Ins & Outs – Anorectal Biofeedback

Anorectal biofeedback is the first-line therapy for treatment of anorectal muscles disorders and is currently performed only at a few specialized clinics in major hospitals, using expensive and cumbersome diagnostics instruments permanently tethered to computer monitors. Consequently, this therapy remains restricted to select centres, leading to extensive wait times and limited accessibility. Currently, only a mere 9% of patients undergo biofeedback therapy, leaving the majority unable to access the service or commit to its lengthy duration. Quality home healthcare provides a simple extension of the clinical sessions to enable patients to be an active participant in their own treatment.

Smaller than current diagnostics instruments, Ins & Outs represents the next generation of home healthcare innovation, leveraging smart sensors and IoT technology to streamline medical therapies for patients, while granting therapists remote access to vital information. The primary design focus was to instil psychological confidence in users, ensuring they feel safe and secure to undertake therapy independently, prioritizing comfort and intuitiveness. The device’s sleek and compact form-factor combined with an intuitive companion app compatible with Android and iOS, culminate in a user-friendly and cost-effective medical solution for addressing bowel-related issues discretely at home.

Chronic constipation or faecal incontinence impacts 1 in 5 individuals, yet pervasive social stigma surrounding bowel issues often dissuades individuals from seeking treatment for decades. Consequently, they endure significant declines in both their quality of life and mental well-being. This prolonged hesitation in starting treatment is mainly caused by limited availability and accessibility of the therapy with long wait times and its intrusive nature. Ins & Outs overcomes these barriers to treatment by offering monitored home therapy discreetly that not only enhances health outcome but also tackles disparities in healthcare access, alleviating medical costs for patients and the healthcare system.

As a medical device, Ins & Outs is consciously designed to meet the needs of both healthcare providers and its patient end users. For healthcare providers, two critical design features take precedence. Firstly, high-sensitivity sensors enable simultaneous measurements of anal sphincter and rectal pressure changes, delivering real-time biofeedback essential for effective training. Secondly, the companion app boasts programmable exercises and customisable outcome measures, enabling therapists to tailor treatment plans to individual patients based on their severity and symptoms. The app aggregates this vital information, generating comprehensive reports for therapists to track progress and refine treatment strategies. In prioritising patient comfort, Ins & Outs incorporates several design features aimed at enhancing the user experience. In combination with a disposable sheath/condom, the minimal sized ergonomic shape ensures comfortable insertion, while a user-centric user interface simplifies training sessions and progress review. Although fully protected during use, the soft seam free silicone cover allows for easy care and maintenance after use, ensuring a hassle-free experience for patients throughout their treatment journey. The three colour options identify three different treatment types available.