Abstract: We disclose a tag for tracking and identifying pharmaceutical and nutritional products. The tag includes a paramagnetic microparticle which is connected to at least one unique and detectable chemical. The chemical may be coated on the paramagnetic microparticle or connected through functional groups. The tags may be too large to be taken into the bloodstream and therefore remain in the user's gastrointestinal tract. The tags may be fully or partially isolated from feces for analysis. The tags are attracted to an external electromagnetic force but are not magnetically attracted to each other. Consequently, the tags are safe to ingest. The tags may vary in volume or mass so as to be separable according to mass. The tags may be non-spherical in shape thus increasing the surface area to volume ratio and increasing the amount of chemical which may be attached as a taggant.

Abstract: We disclose a drug tracking system and method of use which may be used to screen a user's bodily waste and to collect information about the drugs the user has consumed. The system includes mixing or adhering a drug tag with a drug compound. The drug tag includes at least one nucleic acid or nucleic acid analog, the unique nucleotide sequence of which correlates to information about the drug. The unique sequence may correlate with a drug molecule, a drug class, a manufacturer, and/or a distributer. Each of these categories of information may be incorporated into the nucleotide sequence of a separate nucleic acid or nucleic acid analog molecules or combined in a single molecule. The sequence of the drug tag may be entered into a database which stores the drug information associated with each discrete nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: A quiet toilet apparatus disclosed. Microphones and circuitry are used to receive and detect one or more virtual point source locations and propagation directions of unwanted toilet noise. Speakers are used to create one or more synthesized wave fronts resulting in cancelation and reduction of unwanted toilet noise. The speakers, microphones and circuitry may be located within a toilet seat of a toilet or at a remote location. A user device or remote device may be connected to the noise reduction toilet apparatus for data recording, collection, reporting, and electronic noise filtering.

Abstract: We disclose a toilet system which analyzes solid waste to detect tags which were associated with pharmaceutical or nutritional products and excreted in the solid waste of a user. The toilet system may include a receptacle for receiving solid waste, a liquid dispenser for providing a liquid to assist in dispersing the solid waste, a solid waste dispersing system which may mix the solid waste with the liquid thereby homogenizing the solid waste, and an electromagnetic signature detector which may analyze the tags in the solid waste. The electromagnetic signature detector may include a selective binding surface which may bind tags present in the solid waste and which may be connected to a transducer which senses the presence of bound tags.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device that measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by an individual's urine, feces or present in flatulence for use in assessing the individual's health. The device may be part of a toilet. The device includes a gas sensor that measures VOCs in the air within the toilet bowl after waste is deposited therein. The device includes a manifold that keeps air from the toilet bowl separate from water and waste in the toilet bowl until the gas sensor has collected readings. Then the manifold combines the air, water, and waste before depositing the material into the sewer system. The gas sensor may be connected to a processor that analyses the gas sensor readings, provides a report of the analyzed data, and transmits the data to a network. A healthcare provider may download the data from the network to assess the individual's health.

Abstract: The novel impedance matching toilet seat apparatus in general, includes a cavity, an acoustic transducer, orifices, and an impedance matching substance dispenser. The cavity is positioned on a top surface of the toilet seat. The acoustic transducer is positioned within the cavity. The orifices are positioned on the top surface adjacent the acoustic transducer. The impedance matching substance dispenser is within an interior portion of the toilet seat. The dispenser includes a reservoir, a conduit, and a pump. The reservoir contains an impedance matching substance and is connected to the conduit and pump. The conduit fluidly connects the reservoir to the orifices.

Abstract: An otoscope apparatus is disclosed which, in general, includes a left-ear housing and a right-ear housing connected together by a tensioning band. The left-ear housing and right ear housing each include a light source and a camera. The left-ear and right-ear housings each include a speculum which corresponds to a user's left and right ear canals, respectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a toilet apparatus for detecting a drug marker in a urine sample. The drug markers are fluorophores each of which emits a unique fluorescence spectrum. Accordingly, the toilet does not detect the drug but rather, the drug marker. The user consumes a drug composition which includes a drug and a fluorescent drug marker. The user urinates normally into the toilet and fluorescence spectrometer within the toilet analyzes the urine for drug markers based on their unique fluorescent spectra. Computer software associated with the toilet identifies, and in some embodiments, quantifies the fluorescent spectra by comparing the detected spectra to known spectra of fluorescent markers associated with the drug.

Abstract: A toilet seat apparatus is disclosed herein which, in some embodiments, includes a cavity, an acoustic transducer, orifices, and an impedance matching substance dispenser. The dispenser may include a reservoir, a conduit, and a pump. The reservoir dispenses an impedance matching substance may be connected to the conduit and pump. The toilet seat apparatus performs ultrasound analyses of a user seated on the toilet. The impedance matching substance may be what is known as ultrasound gel which improves conduction during the acoustic transduction of an ultrasound analysis. This apparatus permits a user to receive an ultrasound analysis of the thigh, including automatically dispensing the ultrasound gel, while seated on a toilet seat.

