Toilet system

Abstract

To provide a toilet system capable of accurately estimating the amount of bifidobacteria.SOLUTION: A toilet system comprising: a toilet device including a toilet seat on which a user is seated; a skin gas sensor provided in the toilet device and configured to detect lactone gas emitted from skin of the user; a controller configured to estimate an amount of bifidobacteria of the user based on a detection result of the skin gas sensor; and a notifier configured to notify an estimation result of the controller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the present invention relate generally to toilet systems. [Background technology]

[0002] A technique is known in which the concentration of hydrogen gas in excretory gases emitted from excrement is detected and the amount of bifidobacteria is estimated from the hydrogen gas concentration (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-315836 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When there are many bifidobacteria in the intestines, nutrients are fermented and hydrogen gas increases. Therefore, the amount of bifidobacteria can be estimated by detecting hydrogen gas. However, hydrogen gas is not only produced by bifidobacteria, but also by other intestinal bacteria (e.g., lactic acid bacteria). Therefore, the concentration of hydrogen gas in excretory gas does not necessarily correlate with the amount of bifidobacteria in the intestines. Therefore, estimating the amount of bifidobacteria based on the concentration of hydrogen gas in excretory gas may result in poor accuracy.

[0005] The present invention has been made based on the recognition of this problem, and aims to provide a toilet system that can accurately estimate the amount of bifidobacteria. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a toilet system comprising: a toilet device having a toilet seat on which a user sits; a skin gas sensor provided in the toilet device that detects lactone gas emitted from the user's skin; a control unit that estimates the amount of bifidobacteria in the user based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor; and an alarm unit that notifies the control unit of the estimation results.

[0007] According to this toilet system, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor, thereby enabling the amount of bifidobacteria to be estimated with high accuracy.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is a toilet system according to the first aspect, further comprising a defecation gas sensor provided in the toilet device for detecting defecation gas released when the user defecates, and the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and the defecation gas sensor.

[0009] According to this toilet system, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and the fecal gas sensor, thereby enabling more accurate estimation of the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is a toilet system according to the second aspect, further comprising a memory unit for storing the detection results of the defecation gas sensor, and when the defecation gas sensor does not detect the defecation gas, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and past detection results of the defecation gas sensor stored in the memory unit.

[0011] According to this toilet system, if the fecal gas sensor does not detect fecal gas, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and the past detection results of the fecal gas sensor stored in the memory unit, thereby enabling the amount of bifidobacteria to be estimated accurately even if the fecal gas sensor does not detect fecal gas.

[0012] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the toilet system according to the first aspect, wherein the notification unit notifies a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0013] According to this toilet system, the notification unit notifies the user of a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria, thereby urging the user to take appropriate measures according to the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0014] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a toilet system characterized in that, in the first aspect, it further comprises a memory unit that stores the estimation result, and the notification unit notifies the estimation result for a predetermined period stored in the memory unit.

[0015] According to this toilet system, the notification unit notifies the user of the estimated results for a predetermined period stored in the memory unit, allowing the user to understand the amount of bifidobacteria over the past predetermined period.

[0016] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the toilet system according to the fifth aspect, wherein the notification unit notifies a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria for the predetermined period.

[0017] According to this toilet system, the notification unit notifies the user of a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria over a predetermined period, thereby encouraging the user to take appropriate measures according to the amount of bifidobacteria over a past predetermined period.

[0018] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a toilet system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, characterized in that the toilet seat has a seating portion on which the user sits, a bottom portion opposite the seating portion, and a recessed portion recessed from the seating portion toward the bottom portion, and the skin gas sensor is located below the upper surface of the seating portion and provided in the recessed portion.

[0019] According to this toilet system, the skin gas sensor is located in the recess, below the upper surface of the seat, and can therefore efficiently detect skin gases that fill the recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention, a toilet system capable of accurately estimating the amount of bifidobacteria is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet unit of a toilet system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication system of the toilet system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the positional relationship between a user seated on a toilet seat and a skin gas sensor. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toilet seat and the skin gas sensor in FIG. 1, as viewed from the direction of arrow AA. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a series of flows of actions of a user using a toilet unit and a control process for estimating a metabolic state. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a skin gas control process executed by a control unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the detection result of the skin gas sensor displayed on the notification unit of the information terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the amount of bifidobacteria estimated by the control unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the amount of bifidobacteria estimated by the control unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a communication system of a toilet system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the positional relationship between a user seated on a toilet seat, a skin gas sensor, and a defecation gas sensor. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing a skin gas and defecation gas control process executed by the control unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the detection result of the defecation gas sensor displayed on the notification unit of the information terminal. [Figure 14]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the amount of bifidobacteria estimated by the control unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the amount of bifidobacteria estimated by the control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, like components are designated by like reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet unit of a toilet system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication system of the toilet system. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the positional relationship between a user seated on a toilet seat and the skin gas sensor. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the toilet seat and the skin gas sensor in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow AA.

[0024] The toilet system 700 estimates the metabolic state of a user U. The toilet system 700 includes a toilet unit 2, an information terminal 60, and a management device 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet unit 2 includes a toilet device 10 and a skin gas sensor 40. The toilet device 10 is installed in a toilet room. The toilet device 10 includes a toilet bowl 11, a casing 12, a toilet seat 20, and a toilet lid 30. The toilet bowl 11 is a so-called seated toilet bowl. The toilet bowl 11 has a concave bowl portion 11a that is recessed downward. The toilet bowl 11 receives excrement such as urine and feces from the user U in the bowl portion 11a.

[0025] In this specification, the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left side," and "right side" refer to directions as seen by a user U sitting on the toilet seat 20 with their back to the open toilet lid 30.

[0026] The casing 12 is installed on top of the toilet bowl 11. The casing 12 may be attached integrally to the toilet bowl 11, or may be detachably attached to the toilet bowl 11. The casing 12 houses a plurality of functional parts for operating the functions of the toilet unit 2. The functional parts include, for example, an opening / closing unit that controls the opening and closing of the toilet seat 20 and the toilet lid 30, a toilet seat heating unit that controls the temperature of the toilet seat 20, a private parts washing unit that cleans private parts of the human body, a deodorizing unit that reduces odorous components, and a communication unit that can communicate with a remote control, an information terminal 60, and the like. These functional parts are provided as needed. The casing 12 also houses a control unit 15 that controls these functional parts and a memory unit 17 that stores information about the functional parts.

