Continence and Skin Technology Group

The Continence and Skin Technology Group is a joint venture of the Departments of Medicine and of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at UCL, and the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southampton. The UCL part of the group is located at the Euston Campus of UCL.

Research Outline

Our work focuses on technology for minimising the impact of intractable incontinence on the quality of life of sufferers and their caregivers, and it falls into six main areas.

• Product evaluation
• Product design and development
• Absorbency science
• Incontinence and skin health
• Creation of International standards
• Dissemination of advice on the effective use of incontinence technology

Current and Recent Research

• Web-based advice on the selection and effective use of continence products (http://www.continenceproductadvisor.org)
• Sixth international consultation on incontinence (Management with continence products).
• Standardisation of terms for describing continence products.
• A new international standard for measuring the absorption capacity of incontinence pads.
• Devices for intractable urinary incontinence following prostate cancer surgery
• Multi use of intermittent catheters
• Wet friction between nonwoven fabrics and skin
• Investigation of the interaction between Superabsorbent polymers and fluids used for hygiene applications
• Diagnostic data gathering from incontinence pad-mounted sensors
• An experimental study of friction between wet and dry human skin and nonwoven fabrics
• An experimental study of friction between skin and nonwoven fabrics
• A multi-scale analysis of frictional interaction between human skin and nonwoven fabrics

View Professor Alan Cottenden's inaugural lecture here.

Call for Presentations open for Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge XI

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ 11th edition of the Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge Conference, will taking place on the 28-29 of November 2017 in London. The Conference’s Organising Committee are currently reviewing abstract submissions for presentations, with the Call for Presentations open until 16 June 2017.

Revolutionise current thinking at this event by presenting your work on pioneering techniques and technologies for incontinence management. Join a wide variety of stakeholders including engineers, scientists, clinicians, researchers, commercial designers/producers and nurses. This collaborative effort will help solve the problems that people with incontinence and caregivers face.

How to submit:

The deadline for abstracts is 16 June 2017. Submit your 150 word abstract to eventconcepts@imeche.org

Please state your preference as to a full oral presentation or a poster presentation. A selection of poster presenters will also be invited to give a flash presentation (maximum length of 3 minutes with up to 3 slides).

Prizes will be awarded to posters in the following categories:

· Early-stage research

· Research novelty

· Young researcher

· Clinical impact

Final acceptance of all submissions will depend upon the Committee’s decision. If you are unsure whether your work would be appropriate, feel free to contact Professor Alan Cottenden, the Organising Committee Chair, on a.cottenden@ucl.ac.uk.

The presenting author of each presentation will be entitled to a substantial reduction in the registration fee and authors are expected to attend the seminar to present their work.