U.S. patent application number 15/248788 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for excreta-sampling and chilling toilet.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dan Allen, Kevin Cheatham, Joe Fox, David R. Hall, Joshua Larsen, Jared Reynolds, Justin Robinson, Ben Swenson, Daryl Wise. Invention is credited to Dan Allen, Kevin Cheatham, Joe Fox, David R. Hall, Joshua Larsen, Jared Reynolds, Justin Robinson, Ben Swenson, Daryl Wise.
Application Number | 20180055491 15/248788 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61240187 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180055491 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hall; David R. ; et
al. |
March 1, 2018 |
Excreta-Sampling and Chilling Toilet
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.
Inventors: |
Hall; David R.; (Provo,
UT) ; Wise; Daryl; (Provo, UT) ; Swenson;
Ben; (Lehi, UT) ; Allen; Dan; (Springville,
UT) ; Reynolds; Jared; (Pleasant Grove, UT) ;
Larsen; Joshua; (Spanish Fork, UT) ; Robinson;
Justin; (Provo, UT) ; Fox; Joe; (Spanish Fork,
UT) ; Cheatham; Kevin; (Provo, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hall; David R.
Wise; Daryl
Swenson; Ben
Allen; Dan
Reynolds; Jared
Larsen; Joshua
Robinson; Justin
Fox; Joe
Cheatham; Kevin |
Provo
Provo
Lehi
Springville
Pleasant Grove
Spanish Fork
Provo
Spanish Fork
Provo |
UT
UT
UT
UT
UT
UT
UT
UT
UT |
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61240187 |
Appl. No.: |
15/248788 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 17/00 20130101;
Y02A 50/454 20180101; Y02A 50/30 20180101; A47K 11/02 20130101;
A61B 10/0038 20130101; A61B 5/207 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 10/00 20060101
A61B010/00; A47K 11/02 20060101 A47K011/02; A47K 17/00 20060101
A47K017/00; A61B 5/20 20060101 A61B005/20 |
Claims
1. An excreta-sampling toilet comprising: a bowl comprising a means
for separating liquid excreta from solid excreta; a sample metering
device connected to the means for separating solid excreta, wherein
the sample metering device comprises a scale and wherein the sample
metering device meters the solid excreta by weight into a separate
constituent; a solid excreta processing apparatus comprising a
chiller compartment; one or more storage containers disposed within
the chiller compartment, wherein a metered amount of the solid
excreta is stored as a chilled sample within the one or more
storage containers.
2. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising a
diverter valve which fluidly communicates with at least one of the
one or more storage containers and the bowl, wherein at least one
of the one or more storage containers receives a metered amount of
the liquid excreta, via the diverter valve.
3. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 2, wherein the metered
amount of the liquid excreta is stored as a liquid sample within
the chiller compartment.
4. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 2, further comprising one
or more sensors for analyzing the solid excreta and liquid
excreta.
5. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 4, wherein the one or more
sensors comprise chemical test strips.
6. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the solid
excreta processing apparatus further comprises a dryer which
removes undesired liquid excreta from the solid excreta.
7. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 6, wherein the dryer
comprises a vacuum system.
8. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the solid
excreta processing apparatus comprises a piston.
9. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising a
one-way sewer isolation valve.
10. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the bowl
comprises a partition which separates the liquid excreta from the
solid excreta.
11. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the bowl
comprises a centrifuge which separates the liquid excreta from the
solid excreta.
12. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the processing
apparatus comprises a labeler which labels the one or more storage
containers.
13. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the processing
apparatus comprises a sealing mechanism to seal the one or more
storage containers.
14. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising a
seat having one or more force sensors.
15. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising one
or more light transmitters.
16. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising one
or more light receivers.
17. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising a
cleaning sprayer which injects a super-heated cleaning solution to
clean the excreta-sampling toilet.
18. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, further comprising one
or more sensors indicating receipt of the solid excreta sample into
the containers, the sensors being active optical proximity sensors,
gas sensors, impedance sensors, load sensors, temperature sensors,
or ultrasonic proximity sensors.
