Gear News of the Week: Withings Launches Its Pee Scanner, and Samsung Shows Off a Trifold Phone

"A few weeks ago, bathroom and plumbing company Kohler debuted the Dekoda, a health and wellness sensor that lives on your toilet bowl and records signs of your gut health and hydration. Now, Withings has launched the U-Scan. First shown at CES in 2023, the U-Scan also sits inside the toilet bowl. A thermal sensor detects when a fresh, er, sample is being deposited. The U-Scan takes a small sample and analyzes it on-site with miniature biochemical sensors inside an interchangeable cartridge."

"There are two separate U-Scans. U-Scan Nutrio analyzes your diet, checking for biomarkers like bio-acidity, hydration status, and ketone levels, which shows that you've started burning body fat instead of sugar. U-Scan Calci also checks for calcium, which is a sign that you might have kidney stones. Results are then transmitted via Wi-Fi to the Withings app. The cartridges are replaceable, and the sensor comes with a docking station to clean and recharge the sensor."

"Purchasing the U-Scan comes with a complimentary subscription to Withings+, the company's upgraded app, which also includes a free consultation with a nutritionist. The U-Scan packages start at $380, which comes with one U-Scan, either Nutrio or Calci, one cartridge, and two to four scans weekly (each cartridge lasts about 2.5 months). For more intensive monitoring, the Intensive package includes two cartridges for five to seven weekly measurements."

Withings launched the U-Scan, a toilet-mounted sensor that uses a thermal trigger to capture a small urine sample and analyze it on-site with miniature biochemical sensors in interchangeable cartridges. Two variants are available: Nutrio, which measures bio-acidity, hydration status, and ketone levels, and Calci, which detects calcium linked to kidney stones. Results are transmitted via Wi‑Fi to the Withings app. The device includes a docking station for cleaning and recharging. Purchases include a complimentary Withings+ subscription and a nutritionist consult. Packages start at $380; replacement cartridges are sold and delivered on a subscription basis.

Read at WIRED