Every time we visit the toilet, we deliver medically valuable samples: urine and stool can be used to identify numerous diseases. But »smart toilets«, which could automatically carry out tests on our legacies, are expensive and more art than everyday objects. A team led by radiologist Sanjiv Gambhir from the Stanford University School of Medicine wants to change that. The working group developed software and hardware components with which ordinary toilets can be upgraded. In the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, the researchers explain how it could work to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome or a urinary tract infection.
The system is equipped with all kinds of technical refinements. At the bottom of the toilet seat is a container with standard test strips. As soon as an infrared sensor detects that someone is peeing, a strip is extended towards the center of the toilet. He examines urine for pH, for biomarkers such as proteins, and for the presence of immune cells that indicate inflammation. Another element that experts call uroflowmeter measures the flow rate and volume of urine. These parameters can be used to determine whether someone is suffering from an emptying disorder. So far, however, researchers have only tested these measurement methods on male people who peed while standing. In the future, they also want to convert their technology to (male and female) sitting pinkers.