Objectives: To determine whether the difference between urinary and perineal temperatures is sufficient to allow registration of incontinent episodes by detection of temperature change alone. To design and assess the use of a diode-based temperature-sensitive device in the detection of episodes of urinary incontinence in long-term ambulatory monitoring (LTAM) studies.
Subjects and methods: Perineal temperature recordings were made in 46 women during various activities. A temperature-sensitive device consisting of six IN4148 diodes, spanning 5 cm, and a nearby reference negative diode, was placed in a light perineal pad and attached to a portable amplifier/digitizer and recorder. The performance of the device was determined by comparison with increases in pad weight in 51 incontinent and 23 continent control subjects.
Results: A sufficient temperature differential existed between perineal and urinary temperature during all activities except being seated with crossed legs. Incontinence was reliably detected by the temperature-sensitive device. The device had a sensitivity of 95.2% and a specificity of 90.6% compared to a pad test.
Conclusions: This temperature-sensitive device offers a new method for detecting urinary incontinence during LTAM studies. It can be fitted in an unobtrusive perineal pad and has a higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection of incontinence when compared to a pad test. It may also be used as a marker of voiding in ambulatory studies not employing an integrated voiding channel.