19. The excreta-sampling toilet of claim 1, wherein the processing
apparatus processes the solid excreta sample by chopping,
extruding, pulverizing, shearing, smearing, or stirring.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of health data
collection devices, and more specifically to utilizing a toilet to
collect excreta for analysis.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Health data is collected by healthcare professionals and
patients for the purpose of understanding and improving patients'
health. It is common for physicians to collect this data in clinics
and hospitals; however, when necessary, samples of blood, urine,
mucus, feces, etc. are collected and sent to a laboratory for
further analysis and data collection.
[0003] One problem with data collection is that it can be tedious,
requiring a patient's time and the time of his or her physician.
When a sample is required to be sent to a laboratory, sample
collection can be inconvenient for a patient as he or she may need
to travel to give the sample. In addition, fecal samples can be
unsanitary and/or repulsive to collect and handle. Another problem
is that a sample which is collected at one moment in time may be
representative of only that moment. In general, when a patient is
out of a care facility, data and/or sample collection may not be as
frequent or as regular as would be desired to obtain more
comprehensive health data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An excreta-sampling toilet is disclosed that overcomes or
improves upon the limitations discussed above. In general, the
excreta-sampling toilet includes a sewer isolation valve, 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.
[0005] The general embodiment described above saves time and may be
more convenient for patients and physicians, because the solid
excreta sample may be collected automatically in the homes and care
facilities of the patients. Due to solid excreta samples being
automatically processed and stored in containers, patients and
physicians need not collect nor handle the samples directly, making
the sample collection more sanitary. Patients with excreta-sampling
toilets located in their residences may have the added benefit of
more frequent and regular excreta samples, resulting in more
comprehensive health data. Additionally, the invention described
above cools excreta samples so that they can be reliably tested
even after relatively long amounts of time.
[0006] In one embodiment, an excreta-sampling toilet is disclosed
which includes a sewer isolation valve, a bowl, a processing
apparatus, and a chiller. The bowl receives excreta, in which
liquid excreta is separated from solid excreta. The processing
apparatus includes one or more containers. The processing apparatus
processes a metered amount of a solid excreta sample and stores the
solid excreta sample in one or more of the containers. The chiller
chills the solid excreta sample for disposition and analysis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A more particular description of the invention briefly
described above is made below by reference to specific embodiments.
Several embodiments are depicted in drawings included with this
application, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict a cross-sectional side view of an
excreta-sampling toilet;
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with an
added diverter valve;
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 2 with added
sensors;
[0011] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B depict an excreta-sampling toilet
utilizing a centrifuge;
[0012] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with added
sealing and labeling mechanisms;
[0013] FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with an
added seat;
[0014] FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with added
controller and transceiver;
[0015] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with an
added dryer;
[0016] FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with added
light transmitters and receivers;
[0017] FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with added
cleaning solution sprayer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] A detailed description of the claimed invention is provided
below by example, with reference to embodiments in the appended
figures. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the
components of the invention as described by example in the figures
below could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations. Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments
in the figures is merely representative of embodiments of the
invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention
as claimed.
[0019] In some instances, features represented by numerical values,
such as dimensions, mass, quantities, and other properties that can
be represented numerically, are stated as approximations. Unless
otherwise stated, an approximate value means "correct to within 50%
of the stated value." Thus, a length of approximately 1 inch should
be read "1 inch+/-0.5 inch." In the case of temperature,
approximately means "correct to within 1.degree. C. of the stated
temperature."
[0020] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict a cross-sectional side view of an
excreta-sampling toilet. Excreta-sampling toilet 100 includes sewer
isolation valve 102, bowl 104, processing apparatus 106, and
chiller 108. Bowl 104 receives excreta. Liquid excreta 110 is
separated from solid excreta 112 in bowl 104. Processing apparatus
106 includes one or more containers 114. Processing apparatus 106
processes a metered amount of solid excreta sample 116 and stores
solid excreta sample 116 in the one or more containers 114. Chiller
108 chills solid excreta sample 116 for disposition and analysis.
Solid excreta 112 is moved from bowl 104 to processing apparatus
106. After solid excreta 112 is processed, it may be metered based
on volume or weight into a separate constituent. For purposes of
this description, the separate constituent of solid excreta 112
described above is defined as solid excreta sample 116. Any solid
excreta 112 in excess of the metered amount of solid excreta sample
116 may be removed from processing apparatus 106 through sewer
isolation valve 102 and into a sewage waste pipe. Similarly, liquid
excreta 110 may be removed from bowl 104 through pipes or tubes,
through sewer isolation valve 102, and into the sewage waste pipe
to be carried to a waste treatment facility, septic tank, leach
field, etc.
