MS care.