[0027] The toilet seat 20 has an outer edge curved to match the external shape of the toilet bowl 11, and is pivotally supported relative to the casing 12. The toilet seat 20 has an opening 20a that penetrates into the bowl portion 11a. As shown in FIG. 1, this example shows a so-called O-shaped toilet seat 20 with the opening 20a formed in the center of the toilet seat 20. The toilet seat 20 is not limited to an O-shape and may be U-shaped or the like. A user U can defecate into the bowl portion 11a while sitting on the toilet seat 20. The toilet seat 20 has a seating portion 21 on which the user U sits, a bottom portion 22 facing the seating portion 21, and a recessed portion 23 recessed from the seating portion 21 toward the bottom portion 22.

[0028] Seating section 21 forms the upper surface of toilet seat 20 when toilet seat 20 is placed on toilet bowl 11 in the closed state, and is the part on which user U sits. Bottom section 22 faces the top surface of toilet bowl 11 in the vertical direction when closed. A heater wire and a heat insulating material are provided inside toilet seat 20 to keep seating section 21 warm. Also provided inside toilet seat 20 is a skin gas sensor 40, which will be described later.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the recessed portion 23 is provided inside the toilet seat 20. The recessed portion 23 is provided in a portion of the toilet seat 20 that is located below the thigh U1 of a user U seated on the seating portion 21. As shown in FIG. 1, in this example, the recessed portion 23 is provided to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the toilet seat 20. In other words, the recessed portion 23 is located below the left thigh U1 of a user U seated on the toilet seat 20. Note that the recessed portion 23 may also be provided to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the toilet seat 20.

[0030] Recess 23 has sidewall 23a extending from seat 21 toward bottom 22, and undersurface 23b connecting the lower ends of sidewall 23a. The upper side of recess 23 is covered by seat 21. That is, recess 23 is located on the undersurface 21b side of seat 21, and forms space S that is surrounded above, below, in front, behind, left, and right sides. Skin gas sensor 40 is provided in this space S.

[0031] The seat 21 has a through-hole 24 that penetrates from the upper surface 21a to the lower surface 21b at a position corresponding to the recess 23. The through-hole 24 connects the space S to the outside of the toilet seat 20. The through-hole 24 serves as a gas flow path that guides skin gas G emitted from the thighs U1 of a user U seated on the seat 21 into the space S of the recess 23. Here, skin gas refers to gas containing volatile components that is emitted from the surface of a person's body. The emission pathways of skin gas can be classified into surface-reaction-derived pathways, in which components of sweat and sebum interact with resident bacteria and are emitted from the skin surface; skin gland-derived pathways, in which components in blood volatilize and are emitted directly from the skin; and blood-derived pathways, in which components in blood volatilize and are emitted directly from the skin. In this example, blood-derived skin gas is the target. The through-hole 24 may be provided with a filter (not shown) that allows gas to pass through but blocks liquid from passing through. This can prevent water and the like from entering the inside of the recessed portion 23.

[0032] The toilet lid 30 is pivotally supported on the casing 12. When closed, the toilet lid 30 covers the toilet seat 20. The toilet lid 30 is provided as needed and can be omitted.

[0033] Skin gas sensor 40 is provided in toilet device 10 and detects skin gas G emitted from the skin of user U. Skin gas sensor 40 detects skin gas G derived from the blood of user U. Skin gas sensor 40 can be, for example, a semiconductor gas sensor, an electrochemical sensor, a gas heat transfer sensor, a surface acoustic wave sensor, a catalytic combustion sensor, an optical sensor, a carbon nanotube sensor, a graphene sensor, an optical fiber sensor, a thin film sensor, a MEMS thermal conduction sensor, a micro thermoelectric sensor, an electromotive force change sensor, a gas chromatography measurement sensor, a VOC (volatile organic compound) sensor, or the like.

[0034] Skin gas sensor 40 is provided on toilet seat 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, skin gas sensor 40 is located below upper surface 21a of seating portion 21 and provided in recess 23. That is, skin gas sensor 40 is provided in recess 23 without contacting thigh U1 of user U. Skin gas G emitted from thigh U1 of user U flows into space S through through-hole 24. Skin gas sensor 40 detects skin gas G that has filled space S. The detection results of skin gas sensor 40 are transmitted to management device 70 via information terminal 60, which will be described later. Management device 70 estimates the metabolic state of user U based on the detection results of skin gas sensor 40.

[0035] The seating sensor 45 detects whether the user U sits on or leaves the toilet seat 20. The seating sensor 45 is a contact sensor such as a tactile switch, electrostatic sensor, or strain sensor provided on the toilet seat 20. The seating sensor 45 may also be a pyroelectric sensor or distance sensor (infrared sensor) provided on the casing 12. The detection result of the seating sensor 45 is transmitted to the management device 70 via the information terminal 60 described below. The seating sensor 45 is provided as needed.

[0036] Control unit 15 is provided inside casing 12. Control unit 15 is connected to skin gas sensor 40 and seating sensor 45. Control unit 15 transmits the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 and seating sensor 45 to information terminal 60 via a communication unit (not shown). Control unit 15 also controls the operation of functional units provided inside casing 12. Note that the control of the functional units may be performed by a control unit separate from control unit 15.

[0037] Memory unit 17 stores information on skin gas sensor 40, information on seating sensor 45, and information on the functional units. Information on skin gas sensor 40 includes the detection results of skin gas sensor 40. Information on seating sensor 45 includes the detection results of seating sensor 45. Memory unit 17 also stores a program for controlling the operation of the functional units. Control unit 15 operates the functional units based on the program stored in memory unit 17.

[0038] The information terminal 60 is, for example, a smartphone or tablet terminal owned by the user U. However, the information terminal 60 is not limited to these and may be any terminal usable by the user U, such as a PC terminal. The information terminal 60 may be, for example, a remote control for operating the functional units of the toilet device 10. The information terminal 60 has a control unit 60a and a notification unit 60b.

[0039] The information terminal 60 is directly connected to the toilet device 10 via wireless communication. The information terminal 60 is capable of communicating with the toilet device 10 according to a Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The information terminal 60 is also connected to the management device 70 via a network (e.g., the Internet). The information terminal 60 transmits various pieces of information transmitted from the toilet device 10 to the management device 70. The information terminal 60 also transmits various pieces of information transmitted from the management device 70 to the toilet device 10.