[0021] In some embodiments, processing apparatus 106 includes a
rotating rack holding containers 114 which may be coupled to a
rotary encoder or other motorized mechanism which automatically
rotates the rack when a metered amount of solid excreta sample 116
is stored in one or more of containers 114. In some other
embodiments, processing apparatus 106 includes a magazine holding
containers 114, which may automatically detach containers 114 when
they are ready with samples and put new containers 114 in their
place.
[0022] Solid excreta sample 116 is stored inside containers 114.
Any containers 114 storing solid excreta sample 116, from a current
or previous disposition of excreta, may be stored at a temperature
lower than room temperature (room temperature meaning approximately
21.degree. C. or 73.degree. F.) within chiller 108. Chiller 108 may
be powered by any of a variety of means, including batteries, power
from a power outlet, solar panels, a biogas recovery system, etc.
When excreta is newly deposited in bowl 104 of toilet 100, it may
have a temperature that is much higher than that of room
temperature due to its origin from a body. Freshly excreted excreta
may be vital to any laboratory test conducted, because the excreta
may not have changed significantly due to bacterial action. This
being said, cooling or chilling excreta such as solid excreta
sample 116 may significantly limit bacterial growth such that solid
excreta sample 116 may be useful for testing in a laboratory.
[0023] In some embodiments, for example, chiller 108 is a
refrigerator which maintains an interior temperature of
approximately 0.degree. C. A user may use toilet 100 to deposit
excreta in bowl 104 several times a day. In each instance of
disposition of excreta, toilet 100 may store solid excreta sample
116 in one or more containers. At some time each day, or at one or
more pickup times each week, all solid excreta samples 116 inside
their respective containers 114 may be taken to a laboratory by a
messenger such as the user, an assistant, a health care provider, a
courier service, etc. Solid excreta samples 116 may then be
analyzed and any information regarding solid excreta samples 116 or
health of the user may be sent to the user's physician directly, an
internet accessible database, the user, a family member or guardian
of the user, etc. In cases in which the data is sent to an internet
accessible database, the database may be accessed via a peripheral
device of the user including a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a
personal computer, etc. In cases wherein the data is sent to the
user's physician, the physician may subsequently make plans for
treatment and/or perform further analysis. In some embodiments, the
user is a homo sapiens. In some other further embodiments, the user
is any of a variety of animals including a dog, a cat, a bird, a
rodent, a reptile, etc. In these embodiments, a top portion of bowl
104 may include a grate or slats for the user to be placed on while
depositing excreta in bowl 104.
[0024] In some embodiments, chiller 108 holds containers 114 which
already have solid excreta samples 116. In addition, chiller 108
may be removable, having a power supply to keep solid excreta
samples 116 cool. In this way, solid excreta samples 116 may be
transported over larger time periods to a laboratory to be
analyzed. In some further embodiments, after a first chiller 108 is
removed to be taken to a laboratory with solid excreta samples 116
inside first chiller 108, a second chiller is installed in the
place of first chiller 108. In yet some other further embodiments,
the connections between all chillers 108 and processing apparatus
106 may be such that removing and replacing chillers 108 may take
less time than one minute.
[0025] In some embodiments, chiller 108 is a freezer which
maintains an interior temperature of -10.degree. C. (14.degree. F.)
or less. In some further embodiments, chiller 108 is a
thermoelectric cooler. In some other embodiments, chiller 108 is an
evacuated freezer.
[0026] In some embodiments, heat which is pumped from an interior
of chiller 108 may be pumped in part or completely to coils within
a toilet seat included in toilet 100. In this way, although chiller
108 may be kept at a low temperature relative to room temperature,
the toilet seat of toilet 100 may be warmed.
[0027] In some embodiments, processing apparatus 106 includes
piston 118. Piston 118 may displace solid excreta 112 within
processing apparatus 106. Piston 118 may include a power source
such as batteries, connection to a power outlet, solar panels, etc.
