The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Bright Uro's Glean™ Urodynamics System, marking a significant advancement in bladder dysfunction diagnostics. The wireless, catheter-free device represents the first major innovation in urodynamic testing in decades, addressing critical limitations of conventional catheter-based methods that affect an estimated 80 million Americans with voiding problems.
Revolutionary Technology Addresses Clinical Limitations
The Glean System transforms traditional urodynamic testing by eliminating the need for uncomfortable urethral catheters while providing more accurate diagnostic data. Conventional urodynamic assessments require patients to void in artificial clinical settings with catheters in place, often failing to replicate real-world symptoms and generating imprecise results.
"The majority of urologists, including myself, believe that current urodynamics testing is lacking," said Dr. Bilal Chughtai of Northwell Health. "With artificial filling and voiding with catheters in place, patients are often unable to replicate symptoms during the test. Urodynamics is uncomfortable for patients, sometimes even traumatic."
The innovative device consists of a silicone tube housing pressure-sensing technology that curls into a coil shape upon insertion to remain within the bladder. This design enables monitoring of bladder activity during normal daily activities while utilizing natural physiology to fill the bladder and gather diagnostic data.
Clinical Validation and First Implementation
Published data in The Journal of Urology in July 2023 confirmed the device's safety profile, demonstrating that it does not impede lower urinary tract function and can reliably identify bladder events when compared to conventional urodynamics. Cleveland Clinic became the first institution to implement the technology clinically following FDA clearance in March.
"By enabling monitoring of the bladder without a catheter in place, this technology can offer a more accurate and patient-centered approach to diagnosing lower urinary tract dysfunction, which can also increase treatment rates," said Dr. Howard Goldman, a urologist in Cleveland Clinic's Glickman Urological Institute who performed the first clinical case.
Decade-Long Research Foundation
The technology emerged from over a decade of collaborative research between Cleveland Clinic's Department of Urology and Lerner Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, and Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC. Dr. Margot Damaser, who led the research team, explained the motivation behind the innovation.
"After observing standard urodynamic testing over the past 20 years, our vision for this device was to address the shortcomings in current bladder testing," said Dr. Damaser. "We wanted to invent a novel solution that would take the monitoring out of an artificial setting and eliminate the need for a catheter, which can be painful and embarrassing."
Addressing Widespread Clinical Need
The system targets patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) and various urological conditions, including overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, enlarged prostate (BPH), and neurogenic bladder. Current testing limitations have led some providers to forego urodynamics entirely due to equipment shortages and the need for specially trained nursing staff.
"Today, some providers forego urodynamics due to a paucity of equipment and trained nurses to administer the test," said Dr. Melissa Kaufman of Vanderbilt University. "Given the simple and versatile nature of how Glean is delivered, we'll be able to accelerate access so more patients can benefit from this important diagnostic information."
Company Background and Vision
Bright Uro was founded in 2021 by Derek Herrera, a former Marine Raider Special Operations Officer who was paralyzed from the chest down by a sniper's bullet in Afghanistan. His personal experience with urological conditions inspired him to develop advanced diagnostic sensors and machine learning applications for urology. The company secured a license to the original Cleveland Clinic technology in 2022.
"We are so excited to bring this important innovation into clinical practice where it will help clinicians and patients across the US," said Herrera. "The level of enthusiasm is truly remarkable, as we hear from so many clinicians who believe Glean will transform how we diagnose bladder dysfunction."
Dr. Alan Wein of University of Miami emphasized the potential clinical impact: "I consider Glean to be the kind of diagnostic technology advance that the urology community has awaited for decades. The system produces information that is closer to a real-life situation than that generated in a urodynamics laboratory."
