Device treats urinary incontinence in women

VANCOUVER – With an estimated one in two Canadian women over age 65 currently experiencing urinary incontinence, a Vancouver entrepreneur is being recognized for his effort to commercialize a revolutionary new treatment as an affordable, accessible and minimally invasive alternative to surgery.

The innovative work has earned Fattah Haeri (pictured) a Mitacs Innovation Award – Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year, awarded by Mitacs, a leading innovation organization that connects businesses and researchers with access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. The award was presented at a ceremony at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on November 17.

Haeri – a biomedical engineer and recent MBA graduate working under the supervision of Professor Terri Griffith in the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University – is being recognized for his work to lead the research and development of a vaginal probe for urinary incontinence treatment.

The culmination of years of work in Partnership with fellow researchers M.H. Saadatfar and Nima Kohandani, the clinical device is based on advanced radiofrequency and tissue stimulation technology, designed to enhance treatment efficiency by restoring tissue elasticity and strengthening pelvic floor muscles.

The breakthrough led to the launch of Vancouver-based Femera Med Tech, a start-up he co-founded alongside Saadatfar to usher in a “new era in female health.”

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, millions of women all over the world suffer from incontinence and they’re often reluctant to talk about it,” said Haeri, who grew up surrounded by a family of doctors and invented his first medical device at age 17.

Now on a mission to improve women’s health globally, Haeri credits Mitacs for connecting him with Health Research B.C. to advance his technology. “The support of Mitacs goes well beyond a funding grant. They’re a supporter that helps enable my milestones and truly wants to see my company be a success,” he added.

To treat incontinence, the probe is applied in a clinical setting under the guidance of a trained clinician. A course of treatment occurs over multiple sessions, starting with three sessions every two weeks and then gradually spacing them out over one month, three months, six months and then yearly until they are no longer required.

Unlike costly and invasive surgeries and laser-based treatments for incontinence – that have been shown to be potentially prone to failure – Femera Med Tech’s device is designed to be affordable and accessible, and no more invasive than undergoing a vaginal ultrasound, only without the need to have a full bladder. Instead, the device applies heat and stimulation to rejuvenate cells.

Promising early results, soon to be published, also indicate that women recover faster using the research-backed treatment compared to other therapies and interventions. Next steps include setting up clinical trials as the company goes through standard regulatory approval processes in North America.

The Mitacs Innovation Award – Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year celebrates an extraordinary Canadian innovator who used a Mitacs-funded project to kick-start their entrepreneurial journey, demonstrating the infinite potential when research and entrepreneurial vision align. Mitacs programs are supported by funding from the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments across the country.

Haeri is one of 11 Mitacs award winners nationally, nominated from a pool of thousands of researchers who take part in Mitacs programs each year. Additional 2025 award categories include: five winners for Outstanding Innovation, two winners for Research Leadership, one winner for Inclusive Innovator of the Year, one other winner for Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year, and Canadian Enterprise Innovator of the Year.

In congratulating the winners, Mitacs CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas reflected on the importance of innovation talent in shaping Canada’s future. “At a time when we need to build a stronger and more resilient economy, these eleven innovators and organizations demonstrate what’s possible when we invest in ideas, talent, and innovation,” Dr. Lucas said.

For more information about the Mitacs awards and a full list of winners, visit www.mitacs.ca/newsroom.

About Mitacs
For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. We support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. We serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services. This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation.

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.