Abstract: We disclose a telemedicine station for providing healthcare services outside of a staffed healthcare facility. The telemedicine station may include an audiovisual device through which a user may communicate with a remote healthcare provider. The telemedicine station may include cabinets with multiple compartments. The compartments may house medical devices that are adapted for an untrained user to operate. The telemedicine station may include a medical toilet which collects and analyzes urine and fecal samples. Other compartments house medical supplies which may include prescription medication. A user may receive authorization to access a compartment that houses a medical supply based on the results of the health metric and/or discussion with the remote healthcare provider. The telemedicine station and the compartments may require a user to be given access permission to open a compartment. The telemedicine station may include a compartment to deposit unused medications for destruction.

Abstract: We disclose a telemedicine device for tracking, dispensing, and retrieving medical supplies as well as methods of its use. The device includes a medical supply dispensing and retrieving station which includes a medical supply dispenser and medical supply receptacle. Both the medical supply dispenser and medical supply receptacle may include multiple compartments which house medical supplies. The device may include a communication port for receiving prescription information. The device includes a personal identification indicator which verifies the identity of the user and links the identity to the user's prescription information. The device may include medical devices. The medical devices may conduct measurements to confirm efficacy of a medical supply or screen for side effects. The device may confirm proper usage of a medical supply by weighing an unused portion of the medical supply and comparing it to the weight expected for the amount that should be remaining.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a toilet apparatus for detecting a drug marker in a urine sample. The drug markers are fluorophores each of which emits a unique fluorescence spectrum. Accordingly, the toilet does not detect the drug but rather, the drug marker. The user consumes a drug composition which includes a drug and a fluorescent drug marker. The user urinates normally into the toilet and fluorescence spectrometer within the toilet analyzes the urine for drug markers based on their unique fluorescent spectra. Computer software associated with the toilet identifies, and in some embodiments, quantifies the fluorescent spectra by comparing the detected spectra to known spectra of fluorescent markers associated with the drug.

Abstract: We disclose a medical toilet that includes a system for interpreting measurements collected by medical devices on or in the medical toilet and for customizing the measurements to each user. The system may use information about the user to selecting which measurements to perform, select or modify parameters that apply to the measurement techniques, and select follow-up measurements that may be performed based on the first set of measurements. These decisions may be made according to the user's physical, demographic, or medical status information that may be entered into a controller connected to the medical toilet. The controller may apply a set of rules to the measurements and thereby determine a value which provides an estimate of the validity of the measurements and which may be used to make adjustments to subsequent measurements.

Abstract: We disclose a device for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. The device includes a cover which may be a mask. The cover fits over a user's face as the user breathes. The cover includes one or more removably attached filters which collect VOCs. Some embodiments include reference filters which measure VOCs in the air the user inhales. Reference filter measurements may be subtracted from total VOCs collected from exhaled breath to exclude VOCs that did not originate in the user's body. The filters may be removed from the device and sent for analysis by a gas analyzer which may be a gas chromatograph. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The device may be used to assess a user's health status, identify or quantify compounds to which a user may have been exposed, or to aid in medical diagnosis.

Abstract: We disclose a health metric validation system in which a first heath metric is taken which is a measurement that is relevant to a user's health status. The first health metric may be used to diagnose a disease. A second metric is collected from the user and used to validate the first health metric. The first health metric and the second metric are entered into a computer which applies a first set of rules to the first health metric and second metric. The computer calculates a weight value and assigns it to the first health metric. The computer applies a second set of rules to the first health metric and its weight value to calculate an indicator value. The indicator value provides an indication of the validity of the first health metric.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a toilet which is a medical device and which includes multiple sensors and mechanisms for analyzing health metrics that may include biomarkers. The toilet is in communication with a computer processer that is programmed to evaluate the validity of collected health metrics. One set of metrics may inform the validity of another set of metrics. Each data point within the multiple health metrics is assigned a weight value that is an indicator of its validity. Data points may be excluded from calculations if deemed to be invalid. Data points may also be flagged as requiring additional information about the user to determine its validity or interpretation. Methods of using the toilet to assess the health status of a user is also disclosed.

Abstract: An excreta-sampling toilet is disclosed which includes a bowl, a processing apparatus, and a chiller. The bowl separates excreta into solid excreta and liquid excreta. The processing apparatus then processes the solid excreta into a solid excreta sample, including metering it by weight or volume and storing it in containers. The chiller lowers the temperature of the sample, which is stored to await analysis. A metered liquid excreta sample is also stored and chilled in separate storage containers.

Abstract: An in-toilet urine sampling and measurement system is disclosed. One or more toilet sensors trigger volatilization, measurement, and analysis of volatile compounds in a urine sample. Volatile urine compounds may be concentrated, measured, and analyzed by a measurement system attached to a toilet bowl. A volatilizer system may use heat generated from one or more measurement devices to assist in volatilization of the urine sample.

Abstract: An excreta-sampling toilet is disclosed which includes a bowl, a processing apparatus, and a chiller. The bowl separates excreta into solid excreta and liquid excreta. The processing apparatus then processes the solid excreta into a solid excreta sample, including metering it by weight or volume and storing it in containers. The chiller lowers the temperature of the sample, which is stored to await analysis. A metered liquid excreta sample is also stored and chilled in separate storage containers.

Abstract: A health condition determination method is disclosed. Analyte samples may be obtained from a medical toilet in individual sessions on a daily basis and analyzed over weeks, months and years. Data collected from these samples is analyzed according to a predetermined target variance. The data is filtered and recursively analyzed inputting additional sample data until the refined measured variance is within the target variance. The determined health condition is then communicated to a health professional.