[0040] A program (application software) for using the toilet system 700 is installed in the information terminal 60. The control unit 60a operates the toilet system 700 based on the program. The control unit 60a also causes the notification unit 60b to notify various pieces of information transmitted from the toilet device 10 and the management device 70. The notification unit 60b is, for example, a display screen that displays various pieces of information. The notification unit 60b may also be an audio output unit that notifies various pieces of information by voice. The notification unit 60b notifies the results of the metabolic state estimation performed by the control unit 70a of the management device 70.

[0041] The management device 70 is installed at a location away from the toilet room. The management device 70 is, for example, a cloud server, and is connected to the information terminal 60 via a network. The management device 70 may be installed in a building in which the toilet room is installed. The management device 70 has a control unit 70a and a storage unit 70b.

[0042] The control unit 70a estimates the metabolic state of the user U based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor 40. The memory unit 70b stores programs for skin gas control processing and skin gas and defecation gas control processing for estimating the metabolic state of the user U.

[0043] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a series of flows of the behavior of a user who uses the toilet unit and the control process for estimating the metabolic state.

[0044] First, after entering the toilet, the user U performs personal authentication using the information terminal 60. The user U, for example, starts up application software on the information terminal 60, and performs personal authentication between the user U and the toilet device 10. Note that any method may be used to perform personal authentication of the user U who has entered the toilet, as long as it is possible to perform personal authentication of the user U.

[0045] Furthermore, the toilet system 700 obtains consent from the user U to skin gas detection. For example, the toilet system 700 obtains consent from the user U to skin gas detection by the user U operating the information terminal 60. Note that the toilet system 700 may obtain consent from the user U to skin gas detection by any method. When consent from the user U is obtained, the toilet system 700 becomes available for use.

[0046] Thereafter, when user U sits on toilet seat 20, sensor detection is performed by skin gas sensor 40. That is, skin gas sensor 40 detects skin gas G emitted from the skin (thigh U1) of user U. Control unit 15 of toilet device 10 transmits the detection result of skin gas sensor 40 to information terminal 60. In addition, information terminal 60 transmits the received detection result to management device 70 together with the user's unique identification information.

[0047] When user U leaves toilet seat 20, sensor detection by skin gas sensor 40 ends. Control unit 15 of toilet device 10 transmits the end of detection by skin gas sensor 40 to information terminal 60. Information terminal 60 also transmits the end of detection together with the user's unique identification information to management device 70. Note that control unit 15 of toilet device 10 may transmit the detection results while user U was sitting on toilet seat 20 to information terminal 60 together after user U leaves toilet seat 20.

[0048] Control unit 70a of management device 70 estimates the metabolic state of user U from the detection results of skin gas sensor 40. Storage unit 70b of management device 70 stores a calibration curve showing the relationship between known gas amounts and the output values ​​of skin gas sensor 40. Control unit 70a calculates the difference between the output value of skin gas sensor 40 detected when user U is seated on toilet seat 20, for example, and the maximum output value of skin gas sensor 40 detected while user U is seated on toilet seat 20.

[0049] It should be noted that skin gas G of the user U who previously used the toilet device 10 may remain in the recess 23. Therefore, the control unit 70a may determine that it is not possible to estimate the metabolic state if the output value of the skin gas sensor 40 detected when the user U sits on the toilet seat 20 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0050] The control unit 70a calculates the amount E of the skin gas G (hereinafter referred to as the gas amount E) by applying the calculated difference value to a calibration curve stored in the memory unit 70b. The gas amount E is, for example, a diffusion flux. The metabolic state of the user U may be estimated from the concentration of the skin gas G.

[0051] The control unit 70a estimates the metabolic state of the user U based on the calculated gas amount E. The control unit 70a transmits the calculated gas amount E and the estimated result of the metabolic state of the user U to the information terminal 60. The control unit 60a of the information terminal 60 causes the notification unit 60b to notify the received gas amount E and the estimated result of the metabolic state. The user U can recognize his or her own metabolic state by checking the notification unit 60b.

[0052] Next, the skin gas control process executed by the control unit 70a will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The control unit 70a estimates the amount of bifidobacteria in the intestines of the user U as the metabolic state of the user U. It is known that an increase in bifidobacteria in the intestines increases lactone (Yoshika Sekine, Influence of Ingestion of Lactulose on γ-Lactones Emanating from Human Skin Surface, Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3930). After being absorbed from the digestive tract, lactone dissolves in the blood, volatilizes from the blood, and is emitted from the skin (body surface) of the user U. Therefore, when there are many bifidobacteria, the concentration of lactone in the blood increases, and the amount of lactone gas emitted from the skin is thought to increase. Therefore, the control unit 70a can estimate the amount of bifidobacteria in the user U based on the amount of lactone gas. The number of carbon atoms in lactone gas detected by the skin gas sensor 40 is, for example, 6 to 11.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the skin gas control process executed by the control unit. The control process shown in FIG. 6 is stored in advance in the storage unit 70b of the management device 70.

[0054] Here, the user U performs an initial setting before using the toilet system 700. This initial setting is to store an initial value of the amount of lactone gas that is emitted from the skin of the user U in the memory unit 70b.

[0055] After user U is personally authenticated using information terminal 60, he or she operates information terminal 60 to instruct initial setup and sits on toilet seat 20. Skin gas sensor 40 detects lactone gas emitted from the skin (thigh U1) of user U sitting on toilet seat 20. Control unit 15 of toilet device 10 transmits the output value of skin gas sensor 40 to information terminal 60. Information terminal 60 transmits the received output value of skin gas sensor 40 as initial setup information together with the user's unique identification information to management device 70 via the Internet.

[0056] Control unit 70a of management device 70 stores the amount E of lactone gas calculated from the output value (difference value) of skin gas sensor 40 transmitted from information terminal 60 as an initial value in memory unit 70b. Control unit 70a stores the initial value of the amount of lactone gas as threshold value E1 in memory unit 70b. The initial value of the amount of lactone gas and threshold value E1 are stored in memory unit 70b in association with the user's unique identification information. The initial value of the amount of lactone gas may be the result of a single detection by skin gas sensor 40 performed under initial settings, or may be the average of multiple detection results by skin gas sensor 40 performed under initial settings. Threshold value E1 may be a value previously stored in memory unit 70b.

[0057] When the initial value of the amount of lactone gas and the threshold value E1 are stored in the storage unit 70b in the initial setting, the amount of bifidobacteria in the user U is estimated by the control unit 70a based on S701 to S704 in FIG.

