Inspired by her own personal struggles, Karen Brunet put her extensive medical device experience to use to help the millions of women who experience stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and founded Cntrl+.

Innovation Driven by Personal Experience

Brunet’s journey with Cntrl+ is deeply personal. After years of living with undiagnosed PCOS and battling stage 4 endometriosis, Brunet underwent multiple surgeries, fertility treatments, and ultimately a full hysterectomy. These experiences left her struggling with bladder leaks while trying to stay active. Frustrated by limited solutions like pads, invasive surgeries, or uncomfortable pessaries, Brunet was determined to develop a better alternative. Combining her medical supply expertise with her tenacity she created the innovative Cntrl+ bladder support. Designed to prevent SUI, support the pelvic floor, and manage conditions like overactive bladder and rectocele, Cntrl+ empowers women to live confidently and comfortably.

“Karen Brunet’s journey with Cntrl+ is a powerful example of how lived experience, scientific innovation, and entrepreneurial vision can converge to transform lives,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). At OCI, we’re proud to support women-led companies like Cntrl+ through the Life Sciences Innovation Fund—helping to advance made-in-Ontario technologies that address real challenges, empower individuals, and drive meaningful change in healthcare.”

Addressing a Global Challenge

An estimated one-third of women aged 18 to 65 experience involuntary bladder leaks, affecting over 29 million women in the United States and 48 million across Europe. Traditional options like pads, pessaries, and surgical procedures are often uncomfortable, expensive, or ineffective.

“Cntrl+ is more than solving a problem—it’s about rewriting the story,” says founder Karen Brunet. We want women everywhere to reclaim their freedom to laugh, move, and live without limits, comfortably!

Women spend an average of $750-$1,800 USD annually on disposable incontinence products, which are typically not covered by insurance. Cntrl+ will be fully reimbursable in Canada from private insurance and covered by Medicare, HSA, and private insurance in the US, but out of pocket it still costs less than a new pair of running shoes. Available in three sizes, women can fit themselves at home without a doctor’s visit. The flexible, rounded design resembles a hollow tampon, allowing for comfortable wear for up to 12 hours and easy removal. With the potential to improve pelvic floor strength over time, Cntrl+ offers both immediate relief and long-term benefits.

Looking Ahead

Cntrl+ stands out as the only reusable bladder support that combines comfort, extended wearability, environmental friendliness, and insurance eligibility. With an annual cost of less than $250 USD, Cntrl+ is an affordable solution designed to improve women’s quality of life.

With support from the Life Sciences Innovation Fund (LSIF), Cntrl+ is accelerating its path to market launch. The funding is enabling the company to conduct a usability study in partnership with the University of Ottawa, and expand its headquarters in Cornwall, Ontario.

As Cntrl+ prepares to enter the market, the company is not only offering women an innovative solution but also placing them at the forefront of its mission.

“This is just the beginning,” says Brunet. “There is so much more I want to develop with women for women. Too many of us have been gaslit or simply ignored in our health concerns, we deserve better non-invasive diagnosis’, prevention and treatment for pelvic floor disorders and reproductive diseases like endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids just to name a few.”