It may sound like a joke, but for people who suffer from incontinence or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)—or care for those who do—getting to a toilet in time is no laughing matter. For those individuals, a new wearable device with Bluetooth® Smart technology may be a life changer.

The D Free is a matchbook-sized device that adheres to a person’s abdomen so that its sensors can detect intestinal movement or swelling before the individual may be aware of it. Using low-power, reliable Bluetooth Smart technology, it communicates with the D Free smartphone app to provide a 10-minute warning to locate a toilet. Using Bluetooth to communicate data, the app records bowel movements throughout the day to track daily habits for more accurate notifications in the future.

The D Free may not have the same trendy flair as the latest activity monitor or smartwatch. But it’s easy to imagine how the device could help a variety of population segments, such as people who are in wheelchairs or have limited mobility and need more time to manage life’s daily needs, or for those who have limited bowel control due to disease or injury. The device could also provide welcome assistance for caregivers in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, to give them advanced warning on when to help patients to a bathroom.

The D Free is the brainchild of the California-based Japanese startup Triple W, who pitched the device at a venture capital event in early 2015 and is currently working with crowdfunding sites such as Indiegogo.

(Credit: IVT)