[0058] In S701, the amount E of lactone gas (gas amount E) is calculated. That is, control unit 70a calculates gas amount E from the output value of skin gas sensor 40 transmitted from information terminal 60. Control unit 70a also acquires threshold value E1 of identification information that is the same as the user-specific identification information transmitted from information terminal 60. Control unit 70a also stores the calculated gas amount E in memory unit 70b.

[0059] In the next step S702, it is determined whether the gas amount E is equal to or greater than the threshold value E1 (E≧E1). The control unit 70a compares the currently calculated gas amount E with the threshold value E1. If the result of step S702 is "YES," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount E is equal to or greater than the threshold value E1, the process proceeds to step S703. On the other hand, if the result of step S702 is "NO," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount E is less than the threshold value E1, the process proceeds to step S704.

[0060] In S703, it is estimated that the state is "high in bifidobacteria." That is, if the gas amount E calculated this time is equal to or greater than the initial value of the amount of lactone gas for the user U, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "high in bifidobacteria," and ends the process. The control unit 70a also transmits a signal indicating that the state is "high in bifidobacteria" to the information terminal 60. The information terminal 60 issues a notification from the notification unit 60b based on the signal indicating that the state is "high in bifidobacteria." The control unit 70a also stores the estimation result in the memory unit 70b.

[0061] In S704, it is estimated that the state is "low in bifidobacteria." That is, if the gas amount E calculated this time is less than the initial value of the amount of lactone gas for the user U, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "low in bifidobacteria," and ends the process. The control unit 70a also transmits a signal indicating that the state is "low in bifidobacteria" to the information terminal 60. The information terminal 60 issues a notification from the notification unit 60b based on the signal indicating that the state is "low in bifidobacteria." The control unit 70a also stores the estimation result in the memory unit 70b.

[0062] The control unit 70a may estimate a change in the amount of bifidobacteria based on the amount of lactone gas E. For example, the control unit 70a may estimate that "the amount of bifidobacteria is increasing" when the amount of lactone gas E is twice or more the initial amount of lactone gas, that "the amount of bifidobacteria is not changing" when the amount of lactone gas E is one to less than twice the initial amount of lactone gas, and that "the amount of bifidobacteria is decreasing" when the amount of lactone gas E is less than the initial amount of lactone gas.

[0063] Next, the content notified by the notifying unit 60b of the information terminal 60 will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the detection result of the skin gas sensor displayed on the notification unit of the information terminal. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the amount of bifidobacteria estimated by the control unit. The examples shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are cases where it is estimated in S703 in FIG. 6 that there are "a lot of bifidobacteria."

[0064] As shown in FIG. 7, notification unit 60b displays the detection result of skin gas sensor 40 as a skin gas score. The skin gas score is calculated based on, for example, the amount of lactone gas. In the example of FIG. 7, the skin gas score is set to be higher as the amount of lactone gas increases. The skin gas score may be calculated based on, for example, the concentration of lactone gas. The skin gas score may be calculated based on, for example, the output value of skin gas sensor 40. Notification unit 60b may display a comparison between the current skin gas score and the initial skin gas score. In the example of FIG. 7, it is displayed that the current skin gas score is 2.1 times the initial skin gas score. Notification unit 60b may display the detection result of skin gas sensor 40 as the amount of lactone gas or the concentration of lactone gas.

[0065] Notification unit 60b may display only the current detection result of skin gas sensor 40, or may display the current detection result of skin gas sensor 40 as well as the previous detection results of skin gas sensor 40. Notification unit 60b may also display changes in the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 in the form of a diagram or graph. Examples of diagrams and graphs showing changes in the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 include scatter plots and bar graphs. Diagrams and graphs showing changes in the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 may also display moving averages or medians. In the example of FIG. 7, notification unit 60b displays a line indicating the initial value of user U's skin gas score along with a scatter plot showing changes in the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 over a one-week period.

[0066] Notification unit 60b can display, for example, the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, allowing user U to understand changes over time in the detection results of skin gas sensor 40.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, notification unit 60b displays the estimated amount of bifidobacteria. In the example of FIG. 8, "There are many bifidobacteria" is displayed. In the example of FIG. 9, "The amount of bifidobacteria is increasing this week" is displayed. Notification unit 60b may display the estimated amount of bifidobacteria as a score. In the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, notification unit 60b displays the detection result of skin gas sensor 40 (skin gas score) along with the estimated amount of bifidobacteria.

[0068] The notification unit 60b may display only the current estimation result of the amount of bifidobacteria, or may display the previous estimation results of the amount of bifidobacteria in addition to the current estimation result of the amount of bifidobacteria. The notification unit 60b may also display changes in the estimation result of the amount of bifidobacteria in a diagram or graph. Examples of diagrams and graphs showing changes in the estimation result of the amount of bifidobacteria include scatter plots and bar graphs. A moving average line or a median may be displayed in the diagram or graph showing changes in the estimation result of the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0069] The notification unit 60b can display the estimated amount of bifidobacteria on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, for example. This allows the user U to understand the change over time in the estimated amount of bifidobacteria. Therefore, the user U can look back on the effects of foods, supplements, and the like that he or she has tried as part of activities to improve the amount of bifidobacteria (so-called "intestinal health").

[0070] 6, if it is estimated that the state is "low in bifidobacteria," the notification unit 60b will display that the state is "low in bifidobacteria." This allows the user U to recognize the amount of bifidobacteria in his or her own state when using the toilet device 10.

[0071] The notification unit 60b may notify the current estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria) along with a recommendation for the current estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria). In the example of Fig. 8, the notification unit 60b displays that the state is "high in bifidobacteria" and notifies the recommendation "Continue to take care of your intestinal health!" For example, when the state is estimated to be "low in bifidobacteria" in S704 in Fig. 6, the notification unit 60b displays that the state is "low in bifidobacteria" and notifies the recommendation "Eat foods that increase bifidobacteria!"

[0072] The notification unit 60b may notify a recommendation for the estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria) for the predetermined period of time stored in the memory unit 70b. In the example of Fig. 9, the notification unit 60b displays that the state is "high in bifidobacteria" and notifies the recommendation "Continue to take care of your intestinal health!" For example, when the state is estimated to be "low in bifidobacteria" in S704 in Fig. 6, the notification unit 60b displays that the state is "low in bifidobacteria" and notifies the recommendation "Eat foods that increase bifidobacteria!"