In some further embodiments, processing apparatus 106 further
includes a cylinder has a closed end. Piston 118 is positioned
inside the cylinder and is oriented coaxial with the cylinder, and
its sides are positioned coincident with interior walls of the
cylinder. Piston 118 is positioned such that it may slide along its
axis, which is shared with the cylinder, while maintaining a fluid
seal. Piston 118 may exert a force on solid excreta 112 as piston
118 slides from one end of the cylinder to another. When piston 118
pushes solid excreta 112 against the closed end of the cylinder,
solid excreta 112 may deform until a certain volume of it is
extruded into one or more of containers 114. The rest of solid
excreta 112 may be forced through valve 102 and into a sewage waste
pipe. In this way, the volume inside containers 114 may determine
the volume of solid excreta sample 116.
[0028] In some embodiments, processing apparatus 106 processes
solid excreta sample 116 by chopping, extruding, pulverizing,
shearing, smearing or stirring. In some embodiments, for example,
processing apparatus 106 includes one or more blades which may be
actuated to chop or stir solid excreta 112. In some other
embodiments, for example, processing apparatus 106 includes a
macerator which may be actuated to pulverize solid excreta 112. In
some other embodiments, for example, processing apparatus 106
includes a straight cutting blade which trims solid excreta 112. In
some yet other embodiments, for example, processing apparatus 106
includes a punch and die set which blanks a metered amount of solid
excreta sample 116 from solid excreta 112.
[0029] In some embodiments, solid excreta sample 116 is metered by
weight. In some of these embodiments, processing apparatus 106
includes one or more scales. A first scale may be positioned
supporting one or more of containers 114 which will receive solid
excreta sample 116. A weight difference between empty and partially
or completely filled containers 114 may verify a correct weight of
solid excreta sample 116 to be stored. A second scale may be
positioned underneath where solid excreta 112 may be positioned in
processing apparatus 106, such that the second scale may verify a
least weight of solid excrement 112 required. If, for example,
solid excrement 112 does not have sufficient mass to meet the
required weight, the second scale may send signals to a controller,
which is coupled to the second scale. The controller may send a
signal to a valve or gate contained within processing apparatus 106
to close such that no solid excreta may enter any of containers
114.
[0030] In some embodiments, bowl 104 includes a means for
separating liquid excreta from solid excreta. Solid excreta and
liquid excreta may be separated from each other by means of a
partition 120 which separates liquid excreta 110 from solid excreta
112. The partition 120 may be a moveable partition. The partition
120 may be connected to a motor and a thermal imaging system which
is able to detect and identify solid excreta from liquid excreta
and move partition 120 in order to separate solid excreta from
liquid excreta. Additionally, or alternatively, sieve may be used
to separate solid excreta from liquid excreta. A user seated on
toilet 100 deposits excreta (solid excreta 112 and liquid excreta
110) into bowl 104. Partition 120 may deflect liquid excreta 110
toward a front portion of bowl 104, and partition 120 may also
deflect solid excreta 112 toward a back portion of bowl 104.
Partition 120 may be positioned such that it is at a midpoint
between a user's anus and urethra, for the purpose of separating
the user's liquid excreta 110 from his or her solid excreta 112. In
some embodiments, the user's anus and urethra are close together.
Partition 120 may extend sufficiently close to the user to
facilitate separation of liquid excreta 110 from solid excreta
112.
[0031] In some further embodiments, partition 120 may translate to
different positions depending on a position of a seated user. Data
indicating the position of the user's anus and urethra may be
obtained by any of a variety of means including user input, photo
sensors placed inside bowl 104, ultrasonic sensors, gas sensors,
thermal sensors, force sensors, etc. For example, in some
embodiments, a user may be seated on toilet 100. Bowl 104 includes
one or more infrared sensors, which collect data about a heat
distribution of the user, as seen from inside bowl 104. The
infrared sensors may collect this data and send it to a controller,
which analyzes the data to determine the locations of highest and
lowest heat. Based on this information, the controller may send
instructions to partition 120 to move forward, move backward,
rotate, and/or change elevation of partition 120 for optimum
positioning.
[0032] In some embodiments, toilet 100 includes one or more thermal
sensors which collect heat data from a user. The heat data may then
be used to estimate an internal temperature of the user. Heat data
may be stored in a database, internal memory of a controller, a
peripheral device, etc. for use by the user and/or his or her
physician.
