Researchers atDuke Universityhave developed an artificial word tool that can be accommodate into regular toilets to help study a patient ’s stool samples and leave worthful information for gastroenterologists .
The unexampled technology , which will be present at Digestive Disease Week ® ( DDW ) 2021 on May 22 , take in figure of speech of stool sample within the tube systems after a affected role has had a bowel movement and flushed the toilet . Whether it ’s lumpy , normal , on the loose , constipated , or if there ’s blood in it , the figure of speech can be analyzed and the data used to track and manage chronic GI health issues such as instigative gut disease ( IBD ) and irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) .
" Typically , gastroenterologists have to rely on patient ego - reported information about their fecal matter to help regulate the effort of their GI wellness issues , which can be very unreliable , " say Deborah Fisher , MD , one of the lead author on the study in astatement . " Patients often ca n’t remember what their stool look like or how often they have a gut move , which is part of the standard monitoring procedure . The Smart Toilet technology will allow us to gather the retentive - condition information call for to make a more exact and timely diagnosis of inveterate GI problem . "
Fisher and team acquire thesmart toilet toolby psychoanalyze 3,328 unique stool images they gathered from research participant and online reservoir . All of the images were first footnote by gastroenterologist according to a recognized standard scale used in clinical setting to classify a stool sample so that all the image had an precise categorisation .
The research worker then used a deep learning algorithm they developed to scan over all of the toilet images and provide the artificial intelligence system to separate each of the stool images . They found that the machine get word internet creature was actually somewhat accurate in its compartmentalization , and could correctly separate a stool sample distribution 85.1 per centum of the time , open up up the possibleness for it to be used as a tool for monitoring gastrointestinal wellness .
" We are affirmative about patient willingness to use this technology because it ’s something that can be install in their potty ’s pipes and does n’t require the affected role to do anything other than flush , " said Dr Sonia Grego , a spark advance researcher on the study and institution director of theDuke Smart Toilet Lab . " An IBD flare - up could be diagnosed using the Smart Toilet and the patient ’s response to treatment could be monitored with the technology . This could be especially utilitarian for patients who live in long - term care facility who may not be able to describe their conditions and could avail amend initial diagnosis of acute conditions . "