[0073] Next, a toilet system 710 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 15. The toilet system 710 estimates the amount of bifidobacteria in a user U based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor 40 and the fecal gas sensor 52. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a communication system of the toilet system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the positional relationship between a user seated on a toilet seat, the skin gas sensor, and the defecation gas sensor. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the toilet system 710 is the same as the toilet system 700 except that the toilet unit 2 further includes a fecal gas sensor 52 .

[0074] The defecation gas sensor 52 is provided in the toilet apparatus 10 and detects defecation gas. The defecation gas is gas released when the user U defecates. The defecation gas includes fecal gas emitted from the feces excreted in the toilet apparatus 10 (bowl portion 11a of the toilet 11) and flatulence gas discharged from the anus of the user U. The defecation gas sensor 52 detects, for example, gas derived from good bacteria as defecation gas. Examples of gas derived from good bacteria include hydrogen gas, methane gas, and carbon dioxide gas. The defecation gas sensor 52 may also detect, for example, gas derived from bad bacteria as defecation gas. Examples of gas derived from bad bacteria include hydrogen sulfide gas and methanethiol (methyl mercaptan) gas. The defecation gas sensor 52 can be, for example, a semiconductor gas sensor, an electrochemical sensor, a gas heat transfer sensor, a surface acoustic wave sensor, a catalytic combustion sensor, an optical sensor, a carbon nanotube sensor, a graphene sensor, an optical fiber sensor, a thin film sensor, a MEMS thermal conduction sensor, a micro thermoelectric sensor, an electromotive force change sensor, a gas chromatography measurement sensor, a VOC (volatile organic compound) sensor, etc. The defecation gas sensor 52 is connected to the control unit 15.

[0075] The defecation gas sensor 52 is provided inside the casing 12. The defecation gas sensor 52 is provided in the exhaust passage (not shown) of the deodorizing unit. When it is detected that the user U is seated, a fan (not shown) provided in the exhaust passage is activated, causing defecation gas to flow into the exhaust passage from a defecation gas intake hole (not shown) provided in the casing 12. The defecation gas sensor 52 detects defecation gas that has filled the exhaust passage. When it is detected that the user U has left the seat, the operation of the fan stops. In other words, the defecation gas sensor 52 detects defecation gas while the user is seated. The detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52 is transmitted to the management device 70 via the information terminal 60. The management device 70 estimates the metabolic state of the user U based on the detection result of the skin gas sensor 40 and the detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52.

[0076] Similar to the toilet system 700, the toilet system 710 obtains consent from the user U for skin gas detection and fecal gas detection. When the user U sits on the toilet seat 20, sensor detection is performed by the skin gas sensor 40 and the fecal gas sensor 52. The detection results of the skin gas sensor 40 and the fecal gas sensor 52 are transmitted to the management device 70 via the information terminal 60.

[0077] The control unit 70a calculates the amount of defecation gas F (hereinafter referred to as gas amount F) in the same manner as calculating the amount E of skin gas G (gas amount E). The control unit 70a calculates the difference between the output value of the defecation gas sensor 52 detected when the user U is seated on the toilet seat 20 and the maximum output value of the defecation gas sensor 52 detected while the user U is seated on the toilet seat 20. The control unit 70a calculates the gas amount F by applying the calculated difference to a calibration curve stored in the memory unit 70b. The gas amount F is, for example, the diffusion flux. The metabolic state of the user U may be estimated from the concentration of defecation gas.

[0078] There is a possibility that fecal gas from the user U who previously used the toilet device 10 may remain in the exhaust passage. Therefore, the control unit 70a may determine that it is not possible to estimate the metabolic state if the output value of the fecal gas sensor 52 detected when the user U sits on the toilet seat 20 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0079] The control unit 70a estimates the metabolic state of the user U based on the calculated gas amounts E and F. The control unit 70a transmits the calculated gas amounts E and F and the estimated results of the metabolic state of the user U to the information terminal 60. The control unit 60a of the information terminal 60 causes the notification unit 60b to notify the received gas amounts E and F and the estimated results of the metabolic state. The user U can recognize his or her own metabolic state by checking the notification unit 60b.

[0080] Next, the skin gas and fecal gas control process executed by the control unit 70a will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The control unit 70a estimates the amount of bifidobacteria as the metabolic state of the user U. As described above, when bifidobacteria are abundant, the lactone concentration in the blood increases, and the amount of lactone gas emitted from the skin increases. Furthermore, when there are many beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria in the intestines, the amount of short-chain fatty acids increases, and the amounts of hydrogen gas, methane gas, and carbon dioxide gas, which are decomposition products of short-chain fatty acids, increase. Therefore, when there are many beneficial bacteria, the amounts of hydrogen gas, methane gas, and carbon dioxide gas contained in fecal gas increase. Similarly, when there are few beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria in the intestines, the amount of harmful bacteria in the intestines is likely to be high. When harmful bacteria increase in the intestines, nutrients decay, causing an increase in hydrogen sulfide gas and methanethiol (methyl mercaptan) gas. Therefore, when there are many harmful bacteria in the intestines, the amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas and methanethiol (methyl mercaptan) gas contained in fecal gas increase. From these facts, the control unit 70a can estimate the amount of bifidobacteria in the user U based on the amount of lactone gas and the amount of fecal gas. In this example, the fecal gas sensor 52 detects gas derived from beneficial bacteria. The number of carbon atoms in the lactone gas detected by the skin gas sensor 40 is, for example, 6 to 11.

[0081] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the skin gas and defecation gas control process executed by the control unit. The control process shown in FIG. 12 is stored in advance in the storage unit 70b of the management device 70.

[0082] Here, the user U performs an initial setting before using this toilet system 710. This initial setting is to store the initial value of the amount of lactone gas emitted from the skin of the user U and the initial value of the amount of fecal gas in the memory unit 70b.

[0083] After user U is personally authenticated using information terminal 60, he or she operates information terminal 60 to input initial setting instructions and sits on toilet seat 20. Skin gas sensor 40 detects lactone gas emitted from the skin (thigh U1) of user U seated on toilet seat 20. Defecation gas sensor 52 detects defecation gas. Control unit 15 of toilet device 10 transmits the output values ​​of skin gas sensor 40 and defecation gas sensor 52 to information terminal 60. Information terminal 60 transmits the received output values ​​of skin gas sensor 40 and defecation gas sensor 52 as initial setting information, together with the user's unique identification information, to management device 70 via the Internet.