[0033] In some embodiments, toilet 100 includes a vacuum assisted
flush system. In some other embodiments, toilet 100 includes a
ventilation system for venting gases along with a negative pressure
gradient to keep noxious gases from exiting into a room via bowl
104.
[0034] Sewer isolation valve 102 may keep sewer gases from entering
through piping into any other portion of toilet 100. Sewer
isolation valve 102 is any of a variety of isolation valves
including pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, or electro-hydraulic
types. In some embodiments, sewer isolation valve 102 is a one-way
valve with a flapper or disc.
[0035] FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with an
added diverter valve. Excreta-sampling toilet 200 includes sewer
isolation valve 202, bowl 204, processing apparatus 206, diverter
valve 220, and chiller 208. Processing apparatus 206 includes one
or more containers 214. Diverter valve 220 fluidly communicates
with at least one of containers 214, bowl 204, and sewer isolation
valve 202. At least one of containers 214 receives a metered amount
of liquid excreta 210, via diverter valve 220, stored as liquid
excreta sample 222. When a user deposits liquid excreta 210 into
bowl 204, liquid excreta 210 may be gravitationally accelerated and
travel through pipes or tubes to diverter valve 220. Diverter valve
220 may allow a metered volume of liquid excreta sample 222 to flow
into one of containers 214. After one of containers 214 is full of
liquid excreta sample 222, diverter valve 220 may allow any
remaining liquid excreta 210 to flow through sewer isolation valve
202. Sewer isolation valve 202 may subsequently allow remaining
liquid excreta 210 to flow into a sewer waste pipe to be disposed
of.
[0036] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 2 with added
sensors. Excreta-sampling toilet 300 includes processing apparatus
306, chiller 308, and one or more sensors 324. Processing apparatus
306 includes one or more containers 314. The one or more sensors
324 may be used to analyze solid excreta 312 and liquid excreta
310. For example, in some embodiments, sensors 324 are sets of
capacitive plates which may be positioned around the entrances to
containers 314. Capacitances between each set of plates may vary
with density and conductive properties of solid excreta 312 or
liquid excreta 310. The capacitive plates may be coupled to
circuitry including a controller. The controller may record the
values of the capacitances. In some other embodiments, sensors 324
may include chemical composition test strips. The test strips may
check for pregnancy in a female user by testing liquid excreta 310
for the presence of a beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG). hCG can be detected in urine or blood after implantation,
which occurs six to twelve days after fertilization. In some
further embodiments, if the test strips included in sensors 324
test positive for hCG, a controller coupled to sensors 324 may send
a notification via a wireless transceiver to a peripheral device
such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
[0037] In some embodiments, sensors 324 indicate receipt of solid
excreta sample 316 or liquid excreta sample 322 into containers
314. Sensors 324 may be any of a variety of sensors including
active optical proximity sensors, gas sensors, impedance sensors,
load sensors, temperature sensors, or ultrasonic proximity
sensors.
[0038] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B depict an excreta-sampling toilet
utilizing a centrifuge. Toilet 400 includes bowl 404, processing
apparatus 406, and chiller 408. Processing apparatus 406 includes a
centrifuge, one or more containers 414, piston 418, and piston
housing 428. The centrifuge includes a centrifugal perforated
basket 426 and a centrifugal motor (not shown). Piston 418 may
start in a downward position, as shown in FIG. 4A, when excrement
is deposited into bowl 404; this is so that excreta cannot enter
containers 414 prior to processing. The centrifugal motor may
subsequently be actuated, which spins basket 426. As shown in FIG.
4A, piston housing 428 is resting on basket 426 such that friction
between piston housing 428 and basket 426 causes piston housing 428
to spin in the same rotational direction as basket 426. Due to
piston housing 428 and basket 426 spinning, the deposited excreta
may move toward sides of basket 426. Continued spinning of basket
426 may separate liquid excreta, as it moves through perforations
in basket 426, from solid excreta, as it cannot pass through the
perforations. After the solid and liquid excreta are separated from
each other, the liquid excreta may flow into a sewer pipe and
piston 418 may lift to allow solid excreta below it, as shown in
FIG. 4B. Subsequently, piston 418 may press the solid excreta
against a bottom portion of processing apparatus 406 such that a
metered amount of the solid excreta sample is pressed into one or
more of containers 414. As piston 418 continues to press the solid
excreta, any solid excreta in excess of the solid excreta sample
may be pushed out of processing apparatus 406 into the sewer pipe.
