Mixed reactions
Dr. Grego gets a range of reactions when she tells people she is developing smart toilet technology.
“Friends and family laugh about the concept of the smart toilet,” she said, “so all the possible jokes that have been done on poops, we know.”
In fact, the researchers also are collecting the jokes they hear. “We’re being very systematic.”
In contrast, gastroenterologists who learn of the technology in development are more enthusiastic, Dr. Grego said. “There is such a need for removing the uncertainty of the patient recall about bowel movement frequency and appearance.
“We are seeking to expand through collaboration with additional GI doctors. We want to develop a more advanced prototype and do further validation studies,” Dr. Grego said.
Digital health tool
There is an aversion among patients to handling stool “or even talking about it,” Dr. Grego said. Colleagues tell her that people are more willing to provide a blood sample, which requires a needle, than a stool sample.
“But a lot of health data is there [in the stool],” she added. “We think this will empower a lot of research as well as consumer data gathering.”
For example, Dr. Grego envisions pharmaceutical companies using the technology to detect or monitor any changes in stool or gut health based on a treatment in development during clinical trials.
Furthermore, the technology might empower health-conscious consumers who want to track their own gut health. “This technology will be a whole new entry in the digital health toolkit,” Dr. Grego said.
Although not included in the research presented at this year’s DDW, the developers plan to add a sampling capability. Biochemic analysis of stool samples could provide “metabolically relevant information,” including stool biomarkers and microbiome composition.
“We have demonstrated it in the laboratory. It will be part of the technology when developed into a product,” Dr. Grego said.
This proof-of-concept study “is the first step in a path we are aggressively pursuing,” Dr. Grego said. She estimated it will take about 12-18 months to develop a prototype for use with patients. “We hope to move to a product soon after that.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing future iterations of this tool,” Dr. Shin said. “It could have a role in monitoring important GI diseases and disorders, including IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, or even for the detection of ‘alarm symptoms’ that shouldn’t be ignored.
“I could even see it having a role in preventative health in the future,” Dr. Shin added.
The technology has been licensed to the spin-off company Coprata to develop the product further.
“We hope to have an impact on people’s health very soon,” Dr. Grego said.
Duke University funded the study. Dr. Grego holds a management position at Coprata. Dr. Shin disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.