[0084] The control unit 70a of the management device 70 stores the amount of lactone gas calculated from the output value (difference value) of skin gas sensor 40 and the amount of defecation gas calculated from the output value (difference value) of defecation gas sensor 52, which are transmitted from the information terminal 60, as initial values ​​in the memory unit 70b. The control unit 70a stores the initial value of the amount of lactone gas as a threshold E1 and the initial value of the amount of defecation gas as a threshold F1 in the memory unit 70b. The initial value of the amount of lactone gas, threshold E1, initial value of the amount of defecation gas, and threshold F1 are stored in the memory unit 70b in association with the user's unique identification information. The initial value of the amount of lactone gas may be the result of a single detection by skin gas sensor 40 detected at the initial setting, or may be the average of multiple detection results by skin gas sensor 40 detected at the initial setting. The initial value of the amount of defecation gas may be the result of a single detection by defecation gas sensor 52 detected at the initial setting, or may be the average of multiple detection results by defecation gas sensor 52 detected at the initial setting. The threshold value E1 and the threshold value F1 may be values ​​that are stored in advance in the storage unit 70b.

[0085] When the initial value of the amount of lactone gas, threshold value E1, initial value of the amount of fecal gas, and threshold value F1 are stored in the memory unit 70b in the initial setting, the control unit 70a estimates the amount of bifidobacteria in user U based on S711 to S721 of Figure 12.

[0086] In S711, it is determined whether or not the defecation gas sensor 52 has detected defecation gas. If S711 returns "YES," i.e., if it is determined that the defecation gas sensor 52 has detected defecation gas, the process proceeds to S712. On the other hand, if S711 returns "NO," i.e., if it is determined that the defecation gas sensor 52 has not detected defecation gas, the process proceeds to S713.

[0087] In S712, the amount of defecation gas F (gas volume F) is calculated. That is, when the defecation gas sensor 52 detects defecation gas, the control unit 70a calculates the gas volume F from the output value of the defecation gas sensor 52 transmitted from the information terminal 60. The control unit 70a also acquires a threshold value F1 of identification information that is the same as the user-specific identification information transmitted from the information terminal 60. The control unit 70a also stores the calculated gas volume F in the memory unit 70b.

[0088] In S713, the control unit 70a acquires the amount of past defecation gas F. That is, when the defecation gas sensor 52 does not detect defecation gas, the control unit 70a acquires the amount of past defecation gas F stored in the memory unit 70b. The control unit 70a also acquires a threshold value F1 of identification information that is the same as the user's unique identification information transmitted from the information terminal 60.

[0089] In the next step S714, the amount E of lactone gas (gas amount E) is calculated. That is, control unit 70a calculates gas amount E from the output value of skin gas sensor 40 transmitted from information terminal 60. Control unit 70a also acquires threshold value E1 of identification information that is the same as the user-specific identification information transmitted from information terminal 60. Control unit 70a also stores the calculated gas amount E in memory unit 70b.

[0090] Next, in S715, it is determined whether the gas amount E is equal to or greater than the threshold value E1 (E≧E1). The control unit 70a compares the currently calculated gas amount E with the threshold value E1. If the result of S715 is "YES," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount E is equal to or greater than the threshold value E1, the process proceeds to S716. On the other hand, if the result of S715 is "NO," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount E is less than the threshold value E1, the process proceeds to S719.

[0091] In S716, it is determined whether the gas amount F is equal to or greater than the threshold value F1 (F≧F1). The control unit 70a compares the gas amount F with the threshold value F1. If the determination in S716 is "YES," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount F is equal to or greater than the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S717. On the other hand, if the determination in S716 is "NO," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount F is less than the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S718.

[0092] In S717, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "high in bifidobacteria, and the bifidobacteria provide a good intestinal environment." That is, if the currently calculated gas volume E is equal to or greater than the initial value of the user U's lactone gas volume and the gas volume F is equal to or greater than the initial value of the user U's fecal gas volume, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "high in bifidobacteria, and the bifidobacteria provide a good intestinal environment," and the process ends. The control unit 70a also transmits a signal indicating that the state is "high in bifidobacteria, and the bifidobacteria provide a good intestinal environment" to the information terminal 60. The information terminal 60 issues a notification from the notification unit 60b based on the signal indicating that the state is "high in bifidobacteria, and the bifidobacteria provide a good intestinal environment." The control unit 70a also stores the estimation result in the memory unit 70b.

[0093] In S718, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "low in bifidobacteria, lactone gas has increased due to causes other than bifidobacteria, and the intestinal environment is poor." That is, if the currently calculated gas volume E is equal to or greater than the initial value of the user U's lactone gas volume and the gas volume F is less than the initial value of the user U's fecal gas volume, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "low in bifidobacteria, lactone gas has increased due to causes other than bifidobacteria, and the intestinal environment is poor," and the process ends. The control unit 70a also transmits a signal indicating that the state is "low in bifidobacteria, lactone gas has increased due to causes other than bifidobacteria, and the intestinal environment is poor" to the information terminal 60. The information terminal 60 issues a notification from the notification unit 60b based on the signal indicating that the state is "low in bifidobacteria, lactone gas has increased due to causes other than bifidobacteria, and the intestinal environment is poor." The control unit 70a also stores the estimation result in the memory unit 70b. Causes other than bifidobacteria include, for example, the female cycle.

[0094] In S719, it is determined whether the gas amount F is equal to or greater than the threshold value F1 (F≧F1). The control unit 70a compares the gas amount F with the threshold value F1. If the determination in S719 is "YES," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount F is equal to or greater than the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S720. On the other hand, if the determination in S719 is "NO," that is, if it is determined that the gas amount F is less than the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S721.

[0095] In S720, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "good intestinal environment with few bifidobacteria and intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria." That is, if the currently calculated gas volume E is less than the initial value of the amount of lactone gas for the user U and the gas volume F is equal to or greater than the initial value of the amount of fecal gas for the user U, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "good intestinal environment with few bifidobacteria and intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria," and ends the process. The control unit 70a also transmits a signal indicating the state of "good intestinal environment with few bifidobacteria and intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria" to the information terminal 60. The information terminal 60 issues a notification based on the signal indicating the state of "good intestinal environment with few bifidobacteria and intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria." The control unit 70a also stores the estimation result in the memory unit 70b. Examples of intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria include lactic acid bacteria.

