Shediac, NB-based Uresta, which makes a device to prevent bladder leakage, has closed a $3 million funding round, and is using the funds to launch its product in the United States.

The company said in a statement last week that BDC Capital led the round with a $1.5 million contribution. The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation said on social media it made a $500,000 follow-on investment in the round and other participants included the Women's Equity Lab Atlantic and angel investors.

"Bringing Uresta to the U.S. is about more than just launching a product – it's about offering women a real solution for bladder leaks,” Lauren Barker, CEO and Co-founder of Uresta, said in the statement. “For too long, bladder leaks have controlled the lives of women. Women have been told to tolerate it with absorbent products. Uresta is a simple, non-invasive solution that stops leaks and puts women back in control.”

Founded in 2004, Uresta has developed a product that has been clinically tested and referenced in a number of global medical journals. The clinical studies have shown that 97 percent of women saw a reduction in leaks when using Uresta.

The company said the product – which it describes as “a simple, reusable, and comfortable alternative to absorbent products and surgical interventions” – is now used by more than 30,000 women. NBIF said it has been scaling rapidly in Canada.

The U.S. launch coincided with a panel event in New York City, where leading experts in pelvic health discussed the urgent need for better solutions in women's health, said the company.