Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with feces of a subject that are disposed within a toilet bowl. One or more light sensors receive light from the toilet bowl, while the feces are disposed within the toilet bowl. A computer processor detects a set of three or more spectral components that have a characteristic relationship with each other in a light spectrum of bile, by analyzing the received light, and detects a presence of bile within the feces, in response to detecting the set of three or more spectral components. The computer processor generates an output in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including one or more sensors that are coupled to a toilet bowl, and that are configured to detect one or more urine-related parameters relating to a subject's urine, and at least one computer processor configured to receive the one or more urine-related parameters from the one or more sensors, determine when the subject's urine has an elevated creatinine concentration, and determine a likely cause of the elevated creatinine concentration. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with urine and feces of a subject that are emitted into a toilet bowl. One or more sensors are coupled to the toilet bowl and are configured to detect one or more urine-related parameters relating to the subject's urine and one or more feces-related parameters relating to the subject's feces, without requiring any action to be performed by any person subsequent to emission of the urine or feces into the toilet bowl. A computer processor determines that the subject is suffering from dehydration, at least partially based upon the one or more urine-related parameters, and classifies the dehydration as being a given type of dehydration, at least partially based upon the one or more feces-related parameters. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with feces of a subject that are disposed within a toilet bowl. One or more light sensors receive light from the toilet bowl, while the feces are disposed within the toilet bowl. A computer processor detects a set of three or more spectral components that have a characteristic relationship with each other in a light spectrum of bile, by analyzing the received light, and detects a presence of bile within the feces, in response to detecting the set of three or more spectral components. The computer processor generates an output in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with feces of a subject that are disposed within a toilet bowl, and an output device. One or more light sensors are configured to receive light from the toilet bowl, while the feces are disposed within the toilet bowl. A computer processor analyzes the received light, and, in response thereto, detects a currently-occurring inflammatory bowel disease episode, and/or a predicted upcoming inflammatory bowel disease episode. The computer processor generates an output on the output device, at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with feces of a subject that is disposed within a toilet bowl (23), and an output device (32). One or more light sensors (60, 62, 64, 66) receive light from the toilet bowl, while the feces are disposed within the toilet bowl. A computer processor (44) analyzes the received light, and, in response thereto, determines that there is a presence of blood within the feces, and determines a source of the blood from within the subject's gastrointestinal tract. The computer processor (44) generates an output on the output device (32), at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with feces of a subject that are disposed within a toilet bowl, and an output device. One or more light sensors are configured to receive light from the toilet bowl, while the feces are disposed within the toilet bowl. A computer processor analyzes the received light, and, in response thereto, detects a currently-occurring inflammatory bowel disease episode, and/or a predicted upcoming inflammatory bowel disease episode. The computer processor generates an output on the output device, at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with feces of a subject that is disposed within a toilet bowl (23), and an output device (32). One or more light sensors (60, 62, 64, 66) receive light from the toilet bowl, while the feces are disposed within the toilet bowl. A computer processor (44) analyzes the received light, and, in response thereto, determines that there is a presence of blood within the feces, and determines a source of the blood from within the subject's gastrointestinal tract. The computer processor (44) generates an output on the output device (32), at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a method of characterizing a surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes: (a) positioning a piezoelectric sensor near the surface; (b) obtaining by the sensor a resonant acoustic profile (RAP) of the surface; and (c) analyzing the obtained RAP to characterize the surface. The piezoelectric sensor has an interacting layer, which is adapted for binding to the surface to be characterized. In one embodiment, the characterized surface and the interacting layer are of about the same size.