The solid excreta sample and its one or more containers 414 may be
cooled by chiller 408 to preserve the solid excreta sample.
[0039] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with added
sealing and labeling mechanisms. Excreta-sampling toilet 500
includes bowl 504, processing apparatus 506, and chiller 508.
Processing apparatus 506 includes one or more containers 514,
labeler 530, and sealing mechanism 532. Labeler 530 includes
labels. When processing apparatus 506 processes solid excreta
sample 516, from solid excreta 512 deposited in bowl 504,
processing apparatus 506 may then store solid excreta sample 516 in
one or more containers 514. When solid excreta sample 516 is stored
in one of containers 514, labeler 530 may automatically label the
corresponding container 514 and sealing mechanism 532 may
automatically seal the corresponding container 514. For example, in
some embodiments, labeler 530 includes partially or completely
preprinted labels. Labeler 530 may place one of the labels on each
of containers 514 when it has solid excreta sample 516 stored in
it. In some further embodiments, labeler 530 may print a date, a
time, a QR code, and/or other information related to solid excreta
sample 516 on a label which may have been placed on one of
containers 514. For example, in a further embodiment, toilet 500
includes sensors which may receive user identifying data and a
controller which may send commands to labeler 530 to print a
corresponding user's name on a label to be placed on one of
containers 514. Respective container 514 may store solid excreta
sample 516 derived from the corresponding user. In some
embodiments, processing apparatus 506 includes sensors, which may
be located in chiller 508, which detect when solid excreta sample
516 is received. These may signal labeler 530 and sealing mechanism
532 to actuate.
[0040] In some embodiments, sealing mechanism 532 includes any of a
variety of plugs including rubber plugs, plastic caps, wax plugs,
etc. In some other embodiments, sealing mechanism 532 includes a
heat sealer, wherein containers 514 are plastic bags which are heat
sealable.
[0041] FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with an
added seat. Toilet 600 includes bowl 604 and seat 634. Seat 634 has
one or more force sensors 636. Seat 634 may be positioned on bowl
604. Force sensors 636 may be positioned at intervals around seat
634 such that force concentration information may be gathered. For
example, in some other embodiments, bowl 604 includes partition
620, wherein partition 620 may move automatically depending on
stress concentration information about a user seated on seat 634.
Stress concentration information may indicate a user's position on
seat 634. In some embodiments, force sensors 636 may measure a
user's weight for tracking purposes, and his or her weight may be
stored in a database, internal memory of a controller, a peripheral
device, etc.
[0042] FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with added
controller and transceiver. Excreta-sampling toilet 700 includes
controller 738, wireless transceiver 740, processing apparatus 706,
and chiller 708. Processing apparatus 706 includes one or more
containers 714. Controller 738 may store and send instructions to
processing apparatus 706 to direct it to actuate and to change its
processes and settings at different times. For example, in some
embodiments, toilet 700 includes sensors for analyzing liquid and
solid excreta. One of the sensors may detect hGC (described above)
in liquid excreta deposited by a user. Controller 738 may store
instructions to only check for hGC at certain times of day or for
specific users. Controller 738 may receive instructions via
transceiver 740 from a peripheral device of a user or her
physician. This may save power, time, and resources, such as
chemical test strips, when the sensor is instructed not to actuate
or test for hGC. This may similarly be done with other sensors. In
some further embodiments, the one or more sensors include chemical
test strips.
[0043] In some embodiments, processing apparatus 706 includes
sensors which may send signals to controller 738 when a solid
excreta sample is received by one of containers 714. Controller 738
may send instructions via transceiver 740 to a courier service and
a laboratory technician to alert them that the sample is ready to
be retrieved and tested.