[0096] In S721, it is estimated that the state is "low in bifidobacteria and poor intestinal environment." That is, if the currently calculated gas amount E is less than the initial value of the amount of lactone gas for the user U and the gas amount F is less than the initial value of the amount of fecal gas for the user U, the control unit 70a estimates that the state is "low in bifidobacteria and poor intestinal environment," and ends the process. The control unit 70a also transmits a signal indicating that the state is "low in bifidobacteria and poor intestinal environment" to the information terminal 60. The information terminal 60 issues a notification from the notification unit 60b based on the signal indicating that the state is "low in bifidobacteria and poor intestinal environment." The control unit 70a also stores the estimation result in the memory unit 70b.

[0097] The control unit 70a may make the determination using a plurality of thresholds in S715, S716, and S719. By the control unit 70a making the determination using a plurality of thresholds, the amount of bifidobacteria and the intestinal environment can be estimated in stages.

[0098] 12, the case where the fecal gas sensor 52 detects gas derived from good bacteria has been described. However, the fecal gas sensor 52 may also detect gas derived from bad bacteria. In this case, in S716 and S719, it is determined whether the gas amount F is equal to or less than the threshold value F1 (F≦F1). If S716 returns "YES," i.e., the gas amount F is equal to or less than the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S717. On the other hand, if S716 returns "NO," i.e., the gas amount F exceeds the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S718. If S719 returns "YES," i.e., the gas amount F is equal to or less than the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S720. On the other hand, if S719 returns "NO," i.e., the gas amount F exceeds the threshold value F1, the process proceeds to S721.

[0099] Next, the content notified by the notifying unit 60b of the information terminal 60 will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the detection result of the defecation gas sensor displayed on the notification unit of the information terminal. 14 and 15 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the amount of bifidobacteria estimated by the control unit. The examples shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 are cases where it is estimated in S717 in FIG. 12 that "there are many bifidobacteria and the bifidobacteria make the intestinal environment good."

[0100] As shown in FIG. 13, the notification unit 60b displays, for example, the detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52 as a defecation gas score. The defecation gas score is calculated, for example, based on the amount of defecation gas. In the example of FIG. 13, the defecation gas sensor 52 detects gas derived from good bacteria, so the defecation gas score is set to be higher as the amount of defecation gas increases. If the defecation gas sensor 52 detects gas derived from bad bacteria, the defecation gas score is set to be higher as the amount of defecation gas decreases. The defecation gas score may be calculated, for example, based on the concentration of defecation gas. The defecation gas score may be calculated, for example, based on the output value of the defecation gas sensor 52. The notification unit 60b may display a comparison between the current defecation gas score and the initial defecation gas score. In the example of FIG. 13, it is displayed that the current defecation gas score is 2.4 times the initial defecation gas score. The notification unit 60b may display the detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52 as the amount of defecation gas or the concentration of defecation gas.

[0101] The notification unit 60b may display only the current detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52, or may display the current detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52 as well as the previous detection results of the defecation gas sensor 52. The notification unit 60b may also display changes in the detection results of the defecation gas sensor 52 in the form of a diagram or graph. Examples of diagrams and graphs showing changes in the detection results of the defecation gas sensor 52 include scatter plots and bar graphs. Diagrams and graphs showing changes in the detection results of the defecation gas sensor 52 may also display moving averages or medians. In the example of FIG. 13, the notification unit 60b displays a line indicating the initial value of the defecation gas score of user U, along with a scatter plot showing changes in the detection results of the defecation gas sensor 52 over a one-week period.

[0102] The notification unit 60b can display, for example, the detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52 on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, allowing the user U to understand the change over time in the detection result of the defecation gas sensor 52.

[0103] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, notification unit 60b displays the estimated amount of bifidobacteria. In the example of FIG. 14, "There are many bifidobacteria" is displayed. In the example of FIG. 15, "The amount of bifidobacteria is increasing this week" is displayed. Notification unit 60b may display the estimated amount of bifidobacteria as a score. In the examples of FIGS. 14 and 15, notification unit 60b displays the detection results of skin gas sensor 40 (skin gas score) and fecal gas sensor 52 (fecal gas score) along with the estimated amount of bifidobacteria.

[0104] Furthermore, if it is estimated in S718 in FIG. 12 that the state is "poor intestinal environment due to a low number of bifidobacteria and an increase in lactone gas due to causes other than bifidobacteria," the notification unit 60b will display a message indicating that the state is "poor intestinal environment due to a low number of bifidobacteria and an increase in lactone gas due to causes other than bifidobacteria." If it is estimated in S720 in FIG. 12 that the state is "good intestinal environment due to a low number of bifidobacteria and intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria," the notification unit 60b will display a message indicating that the state is "poor intestinal environment due to a low number of bifidobacteria and intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria." If it is estimated in S721 in FIG. 12 that the state is "poor intestinal environment due to a low number of bifidobacteria and intestinal environment," the notification unit 60b will display a message indicating that the state is "poor intestinal environment due to a low number of bifidobacteria." This allows the user U to recognize his or her own amount of bifidobacteria when using the toilet device 10.

[0105] The notification unit 60b may notify, along with the amount of bifidobacteria, a recommendation for the amount of bifidobacteria. In the example of Fig. 14, the state "high in bifidobacteria, and a good intestinal environment due to the bifidobacteria" is displayed, and the recommendation "Continue taking care of your intestines!" is displayed. In the example of Fig. 15, the state "high in bifidobacteria, and a good intestinal environment due to the bifidobacteria" is displayed, and the recommendation "Continue taking care of your intestines!" is displayed. For example, when the notification unit 60b estimates in S720 of Fig. 12 that the state is "low in bifidobacteria, and a good intestinal environment due to intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria," the notification unit 60b displays the state "low in bifidobacteria, and a good intestinal environment due to intestinal bacteria other than bifidobacteria" and notifies the recommendation "If you want to increase bifidobacteria as well, choose foods that are suitable for bifidobacteria!" For example, if it is estimated in S721 in FIG. 12 that the state is "low in bifidobacteria and poor intestinal environment," the notification unit 60b displays that the state is "low in bifidobacteria and poor intestinal environment," and notifies the user with the suggestion, "Start taking care of your intestines!"

[0106] The notification unit 60b may notify a recommendation for the current estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria) along with the current estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria), or may notify a recommendation for the estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria) for a predetermined period along with the estimation result (amount of bifidobacteria) for a predetermined period stored in the memory unit 70b.

[0107] The effects of the toilet systems 700 and 710 will be described below. When there are many bifidobacteria in the intestines, nutrients are fermented and hydrogen gas increases. Therefore, the amount of bifidobacteria can be estimated by detecting hydrogen gas. However, hydrogen gas is not only produced by bifidobacteria, but also by other intestinal bacteria (e.g., lactic acid bacteria). Therefore, the concentration of hydrogen gas in excretory gas does not necessarily correlate with the amount of bifidobacteria in the intestines. Therefore, estimating the amount of bifidobacteria based on the concentration of hydrogen gas in excretory gas may result in poor accuracy.

