An international team of researchers have developed a ‘smart toilet’ that can analyse the chemistry of urine and stool.

The suite of hardware and that can be mounted on standard toilets to track biomarkers of health and disease in the users’ effluent, operating autonomously to enable individuals to monitor data on their health and allow for screening, diagnostic and patient-monitoring studies.

The modular toilet system incorporates pressure and motion sensors, test strips and video cameras for analysing the flow of urine and its basic biochemical composition.

It uses computer-vision and machine-learning algorithms for classifying stools according to a clinical scale of their morphology and liquidity.  

It also allows biometric identification via a fingerprint scanner embedded in the flush lever.

Although this technology is currently a proof-of-concept, the researchers hope to develop the system into a commercial product for home use.

The experts are setting up large clinical studies to assess the potential health benefits.

More information is accessible here.