[0044] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with an
added dryer. Excreta-sampling toilet 800 includes processing
apparatus 806, bowl 804, and chiller 808. Processing apparatus 806
includes one or more containers 814 and dryer 842. Bowl 804
receives excreta, wherein solid excreta 812 is separated from
liquid excreta 810. Processing apparatus 806 receives solid excreta
812. Dryer 842 removes further undesired liquid excreta 810 from
solid excreta 812 and may dispose of undesired liquid excreta 810
in a sewage pipe. In some embodiments, dryer 842 includes a
permeable membrane. Processing apparatus 806 may apply pressure
against solid excreta 812, pressing it up against the permeable
membrane, so that the permeable membrane may remove excess
moisture. In some other embodiments, dryer 842 includes a
centrifuge which spins solid excreta 812 to remove excess moisture.
In some other embodiments, dryer 842 includes a vacuum system
positioned partially or completely inside chiller 808. The vacuum
system may evacuate a space containing solid excreta 812 within
processing apparatus 806 while chiller 808 freezes solid excreta
812 simultaneously. When solid excreta 812 is frozen, with the
vacuum system still actuated, solid excreta 812 may be allowed to
warm up. While it warms, solid excreta 812 may release moisture
into the evacuated space. The vacuum system may remove the
additional moisture. In this way, dryer 842 may "freeze dry" solid
excreta 812, and processing apparatus 806 may subsequently process
a metered amount of a solid excreta sample and store it in one or
more of containers 814.
[0045] FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with added
light transmitters and receivers. Excreta-sampling toilet 900
includes bowl 904, processing apparatus 906, one or more light
transmitters 944, and one or more light receivers 946. Bowl 904
receives excreta, wherein liquid excreta 910 is separated from
solid excreta 912. Light transmitters 944 may emit wavelengths of
light that partially sanitize and impede bacterial growth, such as
ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma wavelengths of light. Light receivers
946 may meter bacterial growth by receiving light wavelengths
corresponding to light emitted from a chemical reaction with
adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a molecule that may be found
in and around living cells, and it may give a direct measure of
biological concentration. ATP may be quantified by measuring light
produced through its reaction with a naturally occurring firefly
enzyme, luciferase, using light receivers 946. An amount of light
produced may be directly proportional to an amount of ATP present.
In some embodiments, an amount of bacterial growth detected via
light receivers 946 may be directly proportional to an intensity of
light emitted by light transmitters 944 to further impede bacterial
growth. In some other embodiments, toilet 900 includes a light
emitter which is coupled to light transmitters 944, wherein light
transmitters 944 are optical fiber cables. In some embodiments,
luciferase is injected into toilet 900 in order to measure light
produced through its reaction with ATP.
[0046] FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1A with added
cleaning solution sprayer. Excreta-sampling toilet 1000 includes
sewer isolation valve 1002, bowl 1004, processing apparatus 1006,
and cleaning sprayer 1048. Toilet 1000 may need to be sanitized
regularly in order to collect good samples of solid excreta 1012
and liquid excreta 1010. Cleaning sprayer 1048 injects a
super-heated cleaning solution to clean toilet 1000. In the
depicted embodiment, cleaning sprayer 1048 includes multiple
nozzles 1050. Nozzles 1050 may be positioned on interior walls of
bowl 1004 and processing apparatus 1006. When actuated, cleaning
sprayer 1048 injects the super-heated cleaning solution via nozzles
1050. After toilet 1000 is sufficiently cleaned, any remaining
cleaning solution which has not already exited toilet 1000 via
sewer isolation valve 1002 into a sewage waste pipe is removed from
the system by any of a variety of means including a vacuum, a
desiccating agent, a heated or non-heated air pump, or a rinse of
heated potable water via nozzles 1050.
[0047] In some embodiments, nozzles 1050 are rotary nozzles such
that every surface within bowl 1004 and processing apparatus 1006
may be impinged upon with cleaning solution. In some embodiments,
toilet 1000 includes a lid which covers bowl 1004 such that no
cleaning solution may exit toilet 1000 while cleaning sprayer 1048
may be cleaning it.
[0048] In some other embodiments, sewer isolation valve 1002
remains closed while toilet 1000 is being cleaned, and sewer
isolation valve 1002 may open afterwards. In some further
embodiments, when sewer isolation valve 1002 opens, fluids
containing cleaning solution, solid excreta 1012, and liquid
excreta 1010 within toilet 1000 may empty through sewer isolation
valve 1002. The draining of this fluid all at once may result in
siphon action.
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