ReBalans · Project

Wearable Patch Sensor That Continuously Monitors Patient Hydration to Prevent Costly Complications

healthTestedTRL 6

Imagine a small disposable patch you stick on a patient's skin that constantly tracks whether they're getting too much or too little fluid — like a fuel gauge for the human body. Right now, nurses manually record what goes in and out on paper charts, and those records are often wrong or incomplete. This Norwegian company built a wireless sensor patch that does the job automatically with medical-grade accuracy, sending real-time data to doctors and nurses. It's aimed at hospital patients with heart or kidney problems and elderly people who forget to drink enough water.

By the numbers

€1bn

Potential annual savings from proper hydration in the UK alone

€2,497,250

EU funding received through EIC SME Instrument Phase 2

€107m

Projected accumulated revenues over 5 years post-project

€37m

Projected accumulated profits over 5 years post-project

The business problem

What needed solving

Hospitals and care facilities lose money and patients suffer preventable harm because hydration monitoring relies on manual paper charts that are inaccurate, incomplete, and drain nursing time. Heart and kidney disease patients, along with elderly populations with reduced thirst, are especially at risk — and dehydration leads to costly complications like infections, longer hospital stays, and acute kidney injuries. The healthcare system lacks a simple, accurate, continuous way to track patient fluid balance without adding to staff workload.

The solution

What was built

Mode Sensors built the Re:Balans patch — a non-invasive, disposable, wearable sensor that continuously monitors body hydration and wirelessly transmits medical-grade data. The project's deliverable confirms the prototype was matured and prepared for clinical validation.

Audience

Who needs this

Hospital groups managing inpatient wards with high readmission ratesNursing home and elderly care operators dealing with dehydration incidentsMedical device distributors expanding into remote patient monitoringHome healthcare service providers monitoring chronic disease patients remotelyNephrology and cardiology clinics tracking fluid balance in at-risk patients

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Hospital and acute care

enterprise

Target: Hospital groups and healthcare systems managing inpatient wards

If you are a hospital group dealing with preventable readmissions and longer stays caused by undetected dehydration — this project developed a disposable wearable patch sensor that continuously monitors patient hydration with medical-grade accuracy. It replaces error-prone manual Fluid Balance Charts with automatic, remote data collection. The project estimates proper hydration management could lead to £1bn savings in the UK alone per year.

Elder care and assisted living

mid-size

Target: Nursing home operators and home care service providers

If you are a nursing home operator struggling with dehydration incidents among elderly residents with reduced thirst and cognitive problems — this project built a non-invasive, user-friendly wearable sensor for continuous hydration monitoring. It addresses the challenge of monitoring fluid intake in patients who cannot reliably self-report. The connected system enables remote monitoring, reducing the burden on care staff already stretched thin by workforce shortages.

Medical device distribution

any

Target: Medical device distributors and MedTech companies expanding remote monitoring portfolios

If you are a medical device distributor looking to add remote patient monitoring products to your catalogue — Mode Sensors developed a connected, disposable patch sensor backed by €2,497,250 in EU funding through the competitive EIC SME Instrument. The device targets a clear gap: no current product offers non-invasive, continuous hydration monitoring at medical-grade accuracy. The company projects €107m in accumulated revenues over five years post-project.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this sensor cost compared to current hydration monitoring methods?

The project states Re:Balans is designed to be cheaper and more efficient than current alternatives. The sensor is disposable and wearable, which suggests a per-unit consumable pricing model. Based on available project data, exact pricing per patch is not disclosed.

Can this scale to monitor hundreds of patients across a hospital system?

The sensor is designed as a connected, remote monitoring system that sends continuous data automatically. This architecture supports scaling across wards and facilities without proportionally increasing nursing workload. The project specifically targets replacing manual Fluid Balance Charts that are already used hospital-wide.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

Mode Sensors AS is the sole partner and a Norwegian SME that developed the technology with 100% industry ownership of the consortium. This means IP is concentrated in one company. Based on available project data, specific patent filings are not disclosed, but the single-company structure simplifies licensing negotiations.

Has this been tested on real patients?

The project's deliverable is titled 'Re:Balans prototype matured and ready for clinical validation,' indicating the prototype reached a stage suitable for clinical trials. The project claims accuracy better than best-practice methods in clinical settings. Full clinical validation results are not detailed in the available data.

Does this meet medical device regulations in the EU?

The project targets medical-grade accuracy and the title itself references 'medical grade sensor.' As a health device intended for clinical use, it would need to comply with EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Based on available project data, the specific regulatory certification status is not confirmed.

How does it integrate with existing hospital IT systems?

Re:Balans is described as a connected sensor system designed to fit into everyday worker and patient procedures. It is built to replace manual Fluid Balance Charts with automatic, continuous data. Based on available project data, specific integration protocols with electronic health records are not detailed.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: Mode Sensors AS, a Norwegian SME that received the full €2,497,250 through the highly competitive EIC SME Instrument Phase 2. The 100% industry composition with zero academic partners signals a commercially driven venture rather than a research exercise. The fact that Mode Sensors won Phase 2 funding — which specifically targets companies ready to scale — suggests the technology had already passed early validation before this project began. For a potential business partner, this means you'd be dealing directly with the technology owner, with no university IP complications or multi-party licensing to navigate.

How to reach the team

Mode Sensors AS is a Norwegian SME — contact through their company website modesensors.com or LinkedIn.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

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