[0108] In contrast, in toilet systems 700 and 710, control unit 70a estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of skin gas sensor 40, thereby enabling the amount of bifidobacteria to be estimated with high accuracy.

[0109] Furthermore, in the toilet system 710, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and the fecal gas sensor, thereby enabling more accurate estimation of the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0110] Furthermore, in the toilet system 710, if the fecal gas sensor 52 does not detect fecal gas, the control unit 70a estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor 40 and the past detection results of the fecal gas sensor 52 stored in the memory unit 70b, thereby enabling the amount of bifidobacteria to be estimated with high accuracy even if the fecal gas sensor 52 does not detect fecal gas.

[0111] Furthermore, in the toilet systems 700 and 710, the notification unit 60b notifies the user U of a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria, thereby urging the user U to take appropriate measures according to the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0112] Furthermore, in the toilet systems 700 and 710, the notification unit 60b notifies the user U of the estimated results for a predetermined period stored in the storage unit 70b, thereby enabling the user U to grasp the amount of bifidobacteria for the past predetermined period.

[0113] Furthermore, in the toilet systems 700 and 710, the notification unit 60b notifies the user U of a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria over a predetermined period, thereby urging the user U to take appropriate measures according to the amount of bifidobacteria over a past predetermined period.

[0114] Furthermore, in the toilet systems 700 and 710, the skin gas sensor 40 is located below the upper surface 21a of the seating portion 21 and is provided in the recessed portion 23, thereby enabling efficient detection of the skin gas G that fills the recessed portion 23 (space S).

[0115] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the metabolic state of the user U is estimated by the control unit 70a of the management device 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the metabolic state of the user U may be estimated by the control unit 15 of the toilet device 10 or the control unit 60a of the information terminal 60, for example.

[0116] In the above-described embodiment, the management device 70 and the information terminal 60 are communicatively connected via a network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the toilet device 10 and the management device 70 may be communicatively connected via a network. In other words, the detection results of the skin gas sensor 40 and the like may be transmitted to the management device 70 without going through the information terminal 60.

[0117] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the metabolic state is estimated based on the amount of skin gas G detected while seating on toilet seat 20 is detected by seating sensor 45. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, seating sensor 45 may not be provided. In this case, the metabolic state may be estimated based on the amount of skin gas G detected for a predetermined time period from when user U is personally authenticated (or until personal authentication is canceled), for example.

[0118] Embodiments may include the following features.

[0119] (Configuration 1) a toilet device having a toilet seat on which a user sits; a skin gas sensor provided in the toilet device and configured to detect lactone gas emitted from the skin of the user; a control unit that estimates the amount of bifidobacteria in the user based on the detection result of the skin gas sensor; A toilet system comprising: an alarm unit that notifies the estimation result of the control unit.

[0120] (Configuration 2) The toilet device further includes a defecation gas sensor that detects defecation gas emitted when the user defecates, The toilet system according to configuration 1, wherein the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and the detection results of the fecal gas sensor.

[0121] (Configuration 3) The apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the detection result of the defecation gas sensor. The toilet system described in configuration 2 is characterized in that, when the fecal gas sensor does not detect the fecal gas, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and past detection results of the fecal gas sensor stored in the memory unit.

[0122] (Configuration 4) The toilet system according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the notification unit notifies the user of a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria.

[0123] (Configuration 5) Further, a storage unit for storing the estimation result is provided, 5. The toilet system according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the notification unit notifies the estimation result for the predetermined period stored in the storage unit.

[0124] (Configuration 6) The toilet system according to configuration 5, wherein the notification unit notifies a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria for the predetermined period.

[0125] (Configuration 7) The toilet seat is a seating section on which the user sits; a bottom portion facing the seating portion; a recessed portion recessed from the seating portion toward the bottom portion; and 7. The toilet system according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the skin gas sensor is provided in the recessed portion, positioned below the upper surface of the seating portion.

[0126] The above describes embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. Design modifications made by a person skilled in the art to the above-described embodiments are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they incorporate the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, materials, arrangement, installation form, etc. of each element of a toilet system are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements of the above-described embodiments can be combined to the extent technically possible, and such combinations are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they incorporate the features of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 2 Toilet Unit 10 Toilet equipment 11 Toilet 11a Bowl section 12 Casing 15 Control Unit 17 Memory section 20 toilet seats 20a opening 21 Seating area 21a Top surface 21b Bottom side 22 Bottom 23 Recess 23a Side wall part 23b Bottom part 24 through holes 30 toilet lid 40 Skin gas sensor 45 Seat sensor 52 Defecation gas sensor 60 Information terminal 60a Control section 60b Notification Department 70 Management device 70a Control section 70b Storage section 700, 710 Toilet System G Skin gas S space U User U1 thigh

Claims

1. a toilet device having a toilet seat on which a user sits; a skin gas sensor provided in the toilet device and configured to detect lactone gas emitted from the skin of the user; a control unit that estimates the amount of bifidobacteria in the user based on the detection result of the skin gas sensor; A toilet system comprising: an alarm unit that notifies the estimation result of the control unit.

2. The toilet device further includes a defecation gas sensor that detects defecation gas emitted when the user defecates, 2. The toilet system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and the detection results of the fecal gas sensor.

3. The apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the detection result of the defecation gas sensor. The toilet system of claim 2, wherein when the fecal gas sensor does not detect the fecal gas, the control unit estimates the amount of bifidobacteria based on the detection results of the skin gas sensor and past detection results of the fecal gas sensor stored in the memory unit.

4. The toilet system according to claim 1 , wherein the notification unit notifies a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria.

5. Further, a storage unit for storing the estimation result is provided, The toilet system according to claim 1 , wherein the notification unit notifies the estimation result for a predetermined period stored in the storage unit.

6. The toilet system according to claim 5, wherein the notification unit notifies a recommendation regarding the amount of bifidobacteria for the predetermined period.

7. The toilet seat is a seating section on which the user sits; a bottom portion facing the seating portion; a recessed portion recessed from the seating portion toward the bottom portion; and 7. The toilet system according to claim 1, wherein the skin gas sensor is provided in the recessed portion, positioned below an upper surface of the seating portion.

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