Abstract: We disclose a window blind which includes at least one conformable seal which may inhibit light and/or heat transmission. The slats of the window blinds may include conformable seals on one or more of their edges. The conformable seals may include interlocking teeth, intermingled bristles, or a continuous strip of material which may form a lip. The window blinds may also include a conformable seal around an orifice through which a cord may be inserted. The conformable seal around the orifice may be designed similar to those of the slats or may include overlapping flaps of material. The slats may also include materials with different properties on either side of the slats. These may include light reflecting material and heat absorbing material.

Abstract: Many diseases are difficult to diagnose or present with no symptoms that would suggest that medical diagnosis is needed until significant bodily damage has occurred. We disclose a medical toilet that may be used to diagnose disease. The toilet comprises a conduit through which volatile organic compounds travel from the toilet bowl to the environment outside the toilet. The invention includes methods that comprise the steps of training an animal to identify the scent of bodily waste collected from a user that is afflicted with a defined disease. A user's bodily waste is deposited into the medical toilet and the animal is then exposed to the volatile organic compounds traveling through the conduit on the medical toilet. The animal performs an act that signals that the animal has perceived the smell associated with the disease. Thus, we disclose a novel device for diagnosing disease and methods of user thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of detecting a drug marker in a urine sample. The drug markers are fluorophores each of which emits a unique fluorescence spectrum. Accordingly, the method does not detect the drug but rather, the drug marker. The drug marker may include quantum dots which may be functionalized by connecting the quantum dot to a biomolecule. The biomolecule may be cleavable by a peptidase, a protease, or a nuclease to release the drug. Alternatively, the composition may include a liposome carrier. A user who has consumed the drug composition provides a urine sample. The fluorescence spectrometer screens the urine for drug markers based on their unique fluorescent spectra.

Abstract: A hidden hinge system for raising and lowering a toilet seat or toilet lid is disclosed. In one embodiment, each hinge includes a curved support with a smooth, easy to clean surface. The curved support is connected to a lever and the lever is connected to a hinge assembly. We disclose embodiments in which both the lever and the hinge assembly are enclosed within a toilet housing to improve cleanliness. We further disclose embodiments in which the curved supports are hollow and which contain electrical wiring, water, and gases. Controller and proximity sensors which modulate the raising and lowering of the toilet seat and toilet lid are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of detecting a drug marker in urine a urine sample using a toilet. The drug markers are fluorophores each of which emits a unique fluorescence spectra. Accordingly, the method does not detect the drug but rather, the drug marker. The drug marker may include quantum dots which may be functionalized by connecting the quantum dot to a biomolecule. The biomolecule may be cleavable by a peptidase, a protease, or a nuclease to release the drug. Alternatively, the composition may include a liposome carrier. A user who has consumed the drug composition urinates into the toilet and a urine sample is captured. The toilet includes a mechanism for fluid handling which diverts urine into a fluorescence spectrometer. The fluorescence spectrometer screens the urine for drug markers based on their unique fluorescent spectra.

Abstract: A dryer for use with a bidet is disclosed. In one embodiment, a moveable dryer wand emits an air curtain as the dryer wand moves across the bidet bowl beneath the user after cleansing. We further disclose a dryer which produces a second air current which moves air in a different direction than that emitted by the dryer wand and further controls the movement of excess water remaining on a user after cleansing. A dryer that includes moveable dryer wand used in coordination with a moveable bidet wand are also disclosed and claimed herein.

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 present invention is directed to a toilet that includes a slanted fill tube with an optical proximity sensor positioned on or within the inner surface of the fill tube. The optical proximity sensor includes an incoherent light source and a photodiode. The optical proximity sensor as disclosed herein detects small changes in volumes added to a toilet bowl. Consequently, small volumes of excrement that are deposited in the toilet bowl by a user may be detected with greater accuracy. In some embodiments, information about the volume of urine or feces deposited into the toilet bowl is recorded and calculated by a processor. Other sensors, including a toilet bowl water level sensor and a gas sensor may collect data in combination with the optical proximity sensor to provide more complete information about the user's health.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a toilet that includes a liquid level sensor on the surface of a flush jet fill tube. The liquid level sensor is a noncontact electrical impedance sensor that is an electrical capacitor. The capacitor may be used alone or with other volume sensors to detect volume of materials added to a toilet bowl. Some embodiments include a processor which records data and provides reports that may be clinically useful to assess the user's health status. The temporal nature of the liquid level sensor measurements is particularly useful because urination or defecation may be measured over time. Not only are total volumes detected but rates at which waste is deposited into the toilet during the entire excretion event are detected. These measurements are particularly useful in assessing certain health conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a toilet that includes one or more water volume and flow rate sensors on the surface of a P-trap. Changes in volume within the toilet's hydraulic circuit indicate volume of excrement added. Changes in rate of flow through the P-trap indicate rate of excretion. The sensors may be electrical capacitors. The capacitance readings may provide data relevant to a user's health status or assist in diagnosis of disease.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of detecting a drug marker in urine a urine sample using a toilet. The drug markers are fluorophores each of which emits a unique fluorescence spectra. Accordingly, the method does not detect the drug but rather, the drug marker. A user who has consumed the drug with its unique drug marker then urinates into the toilet and a urine sample is captured. The toilet includes a mechanism for fluid handling which diverts urine into a fluorescence spectrometer. The fluorescence spectrometer screens the urine for drug markers based on their unique fluorescent spectra. The toilet may include a controller which quantifies the drug marker. The fluorescent spectrometer may detect multiple drug markers in a single urine sample. This method may be used to confirm drug compliance, test for illicit drugs, identify amounts of drugs consumed, and other uses described herein.