Toilet with sensor for detecting analytical consumable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current health monitoring technologies are limited by the high cost and infrequency of doctor's visits for diagnostic tools, making it difficult for individuals to track their health and wellness regularly, and smart toilets have not effectively integrated consumables for analysis and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An analytical toilet with a mechanism that uses consumables for excreta analysis, equipped with sensors to detect properties and a processor that generates alerts when these properties are outside predetermined parameters, ensuring the availability and suitability of consumables for use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If doctor's visits and scans are used for health diagnostics, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost and frequency of monitoring deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet system performs self-diagnostic monitoring by automatically analyzing excreta samples without requiring user action to collect samples or visit medical facilities. The sensor system continuously monitors health parameters through passive sample collection during normal toilet use, enabling individuals to track their own health regularly without external service intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary health screening through continuous analysis of excreta samples, detecting health issues before they become severe enough to require medical intervention. By monitoring trends over time, the system identifies early signs of health problems, allowing preventive action before costly medical treatment becomes necessary.
2Productivity
If sensors are integrated into the toilet for continuous health monitoring, then frequency of monitoring is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toilet system serves multiple functions: it collects excreta samples, analyzes them using sensors, stores health data, and provides user interface for monitoring. By combining these functions in a single integrated system, the patent avoids the complexity of separate devices while enabling continuous health monitoring through the existing toilet infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The toilet automatically performs sample collection, analysis, and data management without requiring external laboratory equipment or complex sample handling procedures. The sensor system is integrated directly into the toilet, eliminating the need for separate diagnostic devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high monitoring frequency.
3Ease of operation
If consumables are stored in the reservoir tank for toilet maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of consumable availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system continuously monitors the presence and condition of consumables in the reservoir tank, providing feedback to both the control system and users. When consumable levels are low or consumables are depleted, the system generates alerts to prompt replacement, ensuring reliable availability of necessary consumables for ongoing toilet maintenance and health monitoring functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects consumable status in advance before depletion occurs, allowing users to replace consumables proactively rather than reactively. By monitoring consumable levels continuously, the system ensures that consumables are replaced before they are completely used up, maintaining reliable operation of the toilet system.
Data Source
AI summary
An analytical toilet is disclosed. The toilet includes a bowl for receiving excreta, a mechanism that uses a consumable for analyzing a sample of excreta, a storage structure for storing the consumable, a sensor that detects at least one property of the consumable, and a processor that generates an alert when the property is outside a predetermined parameter. The property the sensor detects can be used to determine at least one of the identity of the consumable, the quantity or supply of the consumable, or a property related to the suitability of the consumable.